Our experience gives us a leading edge. Key to our success is our commitment to critical thinking, an agile, intelligent approach, cultural awareness, and collaborative working relationships.
Founded in 1981 by Jim Bentley and now led by Craig McGarr, Mark Arbuthnot, and Siani Walker, we’re a small team of high-calibre professionals known for getting the job done. With a deep understanding of the rigors of Resource Management and Māori planning matters, we’ve got the skills and expertise to make your project happen.
Together, we provide comprehensive planning and resource management advice, as well as valuable strategic advice and guidance on Māori planning matters. Our team's diverse skillset ensures that we can address the unique needs and challenges of each project while respecting cultural values.
Simply put, we’re the best at what we do. We offer a premium service to fostering meaningful relationships and facilitate optimal outcomes for our clients, every time. So, whatever the scale of your project, we’ll help you succeed with a clear vision and pragmatic advice.
Talk to us today. Now, and into the future, we’ve got the solutions you need.
After 30 years in the profession, Craig McGarr knows a thing or two about Resource Management. Known for his direct approach, practical know-how and unparalleled understanding of the business, Craig offers a level of expertise that’s second-to-none.
Knowing the game inside out is the key to providing a premier service. Sought after for his expertise in strategic
solutions for large capital projects, together with his experience across all sectors, Craig’s specialist advice will save you time, money and stress.
For a clear understanding of what you can achieve, talk to Craig today. He’ll walk you through your best options, with considered, forward-thinking advice.
A member of the Bentley & Co. team since 2005, Mark Arbuthnot is a Director and senior practitioner. With a background in local authority town planning, and 20 years’ experience in both the public and private sectors, Mark has a wide range of experience in finding solutions to complex consenting issues.
Mark’s most recent work has included advising Ports of Auckland Limited on a wide range of projects, including their hydrogen production and refuelling facility, vehicle handling facility, and marine dumping permit under the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf Act. He also obtained resource consent for their inland freight hub activities at Wiri and Waikato.
He is involved with the ongoing master planning and consenting of the Tauranga Crossing regional shopping centre and the Depot large format retail development at Tauriko, Tauranga, and advises Lendlease in respect of their Mall portfolio in New Zealand.
Mark was also responsible for the consenting of the first stage of the Wynyard Quarter redevelopment, including the Daldy Street, Jellicoe Street, Karanga Plaza, North Wharf and Silo Park public realm environments and associated infrastructure, together with the tramway and the North Wharf food and beverage activities.
Tēnā tātou. He uri tēnei nō Te Awa Tupua, arā ko Te Āti Haunui-a-Paparangi, ko Ngāti Tamakōpiri, ko Ngāti Rangi; nō Te Tai Tokerau, arā ko Ngapuhi / Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa, oku iwi. Tēnei rā te mihi.
Practising as a Planner since 2008, Siani joined Bentley & Co. in early 2019 and became a Director in 2023. Previously, Siani worked as a policy planner for 10 years at Auckland Council, where she specialised in local government obligations for Treaty Settlements, Māori Cultural Heritage and Open Space planning.
Siani has a keen interest to incorporate Māori principles and practices into resource management planning, utilising her knowledge and skills to assist and advise a wide range of clients.
Her work includes the master planning and staged subdivision and consenting of 500+ dwellings at Wirihana on the banks of the Puhinui stream on the former Manukau District Health Board site; and facilitating the implementation of the Management Plan for the Pukekiwiriki Paa for Auckland Council.
At an iwi governance level, Siani is an Advisory Trustee for the Whanganui River Settlement Trust, while at a kaitiaki level, she advises Te Kopuka Working Group in respect of the development of the strategy for the Whanganui River, as the Trust Board representative on the Technical Advisory Group.
Siani is also a qualified independent planning commissioner through the Ministry for the Environment Making Good Decisions Programme.
Anthony has been with Bentley & Co. since 2012 and possesses a broad range of Resource Management experience. He thrives on providing quality planning advice and finds it particularly satisfying when the outcomes he achieves stand up to the client’s needs.
