I have been busy advocating for better urban development in Tasman since 2021. In 2022 I got together with other built-environment professionals in our region to form the independent think-tank NelsonTasman2050. Over the years I had discussions with our Councillors, made submissions, encouraged and assisted the public in making their own submissions, presented to hearing commissions, wrote to the Ministers and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, presented to Councils, arranged high calibre speakers and was invited myself to speak at various public events. See below my work for Tasman so far.

ADVOCACY

Hope or Richmond South?

I have been advocating against further urban sprawl in Hope since 2021. So far this work included writing to and meeting with Councillors, making submissions, informing the neighbourhood, community meetings and a petition to Tasman District Council.

Sep 26 2025

Dear Minister Chris Bishop, I am an urban designer and a Mayoral candidate for Tasman. Growth management and the transparency of Tasman District Council’s decision-making are the defining issues of this election, with results due on 11 October. I write regarding TDC’s application to either exempt Plan Change 81 from your plan change pause or to approve a Streamlined Planning Process. While TDC will cite consultation through the Nelson Tasman (…) Read the full letter HERE!

Sep 18 2025

Here’s my 5min address to TDC’s Strategy and Policy committee on Thursday, 18 September, prior to the same Council passing Plan Change 81 in secrecy, ignoring community feedback and setting our district on track for further sprawl and loss of productive land. Also interesting to watch immediately after the treatment of Cllr Greening, who was ignored by the Chair when trying to question the need for a confidential session.

Sep 11 2025

About 35 people turned up at Hope Hall to discuss Plan Change 81 and whether the fertile land between Hope and Richmond should be rezoned for business and industrial use. Neither Cllr Kit Maling nor Cllr Jo Ellis would commit to amending PC81 to protect this land. Cllr Glen Daikee didn’t attend. The only sitting Richmond Ward councillor to speak strongly in favour of protecting this highly productive land – and instead focusing growth through intensification – was Mark Greening.

Mar 11 2025

Watch Timo Neubauer present his petition to protect the rural character of Hope against the proposed rezoning to industrial and business land to Tasman District Council.

He highlighted a growing public distrust of the Council as a result of its interactions with residents by Councillors through to communications at officer level. He urged Council to show some leadership by acting on the petition.

Mar 05 2025

Less than one week of gathering support for our petition to protect the rural character of Hope, by striking off the proposed rezoning of highly productive land to “light industrial” and “mixed business” from Plan Change 81 before it gets released for consultation, yielded 188 pen to paper and 214 online signatories.

Timo presents the petition at the Council Chambers on Tuesday, 11 March, 9.30am.

Feb 22 2025

More than 120 people turned up to learn about the impacts of TDC’s imminent Plan Change 81 and future plans for Hope. Timo Neubauer highlighted complex, self-perpetuating feedback loops and how the dire state of Council finances incentivises short-term decision-making, resulting in unaffordable, migration-driven greenfield sprawl – a business model that is doomed to fail.

Apr 25 2022

The Reimagining Richmond South project is based on a number of flawed assumptions regarding future growth predictions, future land demand for housing and business and a fundamental misunderstanding of property
economic principles when it comes to intensification.
We believe that it is preferable for TDC (and NCC) to (…)

Dec 05 2021

It appears that staff at the highest level of TDC’s planning team are not approaching the Richmond South project and/or Future Development Strategy with an unbiased and open mind. I am concerned this does not meet the decision-making obligations on TDC. Whilst we are (…)

Nov 19 2021

I write to raise my concerns regarding the recently-announced structure planning process for Richmond South. It appears that Tasman District Council (TDC) is rushing this project through as a
knee-jerk reaction to an (…)

Well-designed intensification

Tasman deserves well-designed towns and villages that balance density with better amenities, street trees, parks, gardens and playgrounds – vibrant places that all of us can proudly call home. Over the last three years I held presentations on this matter to the public and elected members, I made submissions to TDC and I was invited to help other councils to develop better regeneration strategies.

Jun 23 2025

As a candidate for mayor and someone deeply engaged in shaping the future of our built environment, I urge the Select Committee to reject the Regulatory Standards Bill.

We need smarter, more democratic regulatory tools—ones that uplift communities, respect indigenous rights, and prepare us for the environmental and social challenges ahead.

Nov 08 2024

Timo Neubauer was invited by Selwyn District Council to talk to council staff, councillors and industry leaders in the greater Christchurch area about our urban-form-based alternative Medium Density Standards as a better alternative to MDRS.

His presentation was followed by a hands-on workshop with real world local examples to test how the proposed standards could be applied to the district.

May 29 2024

As part of the Nelson Tasman Climate Action Festival 2024, Timo Neubauer’s webinar gave a brief overview of international research that relates GHG emissions to urban form and what that means for our region.

