Brown & Company Planning Group

23/04/2026

Ayrburn looks effortless now - but projects like this are years in the making.

Work on this one started back well before the doors opened in December 2023. What people don’t see is everything that happens behind the scenes to get a project to that point.

Site constraints, zoning, heritage considerations, servicing, access, stakeholder input, consent pathways - each piece needs to be worked through carefully, and in the right order. That’s where good planning makes the difference between a project stalling, or moving forward.

While Ayrburn is a large-scale example, the same process applies to smaller projects too. Whether it’s a new home, an extension, or a subdivision, the groundwork is what sets everything up for success.

Most of our work happens well before anything is built - and often, that’s the part that matters most.

Do you need some advice on an upcoming project? Our friendly team are here to support you. Contact us today 👉 www.brownandcompany.co.nz

02/03/2026

Our Principals, Jeff Brown and Morgan Shepherd attended the New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort this weekend - an event we're especially proud of, having assisted in securing the resource consent for a world-class tournament here in Queenstown.

Congratulations to the organisers and everyone involved in delivering another successful New Zealand Open - it was great to see the kiwi claim the victory!

13/02/2026

Brown & Company Planning Group are proud to have obtained the resource consent for the Wellness Spa at Northbrook NZ in Wanaka.

Well worth a visit if you are in Wanaka - not a single detail has been missed!

09/02/2026

Last week the Queenstown Lakes District Council voted to accept the Independent Hearings Panel (IHP) recommendations on the Urban Intensification Variation (UIV).

This means amendments to the Proposed District Plan to accommodate urban growth and intensification in the most accessible and central locations in the Queenstown Lakes district. The key amendments with respect to building heights are summarised as follows:

• The Lower Density Suburban Residential Zone (LDSRZ) will be renamed Suburban Residential Zone (SRZ) and the maximum building height limit will increase from 6.5m and 7m currently, to 8m (with the exception of Arrowtown).
• The Medium Density Residential Zone (MDRZ) and High Density Residential Zone (HDRZ) will largely be retained as is.
• Two new zones have been introduced – Medium Density Residential A Zone (MDRAZ) and High Density Residential A Zone (HDRAZ), to accommodate greater height and density.
• The MDRAZ applies to locations near central Queenstown and greenfield land in Wanaka South.
• The maximum building height limit in the MDRAZ will be 11m plus an additional 1m for pitched roof forms.
• The HDRAZ applies to central Queenstown residential areas and at Three Parks Wanaka.
• The maximum building height limit in the HDRAZ will be 16.5m.
• The maximum building height in the Wanaka Town Centre will increase from 8m to 16.5m (outside the Wanaka Height Precinct).
• The maximum building heights in the Queenstown Town Centre range from 4 – 20m depending on Height Precincts.
• Most references to the Residential Design Guide 2021 and the Arrowtown Design Guidelines have been removed.

These are amongst a range of other changes with respect to density and bulk and location standards, that seek to enable intensification in our urban areas.

If you have any questions in relation to how this may impact your property or a property you are interested in, please feel free to get in touch with our team to find out more.

18/12/2025

Merry Christmas from the Brown & Company team!

Our offices will be closed from midday 23 December - 5 January 2026.

🎄🎁

26/11/2025

Auckland Council have notified Plan Change 120 (PC120) which replaces the previous PC78. With this, immediate changes to selected properties and provisions are now in place. These changes include:

• Zoning changes to some sites and areas – including up-zoning areas around walkable catchments, town and local centres, and key corridors
• Natural hazard provisions are now in effect
• Down-zoning of sites that are at risk of natural hazards or that contain a Significant Ecological Area

Submissions are open until 19 December 2025.

If you want to know how PC120 may affect your property, wish to make a submission, or are interested in finding out more, please get in touch with the Brown & Company team.

Auckland Council’s Plan Change 120 (PC120) was notified on 3 November, and the submission period closes on 19 December 2025. The Streamlined Planning Process (SPP) is being utilised for PC120.

10/11/2025

Brown & Company Planning Group are seeking a resource management planner with at least 4-5 years experience for a full time position in Queenstown, Wanaka, Wellington, or Auckland.

Apply at the link below, or get in touch for more information 📩

Seeking a resource management planner with at least 4-5 years’ experience for a full-time position in Queenstown, Wanaka, Auckland, or Wellington

09/10/2025

Brown & Company are proud to be sponsors of the Rakiura Challenge - one of the most varied and diverse trails in New Zealand on the southern-most Great Walk.

05/08/2025

We are proud to announce that Morgan Shepherd and Christine Edgley have joined Jeff Brown as shareholders and Principals of Brown & Company Planning Group. This is in recognition of their years of outstanding contributions to BCPG’s reputation, our great client relationships, our workload and work output, and to their own standing in the resource management industry both locally and around NZ.

22/05/2025

Northbrook Wanaka is a true masterpiece ✨

We love to see projects that we obtained resource consent for come to life 🤩