Himani Bhatia-Mitha
Bachelor of Urban Planning (Honours) graduate Himani Bhatia-Mitha is helping to connect communities around Tāmaki Makaurau as a senior planner.
Why did you decide to study this?
“In high school, I enjoyed calculus and statistics but also English, social studies and geography. My geography teacher suggested to combine my interests – the logical/technical thinking (the maths side) with the evaluative/social thinking (the social sciences side). “I pleasantly stumbled upon Urban Planning when I attended my first UoA Orientation Day, after a long morning of other subjects not quite fitting well. When I heard Urban Planning was about solving complex, sometimes wicked problems, listening and learning from communities and shaping the space and places we live in, within 10 minutes I was completely sold!”
Tell us about your experience studying Urban Planning with us.
I found that there was a real opportunity to collaborate with peers, tutors and lecturers. I still find myself reflecting on the conversations I’ve had with my lecturers when grappling with challenges at work.
What were the most valuable skills you learned from your degree?
“During my studies, and reaffirmed through work experience, I learnt the importance of communicating effectively with stakeholders, taking the time to understand their needs, thinking critically and being evaluative when making decisions, and pausing every so often to look at the bigger picture.”
Can you tell us about any exciting projects you’ve worked on?
“I have spent most of my working career at Te Tupu Ngātahi – Supporting Growth Alliance. Te Tupu Ngātahi is a collaboration between Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and is the largest planning alliance in Aotearoa.
Through Te Tupu Ngātahi, I’ve been working on large infrastructure projects helping to plan the future growth areas in Tāmaki Makaurau for existing and future communities. The Alliance is a very collaborative, fast-paced, outcome- focussed environment, often dealing with complex problems through innovative approaches. A big part of my role as a planner on the Alliance has also involved working in partnership with iwi and engaging with local communities, including our rangatahi – youth.
Recently, I have been involved in securing designations (a planning process to identify and protect land for a future public work, such as a transport project) for a bus rapid transit corridor connecting Botany, through Manukau to the Airport.”
In August, I had the opportunity to prepare and present evidence at a Council hearing – a career first!
For the significant contribution to her planning practice, Himani was awarded the Lance Leikis New Zealand Planning Institute Emerging Planner Award.