Te Ao Maori and Matauranga Maori

 The Department of Landscape Architecture is developing a comprehensive programme to equip our graduates with the ability to operate knowledgeably and effectively in the Maori world. It is based on a strategy involving an understanding of te ao Maori (the Maori world), Matauranga Maori (Maori way of learning), increasing participation and success of Maori students, and participation and reciprocity with Maori organisations. This year’s programme is of a greater scale and more integrated with individual courses and the department’s programmes than ever before. It will serve as something of a pilot that will be refined over time.

To this end the year began with a number of marae visits. Initially this included orientation at Te Noho Kotahitanga, Unitec’s marae, followed by a noho marae (marae stay) for first year students of all department programmes at Umupuia, Ngai Tai’s marae at Maraetai. BLA student Danyon Robertson observed that,

“This was a very special and eye opening experience for all of the students who attended. We were educated about what Landscape Architecture meant and how it related to Maori. The inspiring hosts at the Marae discussed with us how we should consider our wider natural environment when designing and how culture and heritage hold so much value in the spaces we work with. It was a great experience, which gave all of us time to bond and learn, through a fun and relaxing visit in a real piece of Auckland paradise”.

Damian Powley, a landscape architect, alumnus and member of the iwi, assisted the planning for this visit. Students of the Landscape Assessment and Planning course will return there later in the year to contribute to the planning and design for the marae.