GMD Consultants is part of the core project team working on behalf of the Waikato River Authority to support the review of Te Ture Whaimana o te awa o Waikato, the primary direction setting document for the Waikato and Waipa Rivers. Information on the review can be found here: Review of Te Ture Whaimana - Waikato River Authority

GMD is providing a co-director on the project team, providing strategic advice to the Project Steering Group, and is undertaking the policy work associated with preparing an evidence base to support a decision on amending the Vision and Strategy.

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For further information on this project please contact Gavin Donald at gavin@gmdconsultants.co.nz.​

GMD Consultants is engaged by SmartGrowth to provide ongoing technical advice to the SmartGrowth Partnership. This has included the review of its overarching Strategy in 2023 / 2024, which incorporates the Future Development Strategy. This engagement builds on Nichola Lennard’s long-standing involvement with the SmartGrowth partnership.

Nichola continues to serve as Technical Advisor to SmartGrowth, contributing to a broad range of initiatives that shape the future of the western Bay of Plenty. Recent initiatives include preparing submissions on new legislation, leading a development opportunities process, working with Future Proof on the Hamilton to Tauranga Corridor Spatial Study, identifying investment needs and various other implementation actions.

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For further information about our work with SmartGrowth, please contact Nichola Lennard at nichola@gmdconsultants.co.nz

GMD Consultants was engaged to provide a Waka Kotahi representative on the RiverLink Partnership. RiverLink was a partnership between Greater Wellington, Waka Kotahi, Hutt City Council and iwi Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira to deliver a transformational set of integrated projects for Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai. RiverLink combines flood protection & river restoration work with transport improvements to the SH2 Melling Interchange and urban revitalisation of the Lower Hutt City Centre.

Megan project managed a consolidated Waka Kotahi position as an input to the project, and represented Waka Kotahi across communications, stakeholder engagement and technical reviews. The Notice of Requirement and consenting for Riverlink was achieved at pace with all partners supporting the conditions drafted to the direct referral Environment Court hearing. The Riverlink project was the winner of the NZPI Best Practice Award for Integrated Planning and Investigations in 2023.

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For further information on this project please contact Megan Kettle at megan@gmdconsultants.co.nz

GMD Consultants were engaged by

Palmerston North City Council and Manawatū District Council to undertake a service delivery review under Section 17A of the Local Government Act, in relation to the economic development activities being delivered by the Central Economic Development Agency (CEDA). The purpose of the review was to determine whether the current arrangements for the governance, funding and delivery of the economic development activities were the most cost-effective when compared to a range of other options under S17A. The review included interviewing a range of internal and external stakeholders and conducting a high-level comparison to other practicable options for governance, funding and delivery of the services undertaken by CEDA.

 

For further information on this project, contact the Emma Wright McHardie at emma@gmdconsultants.co.nz

GMD Consultants were engaged to undertake a review of Thames-Coromandel District Council's Class 4 Gambling and Board Venues policies. This involved research into literature-based, quantitative data sources and insights from Council staff regarding the social impact of gambling in Thames-Coromandel communities since the last review of the policies, and evaluating current policy effectiveness with regard to this information. The result of this review and recommendations were then prepared for presentation to elected members.

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For further information please contact Emma Wright-McHardie at emma@gmdconsultants.co.nz

GMD Consultants is currently engaged to process resource consents on behalf of Hamilton City Council. This contract involves providing high quality assessments and reporting within a statutory timeframe. Our team has successfully managed a wide range of applications, including changes to conditions, additions and alterations, and duplex dwellings with concurrent subdivisions.

Through this process, GMD Consultants have built the skills of the team with respect to project management, liasing with stakeholders (internal to Council as well as applicants), and interpretation of statutory planning documents.

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For further information on this project, please contact Gavin Donald at gavin@gmdconsultants.co.nz or Lana Gooderham at lana@gmdconsultants.co.nz

GMD Consultants supported the statutory review and full redrafting of the Mobile Trading Bylaw for Gisborne District Council, which required revocation and replacement under the Local Government Act 2002. The project modernised the bylaw by consolidating trader categories, streamlining licensing processes, updating traffic management and enforcement provisions, and applying plain-language principles. It also incorporated legislative changes, including the Food Act 2014, and included a comprehensive New Zealand Bill of Rights Act assessment. Prepared key governance reports that were successfully adopted by elected members.

