About Me
My name is Kevin Small, I am both a Licensed Cadastral Surveyor and a resource management planner. I finished my Batchelor of Surveying degree at the University of Otago in 1996. I then worked for two years in the United Kingdom and Kuwait doing a mixture of land and hydrographic surveying. In 1999 I returned to New Zealand to study at the University of Otago for a Masters degree in Regional and Resource Planning (MRRP).
Since completing my planning qualification I have worked for surveying and planning firms in Otago and Southland. As part of this work I have been involved in the surveying, engineering and planning of developments from Auckland to Stewart Island. I am now based in Southland and Otago working for Absolute Land Solutions, a survey and planning firm providing services in Southland, Otago and Auckland, click here for the Absolute Land Solutions website.
My life experience includes buying a piece of land and subdividing it. The whole experience in development has given me an appreciation of all that is involved in the different parts of a subdivision. I also bought my own house, which was in need of some TLC, and then proceeded to do renovations on it.
Both the subdividing and renovating experiences have helped me to see the whole picture of what goes on, not just the side a planner or surveyor usually sees.
Over my time surveying and planning I have become increasingly aware of a lack of accessible and all encompassing information regarding the planning and surveying process. The majority of the people who do developments or subdivide are "mum and dad developers". A large number of developments are effectively the selling off of surplus land. Many of the first time subdividers and developers are unaware of the complexities involved in doing something that seems simple. Many people are amazed at the timeframe of most developments.
The purpose of this site is to help you to see how the land lies when using your property in any way imaginable within New Zealand. A secondary purpose is to help you to understand some of the terminology and the process, and to help you to know what to expect through the whole process.
My aim for the website is to empower you to become more aware and understanding of the process, to make things more efficient for you and to save you money while making you more successful in your ventures.
I have prepared this site in my own time. As part of my aim I have not aligned this site with any other company. I do however intend for this site to provide a list companies where you can talk to a surveyor, planner, lawyer, real estate agent, etc in your area.
While I have undertaken every effort to insure the information to be correct some things inevitably slips through. Please let me know if you have any queries regarding any of the information.
Also if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. At the moment it can take a couple of days to make my reply so if you have something urgent, please call me on my mobile phone 027 237 5011.
Best Regards.
Kevin Small
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