Phocus Planning was established in 2020 to provide experienced professional planning services to assist private development proposals and regulatory agency support.
As a consultancy, we work closely with councils, clients and partners on a diverse, and often complex range of projects, in both the urban and natural environments. With over 20 years of professional experience in the private sector and local government, we are able to assist with all facets of your development proposal and regulatory needs.
Phil Hindrup
BRP
Principal Planner | Director
- Bachelor of Resource and Environmental Planning specialising in Geography – Massey University
- Qualified RMA Decision Maker
Phil graduated from Massey University in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in Resource and Environmental Planning and has over 20 years professional experience having worked in both local government and the private sector.
Phil brings a broad range of experience having undertaken both technical and project management roles, and in addition to Resource Management Planning, he has developed a sound understanding and proven track record in the world of Transport Planning.
Phil is experienced in the preparation and processing of numerous resource consent applications for District and Regional Councils, policy formulation, Environment Court mediation and preparation and presentation of expert Planning evidence. Recently Phil has been preparing a number of resource consent applications to the Palmerston North District Council, with a particular focus on sought after urban design principles and project assessment against landscaping and modern design assessment criteria. This has involved working with a range of experts including urban designers, architects, surveyors and landscaping professionals.
Phil is an accredited Hearings Commissioner having completed the Ministry for the Environment’s Making Good Decisions training. He has considered and made decisions on multiple consent applications on behalf of councils. He has also sat alone as an Independent Commissioner where he has heard and determined consent applications.
Phil has a sound understanding of the science, engineering (environmental and civil), transportation, urban design, wind energy and ecological (terrestrial and water) disciplines. He has significant experience in all facets of planning (transport, regional and urban) which allows him to manage multi-disciplinary and integrated development opportunities.
Previous to starting Phocus Planning, Phil’s the manager of the Transport Services Team at Horizons Regional Council, responsible for public transport service delivery, road safety education and the delivery of strategic integrated land transport systems. This work involved consistent advocacy and influence of business and political leaders, facilitation of transport related economic growth opportunities, management of staff and key processes and strong financial acumen. This included work supporting the development of business cases for large infrastructure projects, multi-criteria analysis and strategic alignment of key projects to achieve organisational objectives.
Phil is an innovator with strong critical thinking skills, with his leadership roles having had a focus around organisational impact, staff mentoring and facilitating culture change. He has great rapport with staff, clients and customers and has strong facilitation skills in working towards sought after outcomes.
Previous Roles
Manager Transport Services, Horizons Regional Council 2014-2020 | Team Leader Consents, Horizons Regional Council 2013-2014 | Senior Consents Planner, Horizons Regional Council 2008-2013 | Consents Planner, Palmerston North City Council 2005-2008 | Planner, Horowhenua District Council 2005 | Policy Planner, Hawkes Bay Regional Council 2004-2005 | Consents Planner, Hawkes Bay Regional Council 2002-2004 | Planner VK Consulting Environmental Engineers 2001-2002
Manager Transport Services, Horizons Regional Council 2014-2020
Team Leader Consents, Horizons Regional Council 2013-2014
Senior Consents Planner, Horizons Regional Council 2008-2013
Consents Planner, Palmerston North City Council 2005-2008
Planner, Horowhenua District Council 2005
Policy Planner, Hawkes Bay Regional Council 2004-2005
Consents Planner, Hawkes Bay Regional Council 2002-2004
Planner VK Consulting Environmental Engineers 2001-2002
RMA Planning
- Processing and lodgement of numerous urban development and housing proposals for District and City Councils.
- Processing and Compliance Manager for Te Ahu a Turanga Manawatu – Tararua Highway project.
- Has extensive experience in consenting large infrastructure projects including windfarms, wastewater treatment plants and large roading projects.
- Qualified RMA Commissioner having sat on several RMA hearings Panels.
- Independent decision maker on the State Highway 2 Watchman Road intersection in Napier near the Hawke’s Bay Airport.
- Currently provides Senior Planner support to a number of councils with processing resource consents and mentoring junior staff.
- Key submitter for Horizons to the Te Ahu a Turanga Notice of Requirement process supporting their needs and advocating for improved walking and cycling opportunities.
