The Department of Planning Planning is a creative multidisciplinary process used by communities to organise and direct their relationship with the world around them to improve quality of life. It is concerned with the aspirations of individuals and communities, the wise management and equitable allocation of resources, and the protection and enhancement of the environment now and in the future. Planning in New Zealand is an exciting field distinguished by the breadth and diversity of its application.
Planning is about cities, regions, small towns and rural areas.
It is about building linkages among sectors such as housing, transportation, health, education, shopping and work. It is about forging relationships within the agencies of government and with the private and voluntary sectors. It is about improving public decision making to better serve the diverse needs of all segments of the population and it is about building sustainable innovative communities in a robust physical environment. The Planning Department of the University of Auckland has a proud tradition. Established in 1958, its focus has developed from town and country planning to a generic planning curriculum covering resource management law, public policy analysis, social planning, economic development, Treaty of Waitangi issues, enviromental science, infrastucture provision, heritage and building conservation, landscape and settlement design.