City Shaper: Paul Spurdle’s Rotorua Legacy

Some people do great work. Then there are those who quietly and consistently shape the places we live, not for credit, but because they care.

Paul Spurdle is one of those people.

Born and raised in Rotorua, Paul has spent more than 15 years helping his hometown grow in ways that are more connected, more inclusive, and more future-ready. He doesn’t just know the city, he feels it. Its challenges. Its potential. Its people. And that deep sense of place runs through everything he does.

This year, Paul has been named a finalist for the City Shaper Award at the 2025 Central Property People Awards. To those of us who have worked alongside him, that recognition is just the tip of the iceberg.

From council reformer to regional changemaker.

After completing a Master’s in Planning, Paul returned to Rotorua and joined Rotorua Lakes Council. At just 26, he was appointed Manager of Building and Resource Consents. There, he shifted the culture from box-ticking to outcome-driven and partnership-based. He introduced a “start with yes” approach that fostered trust with iwi, developers, and council staff. That mindset still influences the organisation today.

Now, as a Senior Property Advisor and Development Manager at Veros and a shareholder, Paul continues to shape Rotorua and regional Aotearoa through projects that are culturally grounded, community-led, and commercially viable.

Real impact, across every sector.

Paul’s fingerprints can be found across some of Rotorua’s most transformational initiatives, including:

Iwi development and the Māori economy: As a trusted advisor to Rotomā No.1 Trust, Pukeroa Oruawhata, and CNI, Paul supports iwi and hapū-led development that balances cultural priorities and commercial outcomes.
Local government and CCOs: From Rotorua Lakes Council to Rotorua Airport and RotoruaNZ, Paul is the go-to problem solver for projects that span infrastructure, tourism, housing, and more.
Greenfield growth: He advises three major landowners responsible for over 70 percent of Rotorua’s residential land pipeline, more than 130 hectares in total.
Private sector delivery: From Foodstuffs commercial sites to major industrial subdivisions, Paul drives delivery on high-profile developments.
Community infrastructure: He leads early planning and feasibility for major community needs, including Rotorua’s new eight-court indoor sports facility.

He also played a key role during COVID, securing $50m+ in Provincial Growth Fund applications on behalf of clients.

A new model for partnership-led development.

Paul’s leadership on the Pukehangi Stormwater Management Plan helped set a new precedent for sustainable, culturally grounded infrastructure. Co-developed with mana whenua and technical experts, it embedded Te Mana o te Wai into design and delivery while unlocking over 70 hectares of land for housing.

His approach balances long-term resilience with practical delivery. He considers environmental outcomes, cultural values, and commercial viability in equal measure.

Capability builder, connector, quiet leader.

Paul’s impact goes far beyond his own projects. He mentors up-and-coming professionals, leads the Veros internal education programme, and shares knowledge across public and private sectors. He’s the person people call when a project is stuck and needs fresh thinking or calm navigation.

He also serves as Co-Chair of the award-winning CARE Village, an 80-bed dementia facility based on an innovative care model, the first of its kind in New Zealand.

He's not here for headlines, he's here for the future.

Whether he’s navigating a complex rezoning, guiding a client through strategic decisions, or quietly steering a community project through funding and feasibility, Paul brings the same steady focus: make it better, make it work, and make it last.

His impact on Rotorua isn’t loud, but it’s everywhere. In the systems he’s improved. In the places he’s helped build. And in the relationships he’s nurtured over his years of service.

His shortlisting for the 2025 City Shaper Award is more than a personal milestone. It’s a moment to celebrate the impact of someone who has helped shape a city and continues to shape the future of how regional New Zealand grows.

"Paul lives in the space of ‘Type 3 fun.’ He takes on the hard stuff, the slow, complex, multi-stakeholder work, because he knows that’s where real progress lives. He doesn’t just deliver places. He delivers change." – Morgan Jones, Veros

Morgan Jones

At Veros, we’re lucky to work alongside people like Paul, people who don’t just build projects, but help shape futures. This nomination is a celebration of his leadership, his values, and his relentless drive to do good work that matters. We couldn’t be prouder.

We look forward to celebrating Paul and all the finalists at the 2025 Central Property People Awards on 23 October, alongside our clients, peers and industry partners. If you’re heading along, see you there.