Ngā Hua Hoahoa, Ngā Hua Tāngata

Manaia Barns (he/him) - Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau, Ngāti Rangitihi, Te Arawa Whānui

In September 2025, 50 people shuffled into a lecture theatre at Te Aro Campus. They had just come walking from a pōwhiri a few meters away to take their seats. Once everybody had settled in, the kōrero began, and with it, Te Whakaturanga—The Māori Architecture and Design Symposium.

To be Māori in certain spaces is sometimes to make space for Māoritanga where there is none. This is the case in the architecture and design schools of Te Herenga Waka, who have a long history of brilliant Māori architects, designers, and building scientists that are too often left uncelebrated. Despite this, the sharing of mātauranga between tuākana and tēina, experienced and student, is a core part of Te Ao Māori and, therefore, was one of the main goals of Te Paepaeroa when it was first founded in early 2025.

The evening proceeded as five kaikōrero took time to present their mātauranga. They shared their knowledge, life experience, and spoke to Te Ao Māori in their work. For many of the students, and even some staff, the kaupapa that they spoke to were brand new.

What does it mean to be a kaitiaki?

How can one design as Māori in a non-Māori firm?

These were kaupapa that hadn't echoed in that lecture room before, but that were still just as important to be discussed. Afterwards, once the mihi had been given and Te Whakaturanga was closed, people streamed out into the atrium to enjoy kai and engage in whakawhanaungatanga. The usual connections began. Students and speakers found they were whānau, and suddenly, the community became a little more connected. From the fruits of their design work came the fruits of community.

Ngā Hua Hoahoa, Ngā Hua Tāngata