Horizons Regional Council Regional Land Transport Plan
Led the development of the 2015-18 and 2018-21 Regional Land Transport Planning documents which set out the Region’s strategic land transport priorities and which gave birth to Accessing Central New Zealand. This work involved the coordination of numerous meetings and engagement with the region’s political masters and with NZTA to ensure alignment with the National Land Transport Programme and the Long-Term Strategic View (Arataki). The plans have supported and been a catalyst for significant investment into the land transport network with commitment being secured tor large scale projects such as Te Ahu a Turanga Manawatu Gorge Replacement Route), Otaki to North of Levin, KiwiRail Freight Hub relocation project in Palmerston North and future investment in Lower North Island Passenger Rail (Palmerston North to Wellington).
Horizons Regional Council Regional Public Transport Plan
Led the development of the 2014-2024 Regional Public Transport Plan. Through this process significant investment into the region’s public transport, including a number of new services for the centres of Palmerston north, Whanganui and Levin. The plan is vital as it sets out the region’s vision for public transport and how this will support other transport modes thereby providing a holistic and integrated multi-modal system meeting people’s social and economic needs.
Business Case development
Have been involved in multiple Business Case processes including:
- Te Ahu a Turanga (Manawatu Gorge Replacement Route)
- KiwiRail Freight Hub relocation project, Palmerston North
- Palmerston North Integrated Transport Investments proposal (Regional Freight Ring Road)
- Accessing Central NZ PBC
- SH1 Pairere to Waiouru
- Food HQ (PN southern entrance)
- State Highway 47 (Forgotten Highway)
- Napier to Taihape Road
- Lower North Island Passenger Rail (Palmerston North to Wellington)
- Tongariro National Park Alpine Bus DBC
Multi Criteria Analysis
Involved with numerous MCA processes including:
- Te Ahu a Turanga (Manawatu Gorge Replacement Route)
- KiwiRail Freight Hub relocation project, Palmerston North
- Palmerston North Integrated Transport Investments proposal (Regional Freight Ring Road)
- State Highway 4 (Te Oreore Slip)
Georgia Tyree
BA
Senior Planner
- Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Sociology and Criminology, minor Social Policy – Victoria University of Wellington.
- Currently completing Postgraduate Diploma in Planning – Massey University.
- Associate membership of New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI Assoc.)
Georgia joined Phocus Planning in 2024, previously having worked in local government since graduating from Victoria University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree. Georgia has experience in District and Regional Planning, having worked at Horizons Regional Council and Horowhenua District Council. Her experience includes processing a wide arrange of resource consents and other applications lodged to Councils, collaborating with technical experts on challenging application matters, working closely with iwi to achieve positive outcomes, and providing planning advice.
Georgia most recently worked for Horowhenua District Council in their planning team. Georgia’s District Council experience includes processing rural and residential subdivision resource consents, outline plans of works and waivers, and land use activities. In her role at the District Council, she also assisted with the implementation of the National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land and provided advice to customers on their rural subdivision applications. Georgia also managed and organised work programmes for internal and external staff.
Georgia’s Regional Council experience of processing applications ranges from water permits, dairy discharge permits, stormwater discharge permits, land use consents such as earthworks or activities within native habitat, and intensive farming. In her role at the Regional Council, Georgia also worked closely with iwi as part of her duties processing applications and updating internal processes to better allow for iwi input into decision-making. Georgia has also been involved in a Plan Change for the Horizons Regional Council One Plan, aligning the Regional Policy Statement and Plan with the National Planning Standards.
Georgia has experience working with a range of technical experts to contribute to decision making processes, including engineers, architects, surveyors, ecologists, erosion and sediment control experts, and contaminated land experts. Georgia has a good working knowledge of the different facets of resource consenting and resource management.
Georgia is an organised person who strives to achieve positive outcomes to all parties involved in the resource consenting process. Georgia cares about achieving positive environmental outcomes and uses her understanding of the planning system in Aotearoa New Zealand to succeed in this regard. Georgia’s good understanding of both the regional and district planning context will contribute to a helpful solution for the client.
Senior Resource Management Planner, Horowhenua District Council 2023-2024
Consents Planner, Horizons Regional Council – 2020-2023
Graduate Policy Analyst, Horizons Regional Council 2019-2020.
RMA Planning
- Processing rural and residential subdivision resource consents and subsequent s223/s224 approval for District Councils.
- Processing residential and industrial land use activities for District Councils.
- Processing groundwater and surface water permits for Regional Councils.
- Processing dairy discharge permits, domestic wastewater discharge permits, and stormwater discharge permits for Regional Councils.
- Processing intensive farming (sheep and beef, and dairy) land use consents for Regional Councils.
- Processing land use activities such as earthworks, bridge construction, culvert construction, activities in rare, threatened and at-risk habitats, etc, for Regional Councils.