Event Details

The Women's Infrastructure Network is pleased to present the WIN Northland: Northland's Future - Planning for Change event.

For the first time in over 30 years, the laws that control how and where we build, and how we protect our natural environment are being thrown out and rewritten. In a collaboration between Whangārei District Council and Beca, this planning take-over will explore the changes coming and what impacts you can expect to see on your developments and the growth of Northland.

Join us in learning about this while you are treated to a variety of wines with the challenge, if you so wish to take it on, in guessing all four wines you'll be presented with. The wines will be tastefully paired with some yummy nibbles.

Presenter Details

Yvonne Masefield - Manager - District Plan - WDC

Originally hailing from Kaeo in the Far North, Yvonne has 15 years’ experience as a town planner, having worked in Council organisations and consultancies in Auckland, London, and now Northland.

Yvonne has been involved with feasibility studies, business cases and consenting of major infrastructure projects and development schemes including the redevelopment of Carlaw Park into a mixed use precinct, the London Cycle Hire Scheme, Northern Busway and Auckland Harbour Crossing.  

More recently, Yvonne worked as WDC’s RMA Planning Specialist providing technical advice and guidance to teams across council in the implementation of the District Plan and RMA processes. This included establishing processes to assist the development of Papakainga on whenua Māori, and ensure adequate consideration is given to cultural values in consenting of subdivision and development.

Yvonne now heads up Council’s District Plan team, who are responsible for establishing where and how the Whangarei district grows and develops. The team are currently reviewing how natural hazards are considered and planned for, how sites and areas of cultural significance are identified and protected, and how the District’s development rules and regulations might look under the new environmental legislation that’s replacing the RMA.

Stacey Sharp - Senior Planner, Beca

Originating from the Waikato, Stacey works as part of Beca’s Te Taitokerau planning team. As a town planner, most of Stacey’s time is spent working behind the scenes, helping people navigate environmental rules to turn ideas into reality.

Stacey’s been involved in projects of all scales and sizes, from the rural retirement block subdivisions and sleep outs to transformative major infrastructure projects, including new primary schools, a new inner-city train station, a servicing scheme to unlock the development potential of South Auckland, and more recently, the Whangārei Airport relocation study.

A key part of Stacey’s job is navigating today’s environmental rules, whilst future-proofing major infrastructure projects for success under an uncertain future. 

Sarah Irwin – Manager, Infrastructure Planning,  Whangarei District Council - BSc(Hons), PGDipIM, GCPAM

Sarah has 30 years’ experience in the local government sectors both as an employee and a consultant.  In her early career as Manager, Asset Information at Wellington City Council she was responsible for implementing the enterprise Asset Management System, GIS and Land Information Systems across Council.

Sarah has been involved in all aspects of asset management including system scoping, selection, setup and operation as well as developing of asset management policies, strategies and plans.

A shift to the left saw Sarah move into environmental project management and implementation of fresh water reforms at Auckland Council. 

Since moving to Whangarei District Council, Sarah has been involved with leading the Infrastructure response to reforms and plan changes and managing the consenting of council projects. More recently as Manager, Infrastructure Planning she has the responsibility of developing the Infrastructure Strategy and Asset Management Plans.  This means getting involved in projects that have a long term focus including climate change adaptation.