Timo looked into how our Councils’ town planning activities are currently disconnected from their carbon targets and finished with some recommendations for a better way forward.

May 08 2024

Timo Neubauer advocated for long-term investment efficiency, linking fiscal health with settlement patterns and TDC’s planning decisions He explained the inefficiencies of urban sprawl and urged an investment focus on existing urban areas.

He suggested higher development contributions and targeted rates for new greenfield developments to reflect their real cost to the community.

Dec 12 2023

I arranged for Kainga Ora’s Principal Urban Designer George Weeks to speak to Nelson City and Tasman District Councils as well as presenting at “What If Whakatu Nelson…?“

George “Unpicked Mythical Europe“: We are told that “Kiwis love their cars; public transport is in European DNA” and that transport preferences are somehow genetically determined. The reality is different; people are people.

Nov 16 2023

Magdalena Garbarczyk and Timo Neubauer talked to a full house of interested Nelsonians about transforming Nelson’s ‘unhealthy doughnut’ with a hollow centre into a ‘nice bun’.

We elaborated on the work we do as a think tank of built environment professionals and our vision for a vibrant and liveable Nelson Tasman region with a minimal environmental footprint. Download our presentation slideshow (10MB) HERE.

March 09 2023

Our presentation to TDC’s Strategy and Policy Committee introduces NelsonTasman2050 to the committee and highlights our aims and suggested actions.

This presentation focusses on the importance of enabling well-designed intensification to ensure the enduring enjoyment of our region. Download our presentation slideshow (4.5MB) HERE.

Nelson Tasman Future Development Strategy

This high level strategy guides Council decisions on growth and infrastructure investments. From its very inception in 2022 I have tried to influence this strategy to focus on urban revitalisation rather than greenfield growth. I encouraged and supported public submissions, spoke to Councillors and to the hearing commission, I uncovered irregularities and highlighted issues to the Minister for the Environment and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.

March 07 2023

Dear Mr. Upton,

1. We request that you urgently investigate the adequacy of Aotearoa New Zealand’s planning framework in relation to the climate crisis, and that you report your results to the House of Representatives (…)

February 28 2023

Dear Minister,

1. We consider that the adoption by a Joint Committee of the Nelson City Council (NCC) and Tasman District Council (TDC) on 29 August 2022 of the Nelson Tasman Future Development Strategy 2022-2052 (FDS) fails to meet climate and energy future obligations, including (…)

30 May 2022

We write to express our serious concerns about the nature of the Summary Report (the Report) regarding the Nelson Tasman Future Development Strategy 2022-52 (FDS), compiled to inform Councillors for their Deliberation Hearings starting 31 May 2022. (…)

Apr 28 2022

This is the recording of our presentation to the hearing panel regarding the Future Development Strategy 2022-52.

Download our presentation slideshow HERE.

Apr 13 2022

The draft Future Development Strategy 2022-2052 (FDS) has a singular focus on growth. It pays lip service to GHG reduction, consolidation objectives and the creation of well-functioning urban environments, but the underlying development strategy is not fit to deliver these goals. The spatial strategy is communicated as a (…)

Apr 08 2022

We are concerned about the proposed strategy and would like to help those who share our concerns make their views known to Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council.

The content of the FDS and the associated implications are quite complex, so we have put together this (…)

Development in Mapua

Due to its lack of employment opportunities, Mapua is threatened to turn from a beautiful seaside village into a far-flung commuter suburb. I have argued against proposed significant residential growth, spoke at local community meetings and made submissions and representations to Tasman District Council.

Mar 26 2025

Vincent Revell and Timo Neubauer presented to TDC’s Mapua Masterplan hearing commission. They explained that the proposed growth would turn Mapua into a far-flung commuter suburb, why low-density urban sprawl is unaffordable, how medium density urban form can protect the village’s surrounding countryside and that much better spatial design guidance is necessary to ensure the masterplan delivers favourable results.

September 27 2022

We applaud Tasman District Council’s (TDC) decision to put individual Growth Plan Changes for Mapua on hold and instead to pursue a structure planning process to achieve coordinated, cohesive outcomes for the community and Mapua’s built environment.

We appreciate the opportunity to inject our view and professional opinion into this process (…)

Jul 04 2022

We explain our concerns about the current development approach and its implications on Mapua. We then highlight what well managed village growth might look like and indicate what the community of Mapua can do to promote a better future.

Download our presentation slideshow HERE.

Apr 08 2022

We request that the Growth Plan Change is withdrawn for the reasons set out below

There is a known shortage of employment in Māpua. Existing commuting patterns would be exacerbated: more cars on the road, travelling long journeys. Even the attempt to serve (…)