Incorporating Māori design in development projects

Publish Date : 03 Jul 2017
Otahuhu Station

Auckland Council’s Auckland Design Manual (ADM) has launched new Māori design case studies and a video showcasing the design process.

The ADM provides practical guidance for designers and developers and the Māori Design Hub is an an integral part of the manual. The hub explains how the Te Aranga Māori Design Principles can produce locally responsive, culturally grounded design.

Co-design processes

Phil Wihongi (Ngati Hine, Ngā Puhi), Auckland Council’s Māori Design Leader, explains the importance of the co-design process.

“We’ve been working with mana whenua and industry partners to explore the design process and industry collaboration that has resulted in these outstanding built outcomes," he says.

"The results are structures that are completely unique to this place and people, and are representative of a new approach to development where a meaningful dialogue engaging with mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) is taking place.”

Read the case studies

Older case studies include: Kainga Tuatahi (Ōrākei), Te Oro (Glen Innes), Toi o Tāmaki (CBD), and Tōia (Ōtāhuhu). They demonstrate the distinctive outcomes that can result from a Māori design process and how Māori can influence and, in some cases, lead design.

Watch the video of the design process

Designers, project managers and developers discuss their experiences in delivering recent developments.

Auckland Council is committed to supporting and enabling Māori design within Tāmaki Makaurau as a means for delivering a Māori identity that is Auckland’s unique point of difference in the world.

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