Welcome to the
Urban Designers Institute Aotearoa
The Urban Designers Institute Aotearoa (UDIA) has been created to recognise and support urban design as a profession in Aotearoa New Zealand. The UDIA offers accreditation to qualified and experienced Urban Designers, through a clear and robust registration process.
The establishment of the UDIA is partly in response to recent and growing scrutiny by the Environment Court of the practice and expertise of urban design expert witnesses. The UDIA also aims to support integrity and confidence in the urban design profession more generally, with aspirations to assist in professional education and mentoring.
As the name suggests, the interest of the UDIA is in urban designers as practitioners, not urban design as a topic area. The purpose of the UDIA is to establish and promote consistency and transparency in urban design practice, which will benefit clients, decision-makers, other professionals, the public and ultimately, other urban designers.
To achieve this, the UDIA will:
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establish benchmark proficiency expectations for members
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accredit qualified persons as a ‘Registered Urban Designer’
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require members to adhere to a Code of Ethics and Code of Practice and associated professional standards
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establish requirements for continuing professional development, and
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promote consistency and transparency in urban design practice.
The UDIA seeks to complement rather than compete with existing built environment professional and interest group bodies including Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA), Te Kōkoringa Taumata New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI), New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects Tuia Pito Ora (NZILA), Urban Development Institute of New Zealand (UDINZ) and Urban Design Forum Aotearoa (UDF).
Importantly, the UDIA does not seek to take ownership of general or wider built environment debate, deferring to the continued relevance of the UDF, an important melting pot for cross-industry dialogue, debate and advocacy for quality built environments.
Urban designers with a post graduate urban design qualification and a minimum of six years’ practical experience, including familiarity with the Aotearoa New Zealand statutory context, are encouraged to consider applying for membership. For more information on membership requirements and process see Membership.
For more information see Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).