About

Andrew WillisWith almost 20 years’ experience in developing and implementing planning, resource management and environmental solutions in New Zealand and overseas, Andrew’s philosophy is that good planning requires a genuine commitment to open dialogue and the desire to achieve pragmatic outcomes.

Andrew advises individuals, corporate and local authority clients on resource management and local government issues. He brings an excellent understanding of recovery/regeneration issues, the planning framework, and the systems and processes that affect urban renewal.

His experience has been gained from leading the team that developed the Christchurch City Council’s Central City Recovery Plan planning framework, being part of the Christchurch Central Development Unit that delivered CERA’s Recovery Plan and Blueprint, and more recently leading a team of recovery/regeneration facilitators at the Christchurch City Council.

Andrew’s extensive planning experience is not just in central city and suburban centres regeneration but also in core urban planning. Prior to his recent work at Christchurch Council Andrew was responsible for a number of areas of work including plan changes (including the seven hectare Turners and Growers brownfields redevelopment site); preparing and lodging numerous resource consents and submissions; attended hearings; working on Environment Court appeals; and writing Council policy (including developing a Dangerous Dams Policy that was adopted as a template nationally).

Andrew also specialises in regional council policy development, having led the review of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement while at Environmental Canterbury (ECan). He was formerly the Deputy Chair of the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI) and is a member of the Canterbury-Westland Branch. He was an appointee on the Urban Design Protocol Review Advisory Panel and on the Building Act 2008 Amendments to Dam provisions.