Planner / Senior Planner

Mackenzie; Fairlie; On-site; NZD 78,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual salary review

Health insurance

Professional memberships

Retail discounts including fuel

Job summary

Mackenzie District Council in Fairlie, New Zealand, invites applications for a Planner or Senior Planner to support planning and resource management functions. The role offers opportunities to handle complex matters and contribute to the District Plan review, with pathways to lead in regulatory processes.

The Senior Planner role includes mentoring, leading complex matters, and preparing technical reports for hearings, with a focus on continuous improvement within the Planning team.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Planning or Resource Management.
• Experience in planning roles; local government experience advantageous.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Process and assess planning applications and resource consents.
• Provide professional planning advice to stakeholders.
• Monitor District Plan compliance and support policy development.
• Collaborate with Council departments on planning matters.
• Contribute to planning projects and district plan reviews.

Skills

Resource management knowledge

Communication skills

Independent work

Stakeholder engagement

Team collaboration

Education

Planning or Resource Management degree

Job description

About the Role (Permanent, Full Time – 40 hours per week)

We have an exciting opportunity for a Planner or Senior Planner to join our Planning team at Mackenzie District Council, based in Fairlie!

This is a varied role where you’ll contribute to the delivery of Council’s planning and resource management functions, helping ensure statutory obligations are met while supporting positive outcomes for our district. Depending on your experience, you’ll have the opportunity to take on more complex planning work, provide technical guidance and contribute to key initiatives, including the review and implementation of the District Plan.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Process resource consent and planning applications, including assisting with Section 223 and 224 applications, ensuring statutory requirements and timeframes are met.

• Provide professional planning advice to customers, consultants, developers and Council staff in accordance with relevant legislation, policies and best practice.

• Monitor and support compliance with the District Plan, resource consents, policies and bylaws, identifying issues and helping develop practical solutions.

• Work collaboratively with other Council departments on planning matters, including PIMs and LIMs, and provide advice on planning and resource management issues.

• Contribute to planning projects, policy development and the ongoing review and implementation of the District Plan.

For a Planner, there will be ample opportunities to grow and develop in your role from the senior members of the Planning team as well as professional development opportunities.

For a Senior Planner, the role will also involve taking a lead in complex resource management matters, preparing technical reports and evidence for hearings, providing expert planning advice and recommendations, and supporting the Planning Manager with the delivery of the Planning team’s work programme. You’ll also play an important role in mentoring and sharing knowledge with other team members, contributing to continuous improvement and helping Council navigate changes in resource management legislation.

About You

You’ll be a capable planning professional with a sound understanding of resource management and a practical, solutions-focused approach. You’ll enjoy working with a range of stakeholders, navigating complex planning matters and helping achieve positive outcomes for the Mackenzie District.

You’ll ideally have experience in a similar role, with local government experience an advantage. We’re interested in hearing from planners at different stages of their careers, with the level of responsibility reflecting your skills and experience.

You will also have:

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Planning or Resource Management, or another relevant qualification supported by appropriate experience.

• A working knowledge of the Resource Management Act, Local Government Act and other relevant legislation.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to provide clear, professional advice to a range of internal and external stakeholders.

• The ability to work independently, contribute to a collaborative team and build positive working relationships.

For the Senior Planner position, you’ll also bring substantial planning experience, including experience managing complex resource consent applications and providing sound technical advice. At least five years’ experience in a planning role is required, alongside the ability to guide and mentor less experienced team members. NZ Planning Institute membership, or eligibility to apply for full membership, is also required for this position.

What We Can Offer You

• A competitive salary to be discussed with the successful candidate

Senior Planner

$91,961 - $124,418 per annum (experience dependent)

Planner

$78,224 - $105,883 per annum (experience dependent)

• Annual salary review and regular performance reviews
• A range of staff benefits including health insurance, professional memberships, and a range of retail discounts including discounted fuel
• A supportive team and manager that values both autonomy and teamwork to achieve a shared vision

About Mackenzie District Council

At Mackenzie District Council we work together as a team to deliver the best outcomes for our district. We are crafting new ways of working together, and each one of us has an essential role in making our district the best place to live, work and play.

This could be the first step on a journey that sees you living and working in this iconic part of New Zealand. People travel from all parts of New Zealand and the world to experience our back yard with its geography dominated by the iconic Aoraki Mount Cook, and Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki provide a fantastic opportunity to escape the urban sprawl. With only a 45-minute drive from Timaru, you get the best of both worlds – experience the seaside in the city and the mountains in the mighty Mackenzie!

As part of Team Mack, we aim to give superb service to our customers, working together as a team, building a culture where we can all contribute our ideas, focusing on outcomes.

Applications close Monday 02 November 2026