Asma Rashidi Mohammadi
Harmonising Timber life-cycle Informed by Kaupapa Māori: Unveiling Te Ako Torowhānui
Kei te mihi au ki ngā atua, ki Papatūānuku, ki ngā tūpuna o te whenua nei, me ngā tāngata katoa o Aotearoa. I extend my greetings to the gods, to Papatūānuku, to the ancestors of this land, and to all the people of Aotearoa. My research explores the intricate intersection of timber waste management, sustainable forestry practices, and mātauranga Māori. Examining timber waste in construction and demolition reveals a lack of a holistic, sustainable framework in timber life-cycle practices. While timber is perceived as sustainable in construction, certain aspects of current practices fall short. This research emphasises the significance of waste across the timber life-cycle, with a specific focus on the initial stage—whenua and forestry—linked to Papatūānuku in mana whenua belief. This leads to an assumption that incorporating traditional knowledge from tangata whenua in New Zealand, known as mātauranga Māori, can play an important role in crafting a holistic framework. Focusing on the nexus between tikanga Māori and contemporary timber and forestry operations, I aim to highlight how integrating these two paradigms can foster more sustainable and culturally aligned forestry practices. By centring tikanga in timber life-cycle processes, I aspire to enhance sustainability not just in New Zealand’s indigenous forestry, but also in standard plantation practices. Ultimately, my research seeks to contribute to a more balanced relationship between human activity and the natural environment, promoting ecological stewardship rooted in both indigenous wisdom and modern sustainability goals. Through this exploration, I hope to bridge cultural and ecological knowledge to better inform timber life-cycle practices that honour both Papatūānuku and the practical demands of modern forestry. Noho ora mai, Asma Rashidi
Supervisors
Dr. Emina Petrović & Natasha Perkins
Qualifications
Master of Applied Science (M.A.Sc.) in Architectural Engineering
Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch
September 2007 – February 2010
Grade: 3.46/4.0
Activities and societies: Sustainable Design, Design of Community Centers, Urban Morphology
Thesis: Sustainable Community Design in the Old Fabric of Kerman
Supervised by: Prof. S. Majid Mofidi Shemirani
Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) in Architectural Engineering
Islamic Azad University
September 2003 – September 2007
Research: Design of Motel in Mahan-Heritage Site - Adapted to Vernacular Architecture
Publications
Rashidi Mohammadi, A., Petrović, K.E., Perkins, N. (2024), Circular Construction and Demolition Waste Practices for a Sustainable Future: Enhancing Resilience through Mātauranga Māori, Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation (ASTI), an IEREK Interdisciplinary book series published by Springer Nature, (Scopus indexed).
Yazdani, SH., Rashidi Mohammadi, A. (2012), Teaching Architectural Design (A Comparative Study of Past-Oriented and New Approaches in Iran), 1st International Conference on Architecture & Urban Design, EPOKA University, Albania.
Conference Presentations
Rashidi Mohammadi, A., Petrović, K.E., Perkins, N. (2024, Feb 14), A Critical Examination of the Timber Life-cycle Through the Lens of Sustainable Development Goals [Conference presentation]. Smart Sustainable Development (SSD2024).
Rashidi Mohammadi, A., Petrović, K.E., Perkins, N. (2023, Oct 26), Waste or Surplus? Addressing sustainable timber life-cycle in alignment with tikanga Māori, [Poster session] at Sustainaganza2023, The Sustainability Society.
Rashidi Mohammadi, A., Petrović, K.E., Perkins, N. (2023, Sept 26), Sustainability Re-imagined: Harnessing Mātauranga Māori for better Timber's Future [Symposium presentation], Sustainability Postgraduate Research Symposium Victori University of Wellington 2023.
Rashidi Mohammadi, A., Petrović, K.E., Perkins, N. (2023, Apr 21), Erosion of construction and demolition waste resilience on the environment and sustainably grown materials in the wake of climate change [Conference presentation]. Resilience and Responsible Architecture & Urbanism (RRAU2023).