NZIA President’s Award recipients for 2023 named

Click to enlarge
David Waters.

David Waters. Image: Alan Gibson

1 of 7
Dr Denise Civil, FNZIA.

Dr Denise Civil, FNZIA. Image: David St George

2 of 7
Elizabeth Cox, on right, pictured here receiving the Ath Cup at the 2023 Wellington Architecture Awards.

Elizabeth Cox, on right, pictured here receiving the Ath Cup at the 2023 Wellington Architecture Awards. Image: Humaidi Ridwan

3 of 7
Ken Davis.

Ken Davis. Image: David St George

4 of 7
Guy Marriage.

Guy Marriage. Image: Humaidi Ridwan

5 of 7
Peter McPherson.

Peter McPherson. Image: David St George

6 of 7
Helen Robinson.

Helen Robinson. Image: David St George

7 of 7

Congratulations to the following recipients of this year’s Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects President’s Awards.

Dr Denise Civil, FNZIA
Denise’s career in architecture has helped hundreds of her peers across the profession, from established architects and schools of architecture to recent graduates and students still completing their studies. Through co-founding of the Thursday Lunch Group some 33 years ago, in 1990, Denise has brought together other women architects in sole practice to learn from and support each other. In 2000, the Institute sought her services to adapt a series of RIBA booklets for New Zealand conditions, including Starting a Practice and Keeping out of Trouble. Those booklets have helped many architects in their careers and practice. During 2009–2015, Denise made a significant contribution to the Australian and New Zealand Architecture Programme Accreditation Procedure (ANZ APAP), which validates the architecture degree programmes offered in New Zealand. This included representing the Institute at meetings with the Australian Institute of Architects in Canberra. Denise’s influence on the profession and its education has been significant – she has been both an Institute and an NZRAB-nominated member of the National Visiting Panel. Her first visit was to Unitec in 2003. Since then, she has been on 12 visiting panels, as a panellist, Deputy Chair and Chair, including four visits to Australian schools of architecture. The Institute, its members and architecture students thank Denise for her dedication and service to the profession.

Elizabeth Cox
Elizabeth’s dedication and talent in uncovering and sharing the stories of New Zealand’s heritage buildings and the people who have inhabited them is a gift to the nation. Her passion for social and women’s history has been important in the story of architecture in Aotearoa New Zealand. Making Space will become a seminal text in architectural education and the professions’ body of knowledge. Elizabeth’s work, alongside that of 30 leading women architects, architectural historians and academics, shines a light on hundreds of remarkable women, including many whose careers have until now been lost to the historical record. Elizabeth’s efforts to document and preserve New Zealand’s heritage have been recognised both nationally and internationally. Te Kāhui Whaihanga duly recognises her extraordinary talent and contribution to the profession, our understanding of our history and our heritage and the role and influence of architecture. The Institute looks forward to the continuation of Elizabeth’swork and the untold stories that come to light in the years to come.

Ken Davis, FNZIA
Ken brings heart and hope to architecture. Since 1987, he has actively sought to influence social and public housing in Aotearoa New Zealand through study and advocacy. Ken has been a passionate advocate for our built heritage and played a leading role in the Institute’s partnership with the Wilson family to establish the F. Gordon Wilson Fellowship for Public Housing. His seminal thesis, A Liberal Turn of Mind: The Architectural Work of F Gordon Wilson, 1936–1959: A Cultural Analysis about Gordon Wilson, along with his strong bonds with the Wilson family have been appreciated and valued by the Institute. The F. Gordon Wilson Fellowship will see Wilson’s influence on public housing move beyond the built legacy to a future of generational ideas that will continue to influence social and public housing in this country. As an architect at Kāinga Ora, Ken has an opportunity to influence the design and quality of social and public housing and to support and inspire the architecture profession and wider industry. The Institute thanks Ken for his passion, enthusiasm and ambition to see architects and architecture valued. It looks forward to his continuing influence on the profession and to public and social housing.

