- Type of qualification
- Master's degree
- Level of study
-
Postgraduate study
Once you’ve graduated with a bachelor’s degree – or have equal experience – you can study at the postgraduate level. Doctoral qualifications require additional entry requirements.
NZQF level 9Our courses follow the New Zealand Qualification Framework (NZQF) levels.
- Time to complete
-
2 years full-time (240 credits)Part-time available
- Where you can study
-
Distance and online
-
International students
International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.
- Not open to international students
Study a Master of Resource and Environmental Planning – MRP
Become a highly respected planning professional with Massey’s Master of Resource and Environmental Planning. This postgraduate qualification is accredited by the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI). It will give you practice-focused learning, field trips and guest speakers to develop or hone the skills you’ll need as a professional planner.
Shape the future
As a planner, you could work in a diverse range of workplaces. You’ll get perspectives on both the natural and urban environment. This will make you a well-rounded professional capable of working anywhere in the world. There’s a strong emphasis on developing critical skills that will ensure you can respond to the rapid change in our political, urban and resource environments. The knowledge and skills you develop will help future-proof your career.
Study in an established environment of excellence
This qualification is recognised internationally. You’ll learn from staff who are planning practitioners and leaders in their chosen research fields.
Flexible learning
The Master of Resource and Environmental Planning is the only accredited planning degree you can do wherever you live. Most students complete their degree while in the workplace. This reduces the financial strain of making a career change.
A MRP is a good fit if you:
- want a professionally recognised planning degree
- want to change career while still in the workplace
- are interested in developing planning skills and knowledge.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
Admission to Massey
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Specific requirements
To enter the Master of Resource and Environmental Planning you will have been awarded or qualified for:
- a bachelor’s degree with at least a B grade average across the highest level courses, or
- the Bachelor of Resource and Environmental Planning, with at least a B+ grade average across the highest level courses, or
- the Postgraduate Diploma in Planning with at least a B grade average (Professional Pathway) or a B+ grade average (Research Pathway).
If you have a Bachelor of Resource and Environmental Planning with a B+ average from Massey University or Postgraduate Diploma in Planning with a B grade average from Massey University as outlined above, you may apply for credit towards Part One of the qualification.
You will need to provide copies of all official academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.
English language requirements
To study this qualification you must meet Massey's English language competency requirements.
If English is not your first language and the admission qualification was not completed at a University where English is the medium of instruction, you must have achieved an IELTS of at least 7 with no band less than 6 within the preceding 5 years.
Time limits for Honours, Distinction and Merit
Where your qualification is completed within the stated time limit and to a high standard, you may be able to graduate with a class of Honours.
- Look for information under ‘Student Progression’ in the General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Postgraduate Certificates.
- Contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.
Prior learning, credit and exemptions
For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:
- review the Recognition of Prior Learning regulations
- contact us through the Get advice button on this page.
English language skills
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.
Maximum time limits for completion
There are maximum time limits to complete postgraduate qualifications. If you do not complete within the maximum time, you may be required to re-apply for the qualification if you wish to continue your studies.
All requirements must be completed within 6 years of first enrolling in the Master of Resource and Environmental Planning degree.
Official regulations
To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations or this qualification.
You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates.
Returning students
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
In some cases the qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.
Structure of the Master of Resource and Environmental Planning
Structure of the Master of Resource and Environmental Planning
Courses are offered in alternate years. This means full-time study is not available for the entire qualification.
The Master of Resource and Environmental Planning is a parts-based qualification. That means you must complete the first part, before moving to the second.
The majority of students find that the professional pathway best suits their needs.
Professional pathway
For progression to Part Two of the Professional Pathway, you must achieve at least a B grade average in 180 credits of courses completed in Part One.
Note: If you are studying the professional pathway full-time and you achieve at least a B grade average in your first year (120 credits), you may be given approval to study Part Two concurrently with the remaining 60 credits of Part One courses.
Research pathway
For progression to Part Two of the Research Pathway, you must achieve at least a B+ grade average in the courses completed in Part One.
Courses and specialisations
Courses and specialisations
Credit summary
Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.
240 credits
Professional Pathway
- Part One compulsory course – 90 credits
- Part One courses selected from the Schedule – 90 credits
- Part Two professional inquiry – 60 credits
Research Pathway
- Part One compulsory course – 90 credits
- Part One courses selected from the Schedule – 30 or 60 credits
- Part Two thesis – 90 or 120 credits
Advanced entry: Those who have already completed specified qualifications in advance of the minimum entry requirements and have been granted credit for it, may be able to complete this degree in 120 credits.
This is a parts-based qualification. This means there are regulations around your completion of Part One before progressing to Part Two, etc.
Part One
Compulsory courses
Course code: 132731 Planning Law 30 credits
An overview of planning law in the Aotearoa New Zealand context. Sources of law, key influences that shape it, and practical legal skills to understand, analyse and apply it in practice.
