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August 22, 2022
Māori architects get say on bigger projects
Gideon Porter
Posted On August 22, 2022
Download AudioAs leading Māori architect there’s never been a better time for Māori and Pacifica youth to get into the sector.
Elisapeta Heta, the head of Jasmax’s Waka Māia unit and the winner of an Architect Institute President’s Award, says architecture and design practices are acknowledging the need for Māori and other indigenous designers at every level and developing some amazing opportunities.
It means indigenous professionals can work on bigger projects.
“Mana whenua Māori katoa, we’ve been all wanting these opportunities to do more than a discrete piece of artwork or a sculpture here and there inside of our built environment for a long, long time and so most are really excited to be able to affect quite embedded change inside the way buildings actually function,” Ms Heta says.
She says those coming into the profession are able to build on the work of pioneering Māori architects like Rau Hoskins, the late Rewi Thompson, Deidre Brown, Rebecca Kiddle, and Jacqueline Paul.
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