Project Details

Project overview

This award-winning two-year project aimed to help built environment professionals and students learn why and how it is important to engage effectively with Māori. Through action research, the project developed a comprehensive range of evidence-based resources, online videos and supporting material for teaching and learning in the planning, architecture, engineering and landscape architecture disciplines.

The project was a collaboration between:

  • Ngā Aho, the University of Auckland
  • Auckland University of Technology
  • Victoria University of Wellington
  • Unitec Institute of Technology
  • Papa Pounamu
  • Whenua Design
  • The New Zealand Institute of Architects
  • University of Victoria and
  • Glasgow University.

Aims

The vision for this project was to ensure that future generations of planners, architects, engineers and landscape architects, both Māori and non-Māori, are better prepared to work with Māori professionals, iwi representatives and Community Economic Development and Papakāinga Developers in their day-to-day work and assist professionals to build and sustain positive working relationships with Mana Whenua.

Methodology

The project's methodology featured literature reviews, interviews, group discussions and observations. These formed the basis of new teaching and learning materials for the planning, architecture, engineering and landscape disciplines.

Key to this work is understanding what knowledge Māori consider vital for built environment professionals to understand. There is currently a dearth of discipline-specific material available to help prepare built environment professionals to work with Māori. (8.5% of the 25,000 graduates annually represent this discipline). 

Project Reference Group

  • New Zealand Planning Institute
  • The New Zealand Institute of Architects
  • Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand
  • New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects
  • Auckland Council
  • Landcare Research/Manaaki Whenua
  • Te Hana Te Ao Marama Community Development Trust.

Team

the university of auckland

Professor Dory Reeves

Project Contact Leader

University of Auckland
the university of auckland

Lena Henry

Deputy project leader

University of Auckland and Ngā Aho
the university of auckland

Dr. Barbara Kensington-Miller

University of Auckland
the university of auckland

Professor Andrew Barrie

University of Auckland
AUT

Professor John Tookey

Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
AUT

Fei Ying

Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
AUT

Nicola Naismith,

Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
AUT

James Rotimi

Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
AUT

Dave Moor

Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
unitec

Rau Hoskins

Unitec Institute of Technology and Ngā Aho
Ngatimakino

Dr Te Kipa Kepa Morgan

Ngati Makino
victoria university

Derek Renata Kawiti

Victoria University of Wellington

Jacky Bartley

Papa Pounamu

Neil Challenger

Whenua Design and The New Zealand Institute of Architects

Diane Menzies

Ngā Aho and The New Zealand Institute of Architects

Christine McCarthy

University of Victoria

Professor Alison Phipps

Glasgow University

Status

Completed

Funding

$300,000.00 (excl GST)

$150,000.00 National Project Fund
$150,000.00 The University of Auckland

Key Findings

Project outputs and resources

The final project report contains a suite of teacher and facilitator set of resources, which include the following:

  • A Text-Based Learning Module - The “Why"
  • Knowledge Assessment Tool for Students and Teachers – “WHAT”
  • Video material including 4 short videos and scripts
  • Critical Incident Analysis Tool for Students and Teachers

These are all available to download and use in the 'Outputs' section.

Key Recommendations

Impact and activities to date

  • Presentations to New Zealand Institute of Architects during 2018
  • Auckland Council in-house launch of the Te Whaihanga videos
  • Training for trainers event, Waipapa Marae, Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau in February 2018
  • Ngā Aho Māori Designers’ Network
  • University of Auckland Fast Forward lecture and discussion series
  • Australia and New Zealand Association of Planning Schools (ANZAPS)
  • New Zealand Planning Institute Conference

Awards for Te Whaihanga

Summary report

Te Whaihanga – Flyer

An overview of the Te Whaihanga project.

  • 7 November 2018
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Video

VIDEO | Te Whaihanga series intro

Watch the video, Te Whaihanga Series Intro 2018 (Youtube, 720p, 04:11).

  • 8 January 2018
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Video

VIDEO | Te Whaihanga 1: Preparing to Meet Mana Whenua.

Watch the video, Te Whaihanga 1: Preparing to Meet Mana Whenua (YouTube, 720p, 06.21).

  • 8 January 2018
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Video

VIDEO | Te Whaihanga 2: On the mana whenua site

Watch the video, Te Whaihanga 2: On the Mana Whenua Site. (YouTube, 720p, 05.38).

  • 8 January 2018
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Video

VIDEO | Te Whaihanga 3: Kaitiakitanga and development.

Watch the video, Te Whaihanga 3: Kaitiakitanga and Development. (YouTube, 720p, 07.42).

  • 8 January 2018
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Full report

Te Whaihanga | To better prepare built environment professionals to work and engage with Māori

A project report that provides an explanation of critical incident analysis, a strategy for developing reflective practice, and provides a tool for carrying out this analysis with students to deepen their learning.

  • 19 March 2019
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Survey

Te Whaihanga | Learning Assessment Tool Survey

This Online Survey will help evaluate some of the skills and knowledge professionals need in working with Māori.

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Survey

Te Whaihanga | Critical Incident Analysis Tool Survey

This Online Survey will help evaluate some of the skills and knowledge professionals need in working with Māori.

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News

Commonwealth award for Te Whaihanga project

In November, Ako Aotearoa, with the Auckland Council and Te Hana Te Ao Marama, were honoured with the "Planning for equitable and inclusive cities and human settlements” award by the Commonwealth Association of Planners—Awards for Outstanding Planning Achievement in the Commonwealth.

  • 8 December 2021
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News

More international recognition for the Te Whaihanga Project

The collaborative Te Whaihanga project received international recognition as a finalist in the 2022 Royal Town Planning Institute “International Award for Planning Excellence”. The prestigious awards were held in the United Kingdom on 1 December 2022.

  • 9 December 2022
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