From Accidental Start to Intentional Leadership

Natasha’s Planning journey didn’t start with a grand career vision. It started with curiosity and a knack for geography at school. She “fell into” Planning, but it didn’t take long for her to realise she was right where she needed to be. “I’ve always been drawn to places and spaces, how people live, move, and connect with the world around them,” she says.

What’s kept her hooked? “The variety. No two days or developments are the same. Good Planning isn’t cut-and-paste. It’s about digging into the details and making tailored decisions that shape communities.”

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Backed by Mentors, Built by Integrity

Natasha credits her leadership style to strong mentors and her roots. “I’ve learned the value of slowing down to lead better. Not to have all the answers, but to support the team in finding them. Leadership for me is about backing people 100%.”

She’s big on integrity, accountability, and giving people space to grow in the qualities that reflect CivilPlan’s core values: Straight Up, Raise the Bar, and Stronger Together.

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Where to Next for CivilPlan?

Natasha sees a powerful shift underway. “CivilPlan’s always done good work and now we’re stepping up and telling the world about it. We’re no longer the quiet achievers. We’re bold, and we’re building Auckland.”

As the company eyes expansion across New Zealand, Natasha’s role is to ensure Planning stays at the heart of that growth whilst balancing ambition with community outcomes.

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What Does Good Planning Look Like?

“It’s not just about ticking compliance boxes,” she explains. “Good planning is designing for people first which means safe homes, parks nearby, connections to jobs and whānau. It’s also about outcomes by collaborating with engineers, mana whenua, communities. That’s where the real impact happens.”

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Why CivilPlan’s Approach is Unique

At CivilPlan, “we’re thinking about the bigger picture—land use, the environment, infrastructure—right from day one,” Natasha says. “It’s not just about building. It’s about creating places people want to live in.”

From feasibility through to delivery, Natasha’s team provides clear, legible advice that clients—and councils—can trust at every stage of development.

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Advice to Young Planners

Her message to graduates and new Planners is simple: “Start with ‘yes’. Planners are problem solvers. We get a lot of the tough stuff, but that’s where the real value is. We’re not just interpreting rules—we’re shaping the communities that people live.”

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With Natasha at the helm, the future of Planning at CivilPlan looks set to be bold, people-focused, and full of purpose.

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