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For further information on this project please contact Emma Wright McHardie at emma@gmdconsultants.co.nz.

GMD Consultants were privileged to assist Waikato-Tainui with the review of the Waikato District Plan, including the rezoning of the Hopuhopu Special Purpose Zone. The Hopuhopu site is located to the north of Ngāruawāhia and is a former army base which returned to Waikato-Tainui in 1993. This site is home to the Waikato-Tainui Endowed College, along with residential, business, and sporting activities. Waikato-Tainui wish to continue to develop the site into a tribal hub. Through the Waikato District Plan process GMD assisted Waikato-Tainui to develop a Special Purpose Zone for Hopuhopu, reflecting the unique nature of the site. This will make the master-planning of the site a more streamlined process and enable Waikato-Tainui to achieve their aspirations for the site.

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For further information on this project please contact Gavin Donald at gavin@gmdconsultants.co.nz

GMD Consultants provided policy development support to Waikato Regional Council in the development of the Draft Waikato Regional Land Transport Plan 2021-2051. This Plan sets out how the region's transport system will be developed over the next 30 years, and puts forward a regional programme of transport activities seeking funding. GMD was involved in reviewing the strategic context for transport in the region, engaging with stakeholders and the Regional Transport Committee, and drafting the Plan for public consultation.

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For further information on this project please contact Emily Auton at emily@gmdconsultants.co.nz

GMD Consultants provided support to Turangawaewae Marae, in relation to the Fonterra Wastewater Discharge Consent at Te Rapa. The Cultural Impact Assessment developed focuses on the ability of the proposal to meet its statutory obligations but more importantly how the proposal affects the values and uses of Tūrangawaewae Marae members.

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For further information on this project please contact Gavin Donald at gavin@gmdconsultants.co.nz

GMD Consultants provided resource consent advice to Waka Kotahi | New Zealand Transport Agency. Following reviews of proposed land use developments (LUDs), GMD planners assessed the applications against relevant planning documents such as the Resource Management Act, Government Roading Powers Act, district plans, and the Transport Agency’s Planning Policy Manual. Discussions were also required between the planner and network/safety engineers and where applicable, local government, to determine the best way forward for each proposal. We provided recommendations to best maintain the integrity of the state highway network.

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For further information please contact Megan Kettle at megan@gmdconsultants.co.nz

Building on our long-standing connections with the Future Proof partnership, GMD Consultants was engaged to provide ongoing support to the Future Proof project. This included updating two iterations of the Future Proof Strategy - the 2022 version to include the new requirements of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development and results of the Housing and Business Assessment, and the 2024 version to include Matamata-Piako and reflect an updated Housing and Business Assessment as well as changes in legislation and policy.

We have provided ongoing project support including research paper preparation and presentation, preparing submissions, attending Future Proof meetings and general advice to the partnership. Most recently we have contributed to the North Waipā South Hamilton Spatial Study, providing insights to guide future land use and infrastructure planning.

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For more information about our work with Future Proof, please contact Nichola Lennard at nichola@gmdconsultants.co.nz.

GMD consultants were part of the core project team working on behalf of a multi-stakeholder partnership to develop the Hamilton-Waikato Metropolitan Spatial Plan, the first joint Crown-Iwi-Council spatial plan developed under the government’s Urban Growth Agenda. GMD provided both project management services and technical plan writing services as part of the core project team. The Metro Spatial Plan sets out a framework to respond to the current and future challenges of growth in the metro area and will shape urban development in the long term.

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For further information please contact Megan Kettle at megan@gmdconsultants.co.nz

GMD Consultants provided support to Waikato Regional Council with the Freshwater Policy Review. This project involved reviewing the Waikato Regional Policy Statement and Waikato Regional Plan to bring them into line with the Government’s directions on how freshwater is managed in New Zealand to stop further degradation and improve its quality and ecosystem health.

Our role involved providing strategic advice and support with project management, stakeholder engagement planning and design, and policy development.

