Organised by the Friends of Futuna Charitable Trust, which owns and maintains the eponymous Wellington Chapel, the lectures are sponsored by Dulux NZ, Metalcraft Roofing, Plytech, APL, Warren Trust and branches of the NZIA. All funds raised by the lectures will either go towards the Futuna Chapel or supporting other initiatives undertaken by the Trust. 

Tennent’s selection as guest presenter for this year comes after the initial pick, Francis Kéré, was unable to attend due to COVID-19. Instead, Tennent was chosen from the multi-award winning Tennent Brown Architects, of which he is the co-founding director. Among his firm’s work is the Te Ara a Tāwhaki at Te Wānanga o Raukawa building, forming part of Tennent Brown’s incorporation of Māori cultural principles into its design.

This was observed by Sydney journalist Rohan Bodman after Tennent’s presentation at Deerubbin 2020:

“Hugh Tennent … showed an unusually strong identification with his firm’s clients and has committed to learning Māori cultural principles and language, which he demonstrated in his greeting. The firm’s commitment to people and place shows in the buildings it produces.”

Tennent was also made a fellow of the NZIA in 2002, and regularly teaches at Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Architecture. His presentations will take place in Auckland on April 7th, Christchurch on April 9th and Wellington on April 11th.

Book your tickets here to the 2021 Futuna Lecture Series. This event offers 15 CPD points for New Zealand registered architects.