Celebrating Indigenous excellence: Māori and Pasifika students present at Jasmax Crit Culture

Māori and Pasifika students from Te Wāhanga Waihanga-Hoahoa—Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation recently received a unique opportunity to present to Māori practitioners from Jasmax’s Waka Māia rōpū, one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s foremost architecture firms.

A group of students standing in the Jasmax office smiling.

Students from undergraduate to postgraduate level from the School of Architecture and Design presented their research in architecture, landscape architecture, and building science. This marks the third year of collaboration with Jasmax, witnessing a steady growth in both participation and the calibre of work presented.

Students were welcomed by Jasmax with a whakatau and whanaungatanga greeting, sharing relationships and connections. Students were inspired by the calibre of work at Jasmax. One standout project, the innovative Fale Malae, captivated their attention and they had the opportunity to ask questions about modern Pasifika cultural design elements. Students enquired about the roof structure, cultural integration, and programme design.

“This level of collaboration between students and industry is vital,” says Ryan Simpson, engagement advisor from Pasifika Student Success.

Mesepa Faasau, a Manaaki Scholarship recipient, led the presentations with her SARC351: Urban Design Theory and Practice assignment. Her presentation underscored the significance of Te Ngākau Civic Square to mana whenua and its connections to the Pacific islands.

Theresa Niulevaea and Viliame Naqica, both first-year Bachelor of Architecture students, gained praise for the quality of their SARC111: Introduction to Design Processes and SARC161: Introduction to Design Communication projects. Theresa's depth of iterative design process through sketching ideas impressed reviewers. Viliame’s exploration of his Fijian heritage in architectural design, incorporating traditional elements like the kava bowl and sailboat, earned a commendation from Daniel Young, a Jasmax architectural graduate.

Kaline Masitabua, a Master of Architecture (Professional) student, presented his design through a research paper, impressing the audience with the depth and standard of his work. Daniel Young applauded Kaline's clear and consistent communication, highlighting the importance of grounding architectural concepts within students’ cultural heritage.

Ben Nielsen (Ngāpuhi), an architectural graduate at Jasmax and Victoria University alumnus, expressed Jasmax's delight in supporting upcoming Indigenous practitioners, noting the impressive quality of work across various years and disciplines.

Events like these underscore Jasmax's commitment to nurturing future Indigenous architectural practitioners. Despite the underrepresentation of Māori and Pasifika in architecture, this cohort's drive to excel at university showcases how Pacific cultures can innovate solutions for environmental challenges, shaping the built environment of tomorrow.