Mary-Jane Grove: From Studio to Planner

After finishing an undergraduate degree in environmental management in Dunedin, Mary-Jane moved to Wellington to enrol in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning programme. We asked Mary-Jane about their highlights, learnings, and life after study.

27 June 2025

What are some of the highlights of your studies?

“I really enjoyed both the Urban Planning Design Studio / Whakamahere Tāone Taupuni Hoahoa—PLAN 411 and Regional Planning Design Studio / Whakamahere ā-Rohe Taupuni Hoahoa—PLAN 412 because of the way it required us to apply the knowledge we'd learnt from other papers and really think about solving real problems.

“I also really enjoyed the amount of interaction we were able to have with people working in the industry.

“This was facilitated brilliantly by Professor Claire Freeman who is able to make and keep connections with so many interesting planners.”

“I also travelled to Chile on an exchange.

“However, because I went overseas, I had to begin my thesis early.

“This meant finding a supervisor who was willing to supervise over Trimester. Luckily, I was given the opportunity to complete a research project through The New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities which doubled as my dissertation.”

What concept/skill have you learned that stands out to you as interesting/valuable/practical?

“One of the most valuable skills I've learnt is how to prioritise elements in a development process and maintain a strategic focus.

“In the Urban Planning Design Studio course, we had to develop neighbourhood plans from both a developer and sustainability perspective. We learned that there were a different set of priorities that underpinned the development, but both still had to primarily align with the interests of the community and the area.”

How have they prepared you for life after study?

"I have a clear understanding of planning processes and practice, and how theory might interact with policy. These are both really important to understand and will be invaluable going into a career in planning."

What are the next steps in your career?

“After my thesis, I will begin looking at planning roles, and particularly opportunities to get involved in planning for affordable housing.”

“My thesis was focused on well-being differences across housing tenure in Aotearoa. This is the area I’ve become really interested in.“In terms of a career, this might involve working for Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, a local council, or a Ministry - either in a policy or consenting role - and being part of a system that enables the provision of more affordable and adequate housing across Aotearoa.”