About

Our Team

Core Planning Services offers owner-operated guidance in the Nelson/Tasman region, blending local expertise with a client-focused approach to secure efficient, compliant planning outcomes.

A realistic wide-angle photographic scene of a tidy planning studio interior in the Nelson/Tasman region, featuring a long white desk against a wall-mounted pinboard filled with printed resource consent diagrams, site plans, and neatly annotated aerial photos. A large computer monitor displays a GIS map of a coastal township with zoning overlays. Beside it, bound planning documents and a stack of labeled lever-arch files are lined up in precise order. Natural overcast light streams through a nearby window, creating soft, even illumination and barely-there shadows, establishing a focused, thoughtful atmosphere. Composed at eye level with moderate depth of field, the space feels organized and contemporary, visually representing a professional, detail-oriented planning consultancy environment without any human presence.

A dramatic yet clean photographic image of a resource consent application package assembled on a dark, matte slate surface. In the center lies a stapled, white proposal document with a crisp cover page titled “Resource Consent Application – Nelson/Tasman” in understated typography. Around it are neatly aligned supporting elements: a folded site plan, a color elevation drawing of a small residential development, and a USB drive labeled “Expert Evidence & Reports.” A fine-point graphite pencil and a metal paperclip tray add subtle detail. Side lighting from the left casts defined but soft-edged shadows, highlighting textures of paper and slate. Shot from a slightly elevated angle with shallow depth of field, the mood is precise, confident, and methodical, emphasizing the thoroughness of planning advice and consent preparation.

Local Planning Experts

We combine hands-on experience with a proactive, practical approach to planning, ensuring projects are understood, supported, and delivered in line with regional policy.

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Principal Planner

A highly detailed top-down photographic view of a large printed town planning map spread across a light oak meeting table. The map shows a stylized Nelson/Tasman coastal outline, zoning colors, contour lines, and neatly labeled precincts, with slim metal scale rulers, a compass, and fine-tipped pens arranged precisely along the edges. A closed charcoal-grey folder embossed subtly with “Core Planning Services” lies near the corner. Soft, diffused daylight from an unseen window creates gentle reflections on the glossy map surface and faint shadows from the tools. The mood is calm, analytical, and professional. Shot with sharp focus across the entire frame, clean composition, and photographic realism to convey clarity, order, and trustworthy expertise in town planning consultancy.

Aarav Sharma

CEO

With 15+ years guiding councils and clients through consent processes, our principal planner brings practical, locally informed advice to Nelson/Tasman projects. We specialise in resource consent applications, hearings, and expert evidence, helping clients navigate complex planning rules with clarity and efficiency.

A photographic realism image of a large, wall-mounted planning strategy board in a minimalist office, dedicated to a New Zealand coastal town development. The board features a central printed aerial image of a township near the sea, surrounded by color-coded sticky notes, neatly printed policy excerpts, and small zoning diagrams indicating residential, commercial, and rural zones. Colored thread or thin tape subtly connects related notes, hinting at plan changes, submissions, and review processes. Cool, even daylight from overhead skylights creates a clear, neutral illumination with minimal glare. Captured straight-on with sharp focus and a balanced composition, the atmosphere is strategic and forward-looking, illustrating the complexity and structure of planning policy work while remaining uncluttered and highly professional.

Mateo García

CTO

Having led numerous plan changes and policy reviews, they translate nuanced regulations into workable strategies for land use, designations, and submissions.

Zuri Ndlovu

Engineer

A collaborative planner who prioritises transparent communication, schedules, and precise documentation to keep projects on track while maintaining robust compliance and sound environmental outcomes.

Leila Haddad

Designer

From initial scoping to final consent, our team provides tailored planning advice, timely responses to council requests, and strategic advocacy at hearings to secure favourable outcomes for clients.