What we do

SPG provides professional planning services for both private and public clients through a range of subdivision, development and land use activities. SPG often acts as the lead consultant or project manager throughout the formulation and environmental reporting phases of a project, through to the successful conclusion of obtaining the necessary statutory approvals.

Resource Management Act

  • RMA Planning: We are experts at compiling and overseeing resource consent applications for a wide range of land use and subdivision proposals from District Councils.

    We also have expertise in the compilation and overseeing of resource consent applications from Regional Councils for structures in, on, and over waterbodies, discharge permits, and water permits.

    Our team also has extensive experience in the preparation of submissions and provision of advice in regard to District and Regional Plan reviews and private Plan Changes.

    We often appear as expert planning witnesses at both Council and Environment Court hearings for resource consent and planning policy matters.

    We often provide planning advice for persons who are seeking to sell or buy a property.

Conservation Act

  • We have significant experience in the preparation and overseeing of Concession applications to undertake commercial and commercial recreation activities on public conservation land throughout the South Island.

    Our experience with Concession applications also includes obtaining approvals for Easements for infrastructure services and access where these are required to cross public conservation land.

    We are also experienced in submitting on the review of the Conservation Management Strategies and National Park Management Plans throughout the multiple conservancies in the South Island.

    As part of our role in overseeing Concession applications for commercial activities and submitting on the Department of Conservation’s management documents, we regularly appear as expert planning witnesses before the Department of Conservation’s hearings panels.

Buying or Selling Property

  • The SPG team can provide due diligence and feasibility reporting before you invest in purchasing land or property.

    We can help you determine how far to push that challenging site, or whether to buy that property with an eye towards developing it in the future.

    These reports are ideal for:

    • Home buyers at due diligence phase – this report will help you understand constraints and limitations of the property in case you wanted to develop in the future.

    • Homeowners / investors / developers – to understand what you can do with your property to increase value (i.e., subdivision, undertake an extension, build another dwelling, develop commercial activities).

    • Real Estate Agents – a marketing tool to showcase the potential of a property to future buyers.

    Each report will contain the following information:

    • Your property zone – what it means.

    • Planning rules that apply to your site e.g., maximum height that you can build on your site, building coverage, impervious area, density, and subdivision potential etc.

    • Availability to connect to public services (stormwater, wastewater, water supply)

    • Access requirements for future development

    • Any hazards onsite (i.e., flooding, instability, contamination)

    • Resource Consent requirements for your proposed development aspirations.

    • Review of record of title and any registered instruments

    • Any future changes to legislation and resource management plans that may affect the site.

Land Act

  • The majority of the South Island High Country is farmed under Pastoral Leases which are administered by Land Information New Zealand’s Crown Pastoral Team. The Land Act 1948 enables the granting of a commercial recreation permit over any Pastoral Lease authorising the use, or occupation, of any land comprised in a Pastoral Lease, for any commercial and/or commercial recreation activity.

    We have considerable experience in preparing and overseeing the granting of applications for commercial recreation permits for activities such as commercial filming, heli skiing, and scenic aircraft landings.