The Urban Advisory

What The Urban Advisory does

The Urban Advisory (TUA) is a privately-held strategic consultancy headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, founded over a decade ago by Dr Natalie Allen and Greer O'Donnell. It operates as a specialist urban strategy advisor with an integrated four-service practice: Research (evidence-based data collection, social impact assessment, surveys), Strategy (housing, precinct, and spatial planning strategy), Design (precinct design, masterplanning, and urban design reviews), and Delivery (deal origination, business case development, procurement, and partnership structuring). TUA serves central and local government, iwi Māori, property and development clients, and community organizations across Aotearoa New Zealand.

The firm's core proprietary assets are its integrated methodology and the New Zealand Housing Survey, a representative nationwide research initiative that produces proprietary housing data to support consulting engagements. Delivery is resourced by a small in-house team (1-10 employees) augmented by a curated Network of Design Professionals spanning urban design, landscape architecture, planning, and engineering, alongside research partnerships with University of Auckland, AUT, Unitec, and University of Otago. The Knowledge Hub and TUA Impact initiative extend its positioning through sector thought leadership.

The business model is project-based professional services: bespoke engagements priced on scope, with revenue derived from government, iwi, property developer, and community clients. Notable quantified outcomes include securing $2.5M in funding for a Māori housing project and developing a $98M Urban Renewal Programme for Hutt City Council, demonstrating the firm's ability to operate at scale on major institutional mandates despite its small core headcount.

Name

The Urban Advisory

Legal name

The Urban Advisory

Website

https://theurbanadvisory.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Urban Advisory is an Auckland-based specialist consultancy providing integrated research, strategy, design, and delivery advice on housing and urban development to government, iwi Māori, property developers, and community organizations across New Zealand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Development Consulting

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Real Estate Development & Feasibility Advisory (Highest-and-Best-Use, Entitlements Support) (BPAJANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Real Estate Market Research & Economic Advisory (Demand/Supply, Location Analytics) (BPAJANAD), Real Estate Public-Private Partnership (PPP) & Infrastructure-Adjacent Real Estate Advisory (BPAJANAL)

Keywords

• Urban strategy consulting
• Housing development advisory
• Spatial planning services
• Urban design advisory
• Urban research consultancy

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Strategic Consultancy Services: TUA generates revenue through providing integrated urban strategy consulting services including research, strategy, design, and implementation advisory. Projects are delivered across government, iwi Māori, property development, and community sectors, with engagement structured around specific project scopes and deliverables.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Urban Advisory is a strategic consultancy specialising in housing and urban development, offering an integrated urban strategy practice that spans four core service lines: Research, Strategy, Design, and Delivery. The firm uses advanced data platforms and evidence-based methodologies to understand people, places, and urban systems, then develops data-informed strategies, designs plans and precincts, and remains engaged through delivery to ensure implementation. The practice serves government, iwi Māori, developers, and community groups across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Product overview