Guy Marriage, FNZIA
Over three decades, Guy’s passion for making the world better through architecture has been highly visible. As an architect, author, lecturer and founder of a practice, he is leaving an indelible mark on the profession, its future and the buildings and spaces built around Aotearoa New Zealand. Guy takes architecture to the people. Through a warm, engaging manner, he willingly accept sthe responsibility every architect has to design with function, beauty and adaptability in mind. He is always looking for how architects today and into the future can be better. Guy regularly asks and challenges architects and students to think about the future because good architecture lasts for generations. He has supported and inspired many students to be curious, to be courageous and to always seek opportunities to have their ideas built. Through building one learns. Guy’s generosity and support of Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects has been outstanding and appreciated and the Institute is looking forward to seeing what leading ideas, seminal texts and designs he produces next.

Peter McPherson
The President’s Award recognises the impact Peter’s passion and expertise is bringing to the future of architecture, not just in Aotearoa New Zealand but across the world. Here in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, his work as Head of School, Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka, Unitec – School of Architecture is supporting the future of our profession at the first step. At the same time, he is continuously working across education and practice to improve architectural education. Peter’s collaborative approach to education is evidenced through the relationship with Otago Polytechnic Te Kura Matatini ki Otago, which supports accredited architectural education being accessible to South Island students. The Institute has also appreciated the leadership Peter has shown in the recent role of President of the Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia (AASA). As President, AASA led submissions to Australian state and federal governments on proposed policies affecting the registration and regulation of architects and building practitioners. Peter also sought to strengthen AASA’s relationship with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) in North America and form new partnerships with equivalent bodies in Europe and Asia. This extended international network and relationships offers considerable benefits to New Zealand architectural education. The Institute thanks Peter for his long-standing service to the Auckland Branch and the time and invaluable expertise he has provided the Institute.

New Zealand Architects Co-operative Society (NZACS)
The New Zealand Architects Co-operative Society (NZACS) has been at the forefront of risk management services and support to registered architects and architecture practices across Aotearoa New Zealand. Established in 1972, by architects and for architects, NZACS has continuously provided market leading professional indemnity insurance products and advice to the profession. With over 750 members, NZACS’s contribution to the profession has been immeasurable and is essential for any practice. NZACS understands the profession and the risks architects face every day. It is with this knowledge that architects can trust with confidence NZACS and the products and services they provide. With the support of NZACS, architects have been able to work on increasingly complex projects with confidence. This award also recognises the Institute members and registered architects who have contributed their knowledge and expertise to NZACS, as Board members, Chairs or Committee members. These roles offer invaluable support, guidance and advice to the profession, sometimes in difficult times. The Institute thanks NZACS for providing outstanding support and services to architects and practices for the last 50 years.

Helen Robinson
As City Missioner of Manutaki of Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai, Helen is well respected by the Institute and the people of Tāmaki Makaurau for her dedication to our most vulnerable. HomeGround has called on Helen’s determination, fighting spirit and mana to see a wonderful idea become a reality. Her ability to remain focused on the project and its benefits under trying circumstances has inspired others, including the architects, Stevens Lawson and the wider community. Those relationships were instrumental to a project that at times must had seemed like a mountain to climb but failure was not an option. Now, Tāmaki Makaurau has a resource that creates homes, safe places and accessible support for people in our community who need it most. Architecturally it is a landmark, the cultural sensitivity, timber technology and sustainability have been recognised internationally. The Institute thanks Helen for her selflessness and tenacity in leading the Auckland City Mission and knows that it will continue to serve Aucklanders well into the future.

David Waters
David’s services to the Institute, its members and the industry over three decades has been immeasurable. The Institute is grateful for the courageous step David took in 1984, in meeting his first architect, Duncan Wu at Babbage Partners. From that point onwards, neither David nor the architectural profession has looked back. And today, after finding himself called in for a chat with Craig Vincent (then General Manager at APL) in 1993, the rest is history. David’s encyclopaedic knowledge of the people who make up this industry and his willingness to share knowledge with the Institute’s members, architects and Emerge (emerging professionals) is exemplary. His ‘hands-on’ approach to the Registration Programme has contributed to its success and the care and attention given to emerging professionals supports their path into the profession. David’s commitment and continued investment in knowledge, research and the delivery of high-performing products to the Institute’s members has contributed to the quality of work being delivered in Aotearoa New Zealand. And, of course, the deepening of APL’s support in more recent years to include the New Zealand Local Awards programme has lifted these events to a new level. David’s energy, enthusiasm and positivity, both in the room and on stage is appreciated by members and clients alike. David is an invaluable partner, knowledge broker and true friend of the architect and the New Zealand Institute of Architects.


More news