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For further information on this project please contact Gavin Donald at gavin@gmdconsultants.co.nz.

After supporting Council staff to prepare a freedom camping bylaw, GMD Consultants was contracted to help to implement the bylaw into Council systems.

We engaged with internal staff, other local government staff with already established freedom camping bylaws, and agencies working in the freedom camping space to seek key learnings from their processes. We then worked with Council staff to develop tools and processes to support implementation of the bylaw, make sure they integrated with existing Council systems, and to allow for future proofing as technology changed.

For further information on this project please contact Emily Auton at emily@gmdconsultants.co.nz.

GMD Consultants was engaged by Waikato Regional Council to undertake research into best practice methods for adult learning and training.

Adult learning theory is important for local government organisations. It addresses the challenges and complex nature of developing and implementing public policy and it plays an important role in professional training and workforce development. A critical step in improving training design and group dynamics is to understand learning behaviour and the needs of training participants. This ensures that trainings add real value to both the participants and the organisation as a whole.

This work identified the assumptions, principles, and key characteristics of adult learners and learning theory. It provided valuable insights for the design of effective training for adult professionals. It supported internal evaluation of existing approaches to training programmes with a view to supporting long-term capability and productive relationships within teams and organisations. It has been used to support training and ongoing development of external personnel, as well as within Council to support upskilling and inductions.

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For further information on this project, please contact Natalie Street at natalie@gmdconsultants.co.nz.

GMD Consultants has supported the implementation of Plant Pass for Waikato Regional Council since the Council became a signatory to the Plant Buyers Accord. Mark Gasquoine was brought in to assist with the Accord’s implementation (now known as Plant Pass Partners) due to his strong understanding of local government and his focus on ensuring that implementation is as straightforward and low-risk for councils as possible.

Mark has helped the Regional Council develop implementation plans for the project as well as actions plans for the subsequent years. His work has included; staff support, clear internal and external communication, and maintaining reporting channels to keep stakeholders informed of progress. This work is ongoing, and GMD Consultants continues to support the Regional Council to ensure the successful implementation of Plant Pass.

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For further information please contact Mark Gasquoine at mark@gmdconsultants.co.nz

GMD Consultants has provided ongoing support to Te Taniwha o Waikato, in relation to the Watercare Wastewater Discharge at Parker Lane Stream. The CIA has resulted in significant improvements to the discharge quality, through the use of technology that is superior to any used in New Zealand. This multi-year project has seen a greater understanding of all parties' concerns and drivers, in particular, the values and uses that Te Taniwha o Waikato deem important when protecting the Waikato River.

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For further information on this project please contact Gavin Donald at gavin@gmdconsultants.co.nz

GMD Consultants were engaged by Waitomo District Council to support the development and implementation of a strategy and action plan on behalf of the Vibrant Safe Waitomo Regional Coalition. It is a community-led collaboration that provides leadership and direction, with everyone working in partnership to create a more connected and vibrant community for all. The development of these plans also involved incorporating feedback from the Coalition members, key stakeholders and service providers in the community to ensure the strategy and actions were meaningful and actionable for the Waitomo community. Since the strategy's adoption in 2019, GMD has led strategic planning workshops with the coalition to support the implementation and review of the strategy, cumulating in an impact report in 2021 and an upcoming strategy refresh in 2023.

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For further information please contact Emma Wright-McHardie at emma@gmdconsultants.co.nz

GMD Consultants were engaged by Waikato Regional Council to review the Regional Policy Statement against the National Planning Standards. Specifically, GMD assessed the degree to which the RPS aligns with the directions under the Structure Standard. We identified areas that could be easily transferred into the new structure as well as provisions that require re-working.

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For further information on this project please contact Emily Auton at emily@gmdconsultants.co.nz

GMD Consultants supported Hamilton City Council in the development of growth scenarios for the 2018-28 Long Term Plan. This work included preparation of multiple growth scenarios, working with a multi-discipline team at Hamilton City Council, and preparing reports to Council. GMD continues to provide advice to Hamilton City Council on urban growth issues including urban growth planning and sub-regional growth planning.

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For further information please contact us at contact@gmdconsultants.co.nz