Ngā Aho senior committee member joins Warren and Mahoney’s Wellington studio
From left to right: Ralph Roberts, Katherine Skipper, Whare Timu, Rodney Sampson and Julia McPherson of Warren and Mahoney’s Wellington studio.
Board Director of Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects and senior committee member of the Ngā Aho National Indigenous Design Network, Whare Timu (Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Arawa, Tūwharetoa) has joined Warren and Mahoney’s Wellington studio. He will lead their advanced cultural design unit, Te Matakīrea.
With experience at Studio Pacific Architecture and First Light Studio, Whare has worked on projects such as Rotorua’s Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre, as well as the National Library’s He Tohu Document Room, an award-winning room which is home to the original copy of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
“I am thrilled to join Warren and Mahoney and lead Te Matakīrea,” Whare says. “Warren and Mahoney is ambitious in its goal to weave indigenous and cultural values in every aspect of design, and I look forward to working alongside whanau, iwi, colleagues, clients and communities to progress this.
“I am also passionate about sustainable design as an extension of Te Ao Māori and am a strong advocate for low-impact and natural materials. Warren and Mahoney’s sustainability commitments closely align with my own personal design approach.”
Whare celebrates by referring to the whakataukī, “Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua – Let’s walk backwards into the future with our eyes fixed on our past.”
Experienced in working with iwi and communities, Whare’s appointment reflects Warren and Mahoney’s recognition of Te Tiriti as Aotearoa New Zealand’s constitutional document. Managing Director John Coop, says “We are delighted to welcome Whare and look forward to the valuable experience, perspective and connectivity he brings to the leadership of Te Matakīrea.
“Te Matakīrea is dedicated to empowering indigenous architecture both in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific and gives our clients tools, expertise and knowledge for the benefit of all our projects. Whare’s appointment further strengthens our delivery of cultural design and engagement expertise in New Zealand, Australia and across the work we are doing around the Pacific Rim.”
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