View full course detailsCourse code: 132732 Planning Theory 30 credits
An advanced study of the philosophically, ethically and theoretically unsettled foundations of planning.
View full course detailsCourse code: 132736 Planning Practice 30 credits
This course provides students with an understanding of planning ethics, planning processes/planning practice (including plan and policy development, plan evaluation, development control, and/or strategic/spatial planning), and it provides experiential opportunities to apply this knowledge in a practice-like setting using emerging/topical planning issue(s).
View full course detailsElective courses
Course code: 132729 Mana Taiao: Advanced Māori Planning 30 credits
An exploration of the Māori Planning world extending from pre-contact to today. Students are encouraged to position themselves in relationship to this world, as tangata whenua and as allies, and to critically assess how they might be of service to the people and the whenua.
View full course detailsCourse code: 132730 Policy Analysis and Evaluation: Foundations and Practice 30 credits
This course develops advanced knowledge and applied capability in public policy analysis, design, and evaluation within planning and governance. Students develop professional judgement in policy analysis and evaluation through engagement with orthodox and alternative methods suited to complexity, uncertainty, and decolonising governance.
View full course detailsCourse code: 132734 Transport & Urban Planning 30 credits
This course introduces advanced professional practices in transport and urban planning. The course applies a broad understanding of the principles, policies and practices of urban planning in analysing development proposals for promoting sustainable transport. The course encourages students to analyse and visualise low-carbon and inclusive urban development in decolonised cities.
View full course detailsCourse code: 132735 Reframing Human-Nature Relationships in Environmental Planning 30 credits
An advanced, Te Tiriti-led transdisciplinary approach to the cultural, philosophical, institutional, and practical issues involved in understanding human-nature relationships and managing natural resources in Aotearoa-New Zealand including analysis of appropriate local and international case-studies.
View full course detailsCourse code: 132742 Planning History: From Town Planning to Resource Management 30 credits
An advanced exploration of the historical development of planning as a discipline and profession in New Zealand.
View full course detailsCourse code: 132751 Planning for Natural Hazards and Climate Resilient Development 30 credits
Advanced study of natural hazards planning to build hazard- and climate-resilient communities that have just, sustainable and flourishing futures. Understand and apply planning processes and tools to assess hazard exposure and vulnerability, reduce hazard and climate risks, improve disaster readiness, develop effective response capabilities, facilitate recovery, and enable climate resilient development.
View full course detailsCourse code: 145739 GIS Principles and Applications 30 credits
A conceptual and operational understanding of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This course provides a postgraduate-level introduction to fundamentals of spatial data creation, manipulation, management, visualisation and analysis.
View full course detailsPart Two: Professional Pathway
Course code: 132890 Professional Inquiry in Planning 60 credits
An advanced holistic exploration of planning-based research methods and their culturally-informed application to independent research and analysis of a relevant planning problem, and identification of potential solutions.
View full course detailsPart Two: Research Pathway
Option One (Choose at least 90 credits from)
Course code: 132893 Thesis 90 Credit Part 1 45 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 132894 Thesis 90 Credit Part 2 45 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsOption Two (Choose at least 120 credits from)
Course code: 132815 Thesis 120 Credit Part 1 60 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 132816 Thesis 120 Credit Part 2 60 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsFees and scholarships
Fees and scholarships
2026 tuition fees
- Domestic students: $11,645
- International students: Not applicable
Tuition fees are estimates only. The exact fees charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment. The estimates are for full-time study (120 credits). Fees are in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The estimates do not include the Student Services Fee. This fee is $1,164 for on-campus students and $948 for distance students for full-time study (120 credits). For more information about this fee and other fees you may need to pay, see non-tuition fees.
There may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
Course fees
You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.
Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme, including how much could be covered and your eligibility on the Inland Revenue website.
Scholarships and awards
- Beca Scholarship for Rangitāne o Manawatū Students
- Cat Pausé Postgraduate Scholarship
- John McArthur Geography Research Scholarship
- Massey University Master's Research Scholarship - Semester Two
- Massey University Postgraduate Overseas Research Grant
- Massey University Postgraduate Scholarship - Semester One
Careers and job opportunities
Careers and job opportunities
With a Master of Resource and Environmental Planning, you could work in a variety of fields as diverse as planning, policy making, economic development, nature conservation and international development.
You’ll be able to apply your training locally or overseas in a variety of professional and applied environments such as:
- city/district councils
- regional councils
- Central government (eg, Ministry for the Environment, Department of Conservation, New Zealand Transport Agency)
- non-government organisations
- environmental and other non-governmental organisations.
What our students say
“I chose the qualification, as it is recognised by the NZ Planning Institute. Also because I could do the study part time and extramurally, in order to balance the study with my full time workload and my two young children.”
Te Rarawa
“Studying at Massey has allowed me to combine my interest in planning with my vision to grow indigenous knowledge”
New Zealand Planning Institute
Massey's planning degrees have been accredited by the New Zealand Planning Institute – Te Kokiringa Taumata for decades.
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