Our origins
Commons Planning was formed to provide quality planning services to a region that business founder, Heather Osborne, knows intimately and cares deeply for.
Heather was born in Whangarei, and has returned to work and start a family here after her education. She spent the majority of her younger life in Parua Bay, Whangārei Heads, with two years spent with her family in the Channel Islands, UK. Whangārei Heads remains her tūrangawaewae, and that connection is reflected in the Commons logo which depicts the land contours surrounding her family home.
Heather Osborne
Heather has a Masters of Planning Practice (Hons) Degree from the University of Auckland, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Geography from Otago University and is a member of the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI).
Heather founded Commons with over 10 years experience in the local government and private sector. Time spent in local government saw Heather involved with District Plan development, resource consent processing, and work on large- and small-scale capital projects as an Infrastructure Planner.
More recently working in the private sector, her skill set also covers the preparation of a wide range of residential and commercial land use and subdivision consents and working on a diverse portfolio of community and placemaking projects.
Heather enjoys the relationship-building involved in Resource Management processes and working on projects that require engagement with diverse groups, including hapu and the wider public. She is adept at communicating complex planning tasks, in a way that is easily understood.
Her goals are to support those entering into projects that require navigation of the complex layers of planning and environmental legislation so that it can be a pleasant and stress-free experience.
