Why Study / Key Benefits

The Master of Environmental Planning (MEP) is a postgraduate qualification designed for students who want to develop professional planning knowledge and skills or progress toward doctoral-level research. Waikato offers both a taught 180-point pathway and a 120-point research master's pathway.

Key benefits include:

• Develop advanced knowledge of environmental planning theory and practical planning applications.
• The 180-point taught pathway is open to graduates from a broad range of bachelor's degrees, including social sciences and sciences.
• Gain foundational knowledge and skills for pursuing planning careers in New Zealand or internationally.
• Study environmental issues from environmental, cultural, technological, social and economic perspectives.
• Develop knowledge of environmental assessment, resource consent processes, plan-making, urban planning and sustainable development.
• Explore M?ori and Indigenous approaches to environmental planning and resource management.
• Develop GIS, quantitative and qualitative research, risk assessment, consultation, mediation and negotiation skills.
• Learn through guest lectures, workshops and field trips involving planning professionals.
• Build connections with the New Zealand Planning Institute, councils, government agencies and private consultants.
• The 120-point research pathway provides supervised independent research and can act as a pathway toward higher research degrees.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The MEP is interdisciplinary and combines advanced environmental-planning papers with subjects from related areas such as geography, environmental law, M?ori studies and environmental policy.

The 2027 MEP structure includes two main groups.

List A: Advanced Study

At least 45 points must be selected from this group. Current options include:

• ENVPL500 – Advanced Environmental Assessment and Planning, 15 points
• ENVPL501 – Planning in Aotearoa New Zealand, 15 points
• ENVPL505 – M?ori Environmental Management, 15 points
• ENVPL509 – Urban Spatial Analysis, 15 points
• ENVPL512 – Advanced Contemporary M?ori, Pacific and Indigenous Environmental Planning, 15 points
• ENVPL590 – Directed Study, 30 points
• ENVPL591 – Research Project
• ENVPL592 – Dissertation, 60 points
• ENVPL593 – Environmental Planning Thesis, 90 points
• ENVPL594 – Environmental Planning Thesis, 120 points
• LEGAL535 – Advanced Environmental Law, 30 points.

List B: Environmental Planning

Current options include:

• ENVPL502 – Environmental Planning: Practicum, 30 points
• ENVPL504 – Plan Making, 15 points
• ENVPL505 – M?ori Environmental Management, 15 points
• ENVPL508 – Plans and Consents, 15 points
• ENVPL509 – Urban Spatial Analysis, 15 points
• ENVPL510 – Planning Theory, 15 points
• ENVPL513 – Planning for a Changing Environment, 15 points
• ENVPL514 – Planning and Resource Management in Aotearoa New Zealand, 15 points.

Key subject areas include:

• Environmental assessment and impact assessment
• Planning theory
• Plan-making and implementation
• Resource consent processes
• Urban spatial analysis and GIS
• Planning for climate and environmental change
• M?ori environmental management
• Indigenous environmental planning
• Planning and resource management
• Environmental law
• Sustainable development
• Urban planning
• Research and independent study.

The 2027 paper listings also include related postgraduate options such as:

• GEOGY520 – Human Dimensions of Environmental Change, 30 points
• GEOGY538 – Automated Spatial Analysis using Geographic Information Systems, 15 points
• GEOGY558 – Applied Geographic Information Systems for Research and Planning, 15 points
• MAORI502 – Sustainable Resource Issues, 30 points
• POLSC537 – Environmental Politics and Public Policy, 30 points.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The MEP does not currently advertise fixed named specialisations in the same way as some professionally structured master's degrees.

Instead, students can develop expertise through their choice of papers and research topic.

Potential areas of focus include:

• Environmental assessment
• Urban and regional planning
• Resource management
• M?ori and Indigenous environmental planning
• Climate-change adaptation
• Sustainable development
• Urban spatial analysis and GIS
• Environmental law and policy
• Housing and urbanisation
• Natural-hazard resilience
• Biodiversity conservation
• Heritage and cultural landscapes
• Green infrastructure
• Population and urban development.

Programme Highlights

The MEP stands out because it combines professional planning education with an interdisciplinary environmental focus.

Key highlights include:

• Level 9 master's qualification.
• 120-point research route or 180-point taught route.
• 1-year or approximately 1–1.5-year study options.
• March and July intakes.
• Hamilton and Tauranga locations.
• Selected papers available online.
• Practical planning orientation.
• Field trips and workshops.
• Guest lecturers from the planning profession.
• Connections with councils, government agencies, consultants and professional networks.
• Strong emphasis on Aotearoa New Zealand planning contexts.
• Integration of M?ori and Indigenous perspectives.
• GIS and spatial-analysis training.
• Environmental assessment and resource-consent knowledge.
• Research pathway suitable for students considering doctoral study.

Career Outcomes

The University lists career opportunities associated with Environmental Planning including:

• Environmental restoration planner
• M?ori engagement advisor
• Project manager
• Researcher
• Sustainability specialist
• Conservation officer
• Policy analyst
• Planner.

The MEP programme page also identifies graduate employment across:

• Resource-management and development consultancies
• Local councils
• National government agencies
• Iwi and hap? organisations
• Environmental and heritage conservation groups
• Urban strategy and design consultancies
• Transport planning organisations
• Housing authorities

Potential professional directions include:

• Environmental planner
• Resource planner
• Urban planner
• Environmental policy analyst
• Sustainability specialist
• Resource-consent/planning consultant
• GIS/spatial planning professional
• Environmental project manager
• Government or local-authority planning roles
• Environmental and conservation planning
• Research and further doctoral study.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The latest 2027 Environmental Planning subject regulations were current as of 7 October 2026. They confirm the current 500-level Environmental Planning paper selection and MEP structure.

Important current requirements include:

• New MEP applicants are governed by the post-1 July 2024 MEP regulations.
• Standard bachelor's-degree entry leads to a 180-point MEP.
• Honours/postgraduate-diploma entry leads to a 120-point MEP.
• At least 45 points must come from List A: Advanced Study.
• The remainder must come from approved List A or List B papers.
• The programme must be completed within five consecutive years of first enrolment.
• A student who fails papers totalling more than 30 points cannot continue in the degree under the regulations.
• A thesis of 90 points or more is externally examined.
• The MEP may be awarded with Distinction when a thesis component is included.

International Student Visa Requirements

An international student undertaking the MEP physically in New Zealand would normally apply for the Fee Paying Student Visa.

Immigration New Zealand currently requires applicants to:

• Have an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Have enough money to pay tuition fees or an acceptable scholarship.
• Have enough money for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Be in good health.
• Be of good character.
• Have a genuine reason for studying in New Zealand.
• Have acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Demonstrate that they can leave New Zealand at the end of their stay.