What's it really like? 

We're a mix of full and part-timers. Our work culture is super friendly and we love what we do. It's all about life-work balance, supporting each other to live up to our values (courage, trust, hei hāpai ō, creativity, and insight) and smashing gender inequality. We take great pride in our work and in each other, and we care deeply about doing the right thing for the environment.

​We have offices in Martinborough and Taupō, and work out of Saltworks in Christchurch. But really, we are all set up to work anywhere! No kidding - laptops, phones, and the cloud mean we can work in the office, from home, at a client's, or even in an Air B&B when we're on the road.

Meet a few of us.

Rachel Griffiths / Ecologist

It's like I have found 'my people.'

We all have very different backgrounds and ways of working but it really feels like we compliment each other with our individuality/unique skills to bring that magical 'sum of the parts is greater than the whole' thing to life.

I always feel completely supported and listened to, and help is always there if I need it. Conversations are always funny, interesting, often quite random... and I learn something new EVERY day. I really actually do.

Phillip Percy / Director

I love the creative and positive people that I work with!

​I also love that our definition of business profitability is not about making as much money as possible, but about achieving the best overall positive outcomes that we can.

Helen Marr / Director

Opportunities: To do lots of different things, to work with amazing people, to grow my work in any direction I choose (and that everyone can do that).  

Exciting workplace: We really walk the talk on sustainability, smashing the gender pay gap/glass ceiling and work-life balance.

Values: We are values based, we don't sell our soul or our expertise to the highest bidder. I could go on and on and on...

Rachael Annan / Senior Landscape Planner

Working within a values-based company is really important to me. We have a great ‘down-to-earth’ and fun team. I get to do the work I’m passionate about; working within the resource consent process to help get the best ‘on the ground’ results. It’s great to also work among other creatives who understand my very valid other interests… sewing, knitting and macramé (!).

My version of a happy, healthy and sustainable work-life balance is that I work part time. While I’m still available for meetings and hearings as required, I’m also able to pick my kids up from school almost every week day. Our work culture is completely supportive and we get great things done!

Debbie Donaldson / Senior Planner

Perception Planning is full of passionate people who want great outcomes! We have a really flexible workplace in terms of location (I work from home sometimes) and time, making the work/life balance/struggle so much easier. Perception Planning is a very friendly, supportive and creative environment.

Jen Olson / Technical Communicator

Where do I start?! The people are the greatest. So smart and motivated and kind. And we get to work on a wide variety of environmental projects - helping councils write great policy, getting involved in freshwater legislation, citizen science projects, ecology, and working with iwi on resource management issues. Everyone jumps in to help each other with jobs or tricky things all the time. If my dog has to wear the Cone of Shame, I can work from home to keep her company.

In addition to doing really meaningful environmental work, we manage to fit in our other interests and side-hustles: sewing, writing kid's books, cycling, gardening, parenting, volunteering, cooking, golf, art, tramping...