A hui focused on bringing together the best in both international and national architects, designers and public art practitioners will take place in Whangarei next month.
I Te Timatanga-At the Source, will be hosted by Ngā Aho, the Māori design professionals' network and Ngāti Hau.
The four-day hui will be the first international conference held by Ngā Aho.
Māori Architect Rau Hoskins says, "It came about from a successful meeting of indigenous architects which I attended in Winnipeg two years ago. I promised those I met that we would return the hospitality."
One of the international speakers is David Thomas, a Canadian Peguis First Nations architect and environmental designer. He will speak on how his indigenous upbringing with his Ojibway parents influenced his design career.
Nuphor Prothi Khanna, an Indian landscape architect speaks of how the 'karma' of design choices influences the landscape.
Several speakers from the local design community will co-present. They will talk about their collaboration on the 100% Pure New Zealand Tourism Campaign.
Samantha McGavock, who is currently working on Te Wharehou o Waikaremoana will also deliver her presentation.
Site visits to Waitangi and the surrounding Tai Tokerau region will also feature and a post- conference tour of Aotearoa is planned to showcase the landscape, not only through the built environment, but also through the indigenous Māori culture.
The conference goes from February 26-29 at Whakapara Marae in Whangarei.
For more information, check out the I Te Timatanga-At the Source Facebook Page.