The Urban Advisory offers an integrated urban strategy consultancy practice comprising four core service offerings: Research Services, Strategy Services, Design Services, and Delivery Services. These services work together seamlessly to move projects from vision through planning and design to procurement and implementation, creating liveable, inclusive, and future-ready places. As a flagship initiative, TUA also operates The New Zealand Housing Survey, a data collection program that gathers quality data from New Zealanders to support evidence-driven housing decisions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Services A core consultancy service using advanced data platforms and evidence-based methodologies to understand people, places, and the systems that shape them. Capabilities include literature and policy review, market research, sentiment surveys, outcomes monitoring and evaluation, social impact assessment, urban amenities assessment, co-design and design thinking facilitation, and community and stakeholder engagement. Designed for government agencies, iwi Māori, property developers, and community groups making urban and housing decisions.
• Strategy Services A core consultancy service that turns research insights into actionable, delivery-focused plans. Defines clear goals and develops data-informed strategies that guide decision-making and investment. Strategies are developed across housing, precincts, place and spatial planning, economic development, sustainable growth, future development, and Kāinga and whare strategies. For government, iwi, developer, and community clients in New Zealand.
• Design Services A core consultancy service that shapes and operationalises strategy and visually communicates the vision for a place. Capabilities include precinct design and planning, spatial and masterplanning, town centre development, community-centred design advice, urban design reviews, and private plan changes and Section 32 reports. TUA works with a wide network of design professionals to bring the right expertise to each project.
• Delivery Services A core consultancy service focused on deal origination and initiation that remains engaged through implementation. Services include business case development, project brief development, deal origination and partnership structuring, procurement and commercial advice, programme and project governance, support for Māori-led development planning, and development feasibility and property advisory. Positioned as a key differentiator versus strategy-only consultancies.
• The New Zealand Housing Survey TUA's flagship research initiative that collects high-quality, representative data from people across the motu (New Zealand). The insights generated support government, iwi, local authorities, community organisations, and industry leaders to make stronger, evidence-driven housing decisions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Secured $2.5m of funding for Te Pai Roa Tika o te Taitokerau housing project
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of AucklandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTUA partners with the University of Auckland to support emerging talent in the urban development sector through mentoring, internships, guest lectures, and project-based learning opportunities.
• AUT (Auckland University of Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTUA collaborates with AUT to provide students with exposure to real-world urban strategy projects and career pathways in the sector.
• Unitec Institute of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Unitec to support the next generation of urban professionals through practical learning opportunities.
• University of OtagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTUA works with University of Otago to contribute to a strong, future-focused urban professions pipeline.
• Network of Design ProfessionalsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTUA works with a wide network of design professionals including urban designers, landscape architects, planners, engineers, and specialist advisors to bring the right expertise to each project.
• Tūmanako Wellness CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTUA supported the development of a concept for a new healthcare model providing respite care for patients healing from mental illness, working alongside other passionate professionals to co-design and develop the operational and delivery model.
• Waka Kotahi (NZ Transport Agency)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Waka Kotahi on illustrating the street design process and the Healthy Street Tool.
• KiwiRailminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFacilitated multistakeholder workshop for KiwiRail's Te Utanganui multimodal transport and logistics project.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boffa Miskell: NZ-headquartered landscape architecture and urban design firm offering planning, masterplanning, and design advisory across Aotearoa. Directly comparable to TUA's Design services in urban design reviews, masterplanning, precinct design, and private plan change work for NZ government and private clients.
• Isthmus Group: NZ-based urban design, landscape architecture, and planning consultancy serving councils, developers, and iwi. Comparable to TUA across the design and strategy layer of urban strategy, particularly on precinct planning, spatial plans, and place-based community engagement in NZ.
• Tonkin + Taylor: NZ environmental and engineering consultancy with strong government and council relationships across housing, infrastructure, and resilience projects. Comparable to TUA's research and advisory work where environmental, planning, and iwi considerations intersect with development feasibility in NZ.

Broad incumbents

• AECOM: Global design and engineering consultancy with significant urban development, transport, and place-making advisory practices operating in NZ. Competes with TUA on large council and crown agency mandates where scale and multidisciplinary coverage matter more than boutique integration.
• Arup: Global engineering, design, and urban planning consultancy with an active NZ presence covering cities, transport, and precinct planning. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the same government and iwi urban strategy mandates as TUA, but at much larger scale.
• WSP: Global professional services consultancy with property, transport, and urban planning practices in NZ. Competes for spatial planning and urban renewal mandates issued by councils and Kāinga Ora, offering TUA a larger but less integrated alternative.
• MWH Global (now Stantec): Global water, infrastructure, and community development consultancy with NZ operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for housing and urban renewal programmes funded by councils and crown agencies.
• PwC New Zealand: Big Four advisory firm with a property, infrastructure, and public sector practice serving NZ government and iwi clients. Competes with TUA's Strategy and Delivery services on housing strategy, deal structuring, and programme governance mandates at greater scale.
• KPMG New Zealand: Big Four advisory firm with infrastructure, real estate, and iwi advisory practices in NZ. Comparable on housing feasibility, deal structuring, and government advisory work that overlaps with TUA's Strategy and Delivery offerings.

Regional players

• Warren and Mahoney: NZ architecture and urban design firm with masterplanning and precinct design capabilities. Adjacent peer given shared work in town centre development, urban design, and place-based projects for NZ councils and developers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/theurbanadvisory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theurbanadvisory
• Instagraminstagram.com/urbanadvisory/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Urban Advisory