What our clients have to say…

Aston Consultants - bringing your vision into reality

Our business has been built on integrity, loyalty, expertise and above all an enviable reputation for getting results. 

Here is what some of our clients have to say…

Resource Consent - Seven Oaks School
Bruce McIntyre, Trustee

“Fiona quickly understood our vision and identified the issues we needed to address and expertly guided us through the consent process. . We also noted that she had positive, constructive relationships with Council planners and the various consultants we needed to employ.”
Resource Management  
Chris Fowler, Partner
Adderley Head Resource Management Law Specialists

“We have been engaged as legal counsel regarding a 66 lot rural residential plan change at Okoha, North Canterbury. 

Fiona Aston is leading this quite complex project involving eight different consultants.  Throughout the project, Fiona has ensured that the client objective is well understood by the consultant team, and that the client is kept informed of the key strategic issues, planning processes and budget considerations. 

Fiona has demonstrated strong communication skills. She has ably co-ordinated the work of consultants on this project and has led meetings with the Council, project team meetings and a large community consultation evening at Ohoka. 

A feature of Fiona and her teams’ work is their strong commitment to achieving successful outcomes for the client, which in this case has meant working long hours to meet an urgent deadline to prepare and lodge the plan change application. As a consequence of their work, the project is progressing rapidly through the RMA plan change process.”
Property Development - Hallfield Farm
Peter and Anne Bagrie

“We were introduced to Fiona Aston Consultancy in November 2011 when a decision was made to move forward on developing our property.

They have excelled in meeting our expectations.  Fiona and her team have managed to put together a complex set of documents that need to meet criteria within a very short timeline.

We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Fiona. She is well informed, professional and very aware of issues that need addressing.

As our position to develop the property was complex Fiona was invaluable with the ability to consult being pivotal to our success.”
Consultancy -  Westland District Council
Richard Simpson (since retired)
Regulations and Planning Manager

“Fiona has been associated with the Westland District Council in the capacity of Planning Consultant since 1992. There is not a single facet of practice and procedure within Council’s planning operations that Fiona has not been involved with in a major way. 

Her most significant contribution was through the development of the District Plan. A number of sensitive issues had been highlighted through preliminary procedures that Fiona has overseen and her success as a consultant can be measured by the high regard that she has been held in by the elected representatives who are most willing to listen to her and implement her many suggestions and recommendations.

Fiona has been a careful listener and has gained a particular knowledge of Westland, its people and the particular issues that the District (and to a significant extent the Region) is faced with. 

She holds a vital and unique position with us, there is shared respect between her, and the Council (and staff) which is never taken for granted and always respected. 

A particular aspect of Fiona’s work is that she has a wide range of clients and I believe her wide experience is good for Westland in the nature of experienced advice.”
Resource Consent – Copenhagen Bakery
Donna and John Thomsen, owner operators

"Going into the daunting process of a Resource Consent is a very specialized, lengthy and costly experience, so it was critical that we had clear, knowledgeable communication and documentation of expected involved costs, times and possible outcomes into the planning of your RMA.    

Fortunately when the process did not evolve as well or as quickly as we had expected, Fiona Aston  and her team seemed to always have the entire planning process under rap, with helpful, informed communication at all times, putting our doubts into perspective with the issues as they arose. 

When the process seemed consuming at times, and rather emotive, their skill and professional team dynamics re assured us that their expertise would get the job done.  Their informal availability at all times and their guidance with ease were all appreciated in our application. Our aim was to achieve a successful outcome in the process as quickly and painlessly as possible which came to fruition and a big “thank you” to Fiona and the team."