Strategies, policies and plans –
from research to adopted documents
I run strategic planning processes for councils and not-for-profit organisations across New Zealand. I can take on the whole project, or just the part your team can’t get to.
When to bring me in
Most people get in touch with me in these situations:
- a deadline is getting closer and the document hasn’t been drafted
- consultation feedback has been collected, but no one has time to work through it
- the person leading the project has left, and the work can’t wait
- an issue has been raised at a meeting and you now need to establish a way forward that people can support
- a government policy change means your current policy or plan.
If you’ve been saying ‘I’ll get to it this afternoon’ every morning for a fortnight, that’s usually a sign the project needs someone with uninterrupted time to run with it.
Two ways I can help
The full process
I take the project from the first read of the background material through to a document your council or board can adopt. That includes research, stakeholder engagement, feedback analysis, and writing the strategy, policy or plan. You stay involved at the key decision points, and I take care of the work in between.
One piece of the work
If your team is running the project but one stage is beyond your capacity this quarter, I can take on that stage by itself:
- research and background reports – a clear picture of where things stand, with ideas and questions worth testing
- community engagement plans – who to talk to, how and when, drawing on the IAP2 spectrum of public participation
- consultation documents – the issues and options in plain language, so people can give informed feedback
- feedback analysis and deliberations reports – submissions summarised and analysed, with recommendations for decision makers
- strategies, policies, plans and bylaws – from an agreed outline to a document ready for adoption.
Not sure exactly what you need? We can work it out together in a quick call.
How a project runs
For complex projects I use a four-phase process. It’s a map rather than a prescription, so if you’ve already done the early thinking we can start at a later stage in the process.
- Research and framing – I read the background material, talk to the people closest to the work and write a report on where things stand, with ideas worth testing.
- Testing the direction through informal engagement – I test those ideas with stakeholders, usually through interviews and a short survey. Then I develop recommendations, plus a one or two-page outline of the plan.
- Testing and refining the plan through formal consultation – a second round of engagement on the draft version of the plan, including how it will be delivered, followed by development of the final document with clear ways to measure progress.
- Handover – you receive every contributing document as a searchable knowledge base, so the thinking behind the plan stays in your organisation.
You provide access to the background documents, a contact person or small group who can give feedback and approve each step, and your advice on who to talk to.
[Read more about how I work.]
How I use AI on your project
AI is a big help with some of the slower tasks in a strategic planning process, such as sorting and grouping hundreds of comments, finding a reference in a source document, or using a report as the basis for the first draft of a consultation document.
My rule is that every AI step is followed by a manual step. I read the stakeholder feedback myself, I make the recommendations, and I stand behind the content of every document I hand over.
I discuss AI during the set-up phase, and only use it on your project if you’re happy for me to do so.
Recent projects
- Nelson-Tasman Youth Sector Action Plan – finalised in October 2026
- Submissions analysis for a Vehicles on Beaches bylaw – delivered in September 2026
- Community Facilities Engagement Report – prepared in 2025 to support engagement in 2025, which led to decisions now being implemented.
- Top of the South Volunteer Strategy – completed in 2024 and now being implemented via a supporting action plan.
- Urban Environments Bylaw – adopted in 2024
- Cat Management Bylaw – adopted in 2024 after two phases of engagement (informal and formal).
What clients say
Fees
Every project starts with a conversation about what you need. I then send you a customised proposal with a fixed price, so you know the cost before any work begins. If your organisation prefers an hourly rate, we can talk about that too.
If partway through we decide to change the approach, such as adding more engagement processes, reports or workshops, I’m happy to talk through the options and what they would cost. I want the right outcome for your project.
Common questions
Will you understand how our organisation works?
I spent 19 years at Nelson City Council and have worked with councils and not-for-profits across New Zealand for the last 12. You won’t need to explain what a deliberations report is, or what a consultation document has to achieve.
Our timeline is tight. Can you deliver on time?
Deadlines are part of almost every project I take on. The proposal sets out a timeline for each step, and we agree on timeframes before I start.
How involved will I need to be?
You’ll review and approve the work at the end of each phase, and help me decide who to talk to. Between those points, I keep the project moving while you get on with everything else you need to do.
What happens to the information when the project ends?
You keep all of it. Every document that contributed to the final version is handed over in a searchable form, so whoever is responsible for implementation can see the reasoning behind each recommended action.
Next step
If you have a document due, or feedback waiting to be analysed, please get in touch. We can talk through where your project is at and whether I’m the right person to help.
Email: debra.bradley@writingforcouncils.co.nz
Phone: 021 215 4698
Alternatively, if you have staff available but want them to make good use of AI on this kind of work, my AI training may be a better fit.
