Chris Hancock
I came to Otago to study planning on a bit of a whim from the UK after hitting a career ceiling in my previous role. I had no expectations and only one book on New Zealand Planning but found the people warm and welcoming, the subject fascinating and the skills taught unendingly useful. Since leaving Otago I returned to the UK in one of the worst recessions in living memory but with the skills I gained I landed a job working as a research and projects coordinator for a marine environmental consultancy (Soi Ltd) based out of the University of St Andrews, Scotland.
The MPlan at Otago gave me a different approach of seeing the way we work and live, it prepared me to deal with and not be afraid of the type large scale reports/documentation I now often deal with and coming from the UK to New Zealand the MPlan allowed me to broaden my understanding and respect of cultural inclusion within New Zealand that is simply not apparent in the UK planning/policy systems.
The MPlan will give you the skills to work within and outside of the planning systems both in New Zealand and internationally. The only thing holding you back is your own ambition!
Anna Star
I decided to enrol in the MPlan programme after spending a year doing development work in Cambodia as a UniVol through VSA. I felt there were lots of opportunities to make the world a 'better place', but I needed a concrete skill set through which to make a meaningful contribution. I saw the programme as a step towards the type of community building and engagement I wanted to be involved with, and since finishing have spent the last two years working as a Community Development Planner in Southland.
As a Community Planner my work included working 'top down' with local council bodies and 'bottom up' with local community and stakeholder groups. At a strategic level I assisted to develop concept plans for rural communities. Workshops, surveys and key stakeholder interviews built a picture of the type of communities people wanted: the things they valued about their local areas and wished to retain, and the key assets they felt were missing and sought to develop. My role was to use a collaborative approach to gather this information, process it and present it as a 5 – 8 year plan that could help guide the community, funders, and other stakeholders, into the future.
The grassroots aspect of the role involved initiating community projects and development at a local level. I helped establish local groups, as well as supporting them to run smoothly and effectively - providing facilitation, and mediation, where required. I assisted with project proposals and project planning, collaboration between groups within a community, working with the local council and community boards, and assisting with applying for funding to enable projects to go ahead.
The Community Development team's job was also to ensure regional and national opportunities were made available for local communities. We advocated for rural Southland communities at local and regional councils, and influenced national changes. This involved submitting to proposed Act changes and funding allocations, attending council meetings and finance committees to speak on behalf of our regions, and preparing proposals and applications for regional schemes or opportunities.
The MPlan course helped broaden my perspective on the places we live in – both rural and urban, and both theoretical and practical. It gave me a good understanding of the Acts and regulatory bodies that govern our places. Knowledge such as what makes for good consultation, being able to write an orderly report, and being able to explain to new Community Board Members the role of local government, have all come in useful. Undertaking the course helped demonstrate to prospective employers that I had a good grounding in planning, could work on large projects, work in a team, work professionally, and has enabled me to access the field I'm interested in.
You work closely with others on the course and make lifelong friends. Seeing all the different activities people are up to now, from working with DOC on species management, to helping with the Christchurch rebuild, or planning logistics in the Congo – I can confidently say the MPlan course, and the skills and qualification you obtain, is an unbeatable passport into a huge range of fields.