Allan Chesswas

Curriculum Vitae
027 362 8375 • 04 475 8694 (hm)
ajchesswas@gmail.com
80 Raroa Road, Kelburn, Wellington 6012

Personal profile

1. Professionally qualified and experienced in Environmental Planning, at both regulatory and policy
levels
2. A keen interest in the interface between planning, local government administration and community
development
3. An academic interest in philosophy, sociology, political theory and the arts
4. Interested in orienting my career towards the more social and cultural, and procedural, RMA
objectives
5. Interests in agriculture & property development

Key transferable skills

1. Policy analysis
2. Research
3. Written communication in both policy and academic work
4. Verbal presentation
5. Resource consent application & evaluation
6. Interpretation & application of local government-related legislation, policy & bylaws
7. Relief & small-scale management experience
8. Problem-solving & leadership exemplified across a wide range of projects
9. Manual labour skills
10. Excellent fitness & coordination

Professional work experience

(2006 – 2008) Policy Planner, Stratford District Council, Taranaki

Responsibilities

1. Review of operative district plan

a. Compile statistical account of previous ten years’ resource consents with
reference to related rules, policies & objectives
2. Creation of second-generation RMA District Plan
a. Research a range of New Zealand District Plans to compare alternative methods
b. Hold meetings with council staff to scope alternatives for notification
3. Presentation of second-generation RMA District Plan
a. Recommend amendments to district plan & lead councilors through workshops
b. Notification of amendments to public and to affected parties
c. Provision of customer service advice to public with regards to proposed District Plan
d. Collation & presentation of submissions
e. Notification of submissions
 f. Collation & presentation of further submissions
4. Chair consultation with Taranaki religious leaders on National Statement on Religious Diversity,
jointly with New Plymouth District Council & South Taranaki District Council
a. Host Regional Forum on Religious Diversity
b. Collate submissions of local religious leaders on National Statement on Religious
Diversity, & report outcome to Human Rights Commission
Major achievements
1. Complete review of operative plan and notification of proposed plan in just over 2 years
2. Involvement of over 30 local religious leaders in Regional Forum on Religious Diversity with
detailed report on outcome to Human Rights Commission

(2005 – 2006) Planner (Job-share/maternity leave cover), New Plymouth District Council, Taranaki

Responsibilities

1. Evaluating resource consent applications & recommending decisions, including:

a. A diversity of land use consents - traffic, amenity, reverse sensitivity, waahi tapu sites,
liquor licensing
b. A number of rural subdivison consents
2. Evidence preparation & presentation for Council hearing
Major achievements
1. Average turnaround on resource consent applications of 10 days
2. Management of Land Use team for two weeks
3. Recommendation at hearing upheld

(2004) Planner, Harrison Grierson Consultants Ltd, Wellington

Responsibilities
1. Preparing resource consent applications for clients
a. Preparation of resource consent applications for Vodafone towers, Summerset Village
2. Planning research & reports for clients
3. Evaluating resource consent applications & recommending decisions for Wellington City Council
a. Recommendations for a range of Wellington City Council land use consent decisions
Major achievements
1. 92 resource consents for Wellington City Council processed in a year as graduate planner,
alongside other work

Other work experience

(2007 – 2009) Kirk, Bruce & Chesswas

Responsibilities
1. Investment & management of capital in subdivision & development of ¼ acre residential property
2. RMA & design advice on 2-lot subdivision & construction of dwelling
3. Manual labour to assist construction of dwelling
Major achievements
1. Completion of dwelling within 12 months of purchase of property

Other jobs
1. (1994 – 2009) Work on family farm (Tututawa Partnership), including management of flock of 300
sheep, and also on farms in surrounding area (East Taranaki)

2. (2009) Self-employed as The Black Singlet, a labour contracting business – fencing, gardening,
landscaping

3. (2008) Librarian for Victoria University Chaplaincy library upon acquisition of 1500 books,
archiving the new additions

4. (2008) Teacher for Postponing Sexual Involvement (PSI) course at Francis Douglas College &
Sacred Heart College, New Plymouth, & Stratford High School & Opunake High School

5. (2003) Residential Assistant to McHardy Hall at Massey University

6. (2000 – 2003) Planning-related student jobs with Manukau City Council and South Taranaki
District Council

7. (2002) Minder for Child, Young People & Family Services

8. (1998) Work for Joe Bros, a fruit & vegetable store in Stratford, Taranaki

Education

 (2009) 70 points of 120 required for Graduate Diploma of Arts (Philosophy,

Religious Studies), Victoria University

 (2003 – 2009) Diploma of Biblical Studies, Laidlaw College,

Auckland/Palmerston North

 (1999 – 2003) Bachelor of Resource & Environmental Planning, Massey

University, Palmerston North, with specialisation in Sociology

Other leadership & management experience

 (2006 – 2008) Vestry member of Holy Trinity Stratford, & representative to

Regional Anglican Synod

 (2007 – 2008) Chair of Eltham Easter Camp, a 4-day interdenominational

youth event in Taranaki

 (2006 – 2007) Chair of The Cross, an interdenominational youth group in

Stratford

 (2004) Founding manager of Old Boys Victoria University Righteous

Brothers Rugby Team

 (2000 – 2002) Committee member then president of Massey University

Christian Fellowship, Massey University’s largest Christian group

 (1999) Founding manager of Massey University Rippers Rugby Team

Interests
Engaged to be married, church, politics, theology, philosophy, history, rugby, tramping, piano (5th grade
RSM), guitar, socializing

Referees

Mike Avery Ralph Broad Mark Grace

Regulatory Manager Manager Consents Staffworker
Stratford District Council New Plymouth District Council Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship
06 765 6099 06 759 6060 06 328 7977
mvaery@stratford.govt.nz broadr@newplymouth.govt.nz
mark.emma@xtra.co.nz