Planning Officer

We welcome applications from planners at different stages of their career. Whether you are an experienced planning professional looking for a broad and rewarding role, or earlier in your career with a relevant qualification and a desire to learn, we encourage you to apply. Support, mentoring and professional development will be provided for the right candidate.

Kaikōura District Council is seeking a motivated and collaborative Planning Officer to join our small but highly effective Planning Team. This is an exciting opportunity to work across a broad range of planning functions, from resource consent processing and subdivision approvals through to strategic planning advice and community engagement.

Located between the mountains and the sea, Kaikōura offers an exceptional lifestyle alongside meaningful and rewarding work that directly contributes to the future of the district.

About the Role

Reporting to the Strategy, Policy and District Plan Manager, you will be responsible for delivering a wide range of planning services, including:

• Assessing and processing land use and subdivision resource consent applications
• Processing Section 223 and 224 applications
• Providing pre-application advice to applicants and developers
• Preparing notification assessments and officer reports
• Supporting hearings and Environment Court processes where required
• Providing planning and RMA advice across Council teams, elected members and the community
• Assisting with PIMs and alcohol licensing applications from a planning perspective
• Managing and maintaining Council's Datascape Planning Module
• Supporting compliance and enforcement matters under the Resource Management Act
• Contributing to special projects and strategic planning initiatives

This is a varied role offering exposure to both regulatory and strategic planning work.

About You

We are looking for someone who brings:

Essential Skills and Experience

• Proven experience applying the Resource Management Act (or successor legislation)
• Experience processing land use and subdivision resource consents
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• A tertiary qualification in Planning or a related discipline
• The ability to build positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
• A customer-focused and professional approach
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities
• A commitment to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• The ability to work effectively within a collaborative team environment

Desirable

• Local government planning experience
• Experience with Datacom Datascape, IRIS or similar planning systems
• GIS experience
• Knowledge of the Building Act 2004
• Eligibility for, or membership of, the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI)

Why Join Us?

At Kaikōura District Council, you'll be part of One Team delivering an excellent customer experience while helping shape the future of one of New Zealand's most distinctive districts

We offer:

• Diverse and meaningful planning work
• A supportive and collaborative team environment
• Professional development opportunities
• The opportunity to contribute to strategic outcomes for the district
• A fantastic lifestyle in a world-renowned coastal community

If you're passionate about planning, enjoy working with communities and stakeholders, and want to help shape the future of Kaikōura, we'd love to hear from you.

Applications should be emailed to HR@kaikoura.govt.nz

Applications will close on 12 November 2026, or earlier, should we find the right candidate. We will be screening and interviewing suitable candidates, as applications arrive, so we encourage you to apply immediately!