Urbanism is the study of urban areas and the built environment that supports them. The idea of place-making and identity is central in this, yet it is often a very Euro-centric perspective that is promoted. What would our future urban centres look like if we used Māori urbanism to plan Aotearoa 2050? How could urban interaction with natural environments change, and might we see urban papakainga and social third spaces gain in importance?

Join us and our amazing panelists as we get together for a kōrero to explore the future shape of Aotearoa's urban spaces. With our MC, Green Party housing spokesperson Tamatha Paul, we are excited to hear from Dr Emily Afoa (Tektus Consultants and Pūrangakura), Jade Kake (AUT and Matakohe Architecture), Dr Rebecca Kiddle (Te Wānanga o Aotearoa) and Professor Michelle Thompson-Fawcett (Otago University).

About our panelist:-

Tamatha Paul (Emcee)

Tamatha Paul (Ngāti Awa, Waikato Tainui) is the Green MP for Wellington Central and the party’s spokesperson for Justice, Housing, Youth, Wellington Issues, Courts, Corrections and Police.

Tamatha has channelled her energy into advocating for sexual violence prevention in tertiary spaces, better rental housing protections for renters, and public transport discounts for students through her various public office positions – as the first Māori woman to lead the Victoria University of Wellington Students Association, as a Wellington City Councillor for four years and now as the first ever Māori MP for Wellington Central, as well as the youngest MP for the Green Party. Tamatha also completed a Master of Resource and Environmental Planning writing her dissertation on the provision of public housing.

Rebecca Kiddle
Rebecca is Ngāti Porou and Ngāpuhi and is Director of Te Manawahoukura the Rangahau Centre at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. She has a MA and PhD in urban design and continues to research on kaupapa to do with Indigeneity and urban issues.

Michelle Thopmson-Fawcett
Michelle Thopmson-Fawcett, Ngāti Whātua, is Distinguished Professor in planning and geography at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka / University of Otago. Her research focusses primarily on Indigenous-led planning, especially the associated power relations, practices of decision-making, and self-determination in urban design and place-making.

Jade Kake

Jade Kake is an architectural designer and writer. Of Māori and Dutch descent, her tribal affiliations are Ngāpuhi, Te Whakatōhea and Ngāti Whakaue. She is the founder of Matakohe Architecture and Urbanism, and a part-time lecturer at Huri Te Ao, the School of Future Environments at AUT.

He kaihoahoa whare me he kaituhi a Jade Kake. Ki te taha o tōnā māmā, nō Ngāpuhi, Te Whakatōhea, me Ngāti Whakaue ia. Ki te taha o tōnā pāpā, nō Hōrana ia. Ko ia te kaihautū o Matakohe Hoahoanga me Tōpū Pā, waihoki whakaako hangere ai ia i te kura o Huri Te Ao ki Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makaurau.

Emily Afoa

Dr Emily Afoa (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniapoto) is a Pou Whakarae / Director of Tektus; a Kairangahau with Pūrangakura, an independent kaupapa Māori research centre; and a Chartered Engineer. She specialises in water sensitive solutions and the relationship between engineering practice and whole of catchment water systems. Emily offers perspective as an intermediary, normalising the valuing of mātauranga and tikanga Māori aligned with non-indigenous practice, to elevate the intrinsic value of water; te mana me te mauri o te wai.