Environmental Planning & Policy
Using environmental policy, district plans, and research to understand development decisions, protect ecosystems, and plan for an uncertain future.
YABYA
KEWAT
Environmental Planner & Spatial Practitioner
I am an environmental planner and public-space practitioner based in Hamilton (Kirikiriroa), New Zealand.
My work sits at the intersection of how people experience places and how policy, ecology, and design shape them. With a foundational background in sculpture, large-scale civic art, and international participatory dialogue, I bring an interdisciplinary perspective to urban and environmental planning, viewing public spaces not just as physical infrastructure, but as living laboratories of community life.
Currently completing my Master of Environmental Planning (MEP) at the University of Waikato, I focus on local government planning frameworks, resource consenting, and sustainable urban development across New Zealand.
What I Bring
GIS & Spatial Analysis
Using maps and spatial data to examine patterns in employment, land use, and access to places, and explain what they mean for planning.
Urban Planning & Public Space
Combining site observation, design, and experience delivering public installations to explore how public spaces can welcome more people and support everyday life.
The Journey
From Material to Policy
Before stepping into formal environmental planning, my practice was grounded in material culture and the public sphere. As a trained sculptor (MFA) and Head of Operations at Karaha Studio, I managed large-scale public installations from tender through to site execution, navigating regulatory compliance, multi-disciplinary teams, and municipal partnerships.
Facilitating global climate dialogues for the Museum for the United Nations (UN Live) deepened my commitment to environmental governance: seeing firsthand how local environmental challenges must connect directly to broader policy discussions.
Today in New Zealand, I combine that practical spatial awareness and problem-solving mindset with contemporary planning practice, working toward resilient communities under the Resource Management Act (RMA) framework and local council governance.