He is skilled in the analysis of Policy provisions and processes, providing advice to a range of clients as to their implications, and was heavily involved in the Auckland Unitary Plan submissions and hearings process.
Anthony’s work spans across many sectors of the planning industry, including: the delivery of multi-unit residential developments for Kainga Ora, McConnell Property and Artifact Property; strategic advice, policy development and the consenting of large scale social infrastructure for the Auckland District Health Board and Mercy Hospital; and advice to a wide range of outdoor media clients, and is well versed in the complex regulatory environment of this sector, helping clients achieve nationwide roll-outs of their digital media networks.
Anthony has been sought out to assist with the expansion of existing school facilities for the Ministry of Education across the North Island.
With the team since 2016, Matt has worked on a broad range of commercial and residential developments across the country, with a particular focus on projects within the retirement village sector, fast-food restaurant industry, outdoor advertising, and various housing developments.
Matt has been involved in the consenting of the CCT Lavender Farm, comprising a lavender plantation, lavender oil production, and rural tourism attraction in Karaka. He has also consented a commercial mixed-use redevelopment for the Bonn Family Trust, in Epsom, and has led multiple retirement village developments nationwide for Bloom Living, Oceania Healthcare, and Summerset Group.
Matt is integrally involved in managing the strategic planning and consenting of the Restaurant Brands portfolio across New Zealand, including KFC, Pizza Hut, and the roll-out of Taco Bell.
Matt enjoys preparing quality planning advice for his clients, as well as coordinating projects within a development team, and preparing resource consent documentation for a wide variety private sector clients. Matt strives towards achieving the best outcome possible and takes joy in seeing his projects come to life in the real world.
Since starting her career in 2007, Glodia has over 15 years of professional experience as a Planner in the private and public sectors, both in New Zealand and overseas. She holds a Master's Degree in Urban Design (Hons) and has worked on a wide variety of projects.
After working at a multidisciplinary consultancy in Auckland for 4 years, Glodia moved to Singapore where she worked on several significant planning projects for the Government's Planning Authority, including the 'Cross-Island Rail Line', and the master planning of Punggol Township.
In 2014, Glodia returned to New Zealand and focused her work on delivering successful multi-unit residential and mixed-use developments in the Auckland region, driven by her passion for achieving great outcomes for clients and the community through effective communication and collaboration.
As a recent addition to the Bentley & Co. team in 2022, Glodia has brought her extensive resource management experience and is passionate about her work. She is committed to delivering excellent results for her clients, with recent examples including work for Westpac within the Britomart precinct, and her involvement with submissions on the Auckland Council's Plan Change 78.
Kelby joined Bentley & Co. in August 2022 after graduating from the University of Auckland with a degree in Urban Planning(Hons). Having previous experience as an internship at planning and architecture firm Archiland, Kelby has started his career in the planning world.
Kelby shows a strong interest in multiple fields of planning, including transportation, residential, commercial, and environmental projects. He has an interest in developing his planning knowledge and skills and aims to help clients achieve their goals and provide planning advice in a concise and friendly style.
As a Graduate Planner, Kelby provides general support to the team at Bentley & Co. across a wide range of projects as he develops his skills. This includes research, the review of proposed plan changes, and the preparation of resource consent applications and due diligence analysis.
Priya joined the Bentley & Co. team as an intern in 2022, while she was completing a conjoint Master's in Planning and Design at the University of Auckland. She completed her studies in June 2023 and is excited for the opportunities and experiences that await in her new role as a Planner. Priya has a keen interest in learning about how she can contribute to positive social and environmental outcomes through her projects.
As a Graduate Planner, Priya provides general support to the team at Bentley & Co. across a wide range of projects as she continues to move forward in the industry. Priya has experience assisting with the preparation of resource consent applications, preliminary site and planning analysis, facilitating iwi consultation, and reviewing proposed policy and plan change documents.
