I recently joined Australian planner Adam Beck for an episode of his NEON-URBAN Digital in Place Youtube show as part of a new series exploring AI in Planning.
Our conversation considers the current state of AI and digital capability in the New Zealand planning profession, drawing on my work as Chair of PlanTechNZ and my experience delivering AI and digital capability training for planners.
We discuss how planners are currently using generative AI, the distinction between individual productivity tools and organisational AI systems, and why reliable data and digital infrastructure will be essential to the future planning system.
A central theme is that planning is moving from a historically low-information environment, often reliant on periodic and relatively static datasets, towards one in which information can be collected and updated continuously. AI could help planners make sense of this growing volume of information, support better decisions, proactively test how policies and provisions affect individual properties and provide more relevant information to communities. However, these opportunities depend on trustworthy data, appropriate governance and continued professional judgement.
Key parts of the conversation
- 8:04 — The current state of digital planning in New Zealand
Why planning has fallen behind some other regulatory systems, and the opportunity presented by the development of a new planning system. - 14:02 — AI capability and training for planners
How planners are using generative AI, where capability is developing, and why planners also need to understand how AI is changing the activities and effects managed through the planning system. - 26:46 — Practical use cases and the need for different levels of control
Report writing, submission analysis and the important distinction between an individual planner using AI to support their work and an organisation deploying AI within a statutory process. - 31:37 — From low-information to data-rich planning
How AI could help planners interpret continuous information, identify policy edge cases, provide site-specific planning information and support more personalised community engagement. - 36:13 — What AI means for the future role of planners
Why increasing information and more tailored environmental management are likely to create new demands for professional judgement rather than remove the need for planners.
Thank you to Adam Beck for inviting me to take part and for creating this wider series of conversations about AI and planning.
Watch the full interview on YouTube
For links to the resources discussed in the video, see below:
PlanTechNZ
NZPI’s PlanTechNZ special interest group webpages
NZPI Guidance
NZ Planning Institute Digital Planning Guidance which includes the Digital Planning Principles and Digital Position Paper
NZPI Guidance on Generative AI for Planners
Courts AI Guidance
Courts of NZ Guidelines for use of generative AI
Training Examples
NZPI 2026 CPD Prospectus (see workshops AI Awareness, Data Literacy, Digital Information Management, Emerging Technologies and Resource Management, Ethics and Digital Technologies, Generative AI for Planners, Generative AI: Prompting in Practice and Intro to AI)
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Christine’s practice is RMA Digital
RMA Digital 