Unitec is honoured to be showcasing the Tuia Pita Ora (TPO) Nohonga finalists for this year with three works located around the campus over the next few months.
The Nohonga design challenge is a biennial initiative by the Auckland branch of the NZ Institute of Landscape Architects, launched in 2020.
The design competition challenges students and all levels of graduating landscape architects to design and construct creative nohonga (seat) designs for the citizens of Auckland.
The 2024 challenge theme was Haumanu – Renewal / Restoration and the question posed to all entrants was: How might a nohonga be used to restore and/or inform te taiao, whenua, and tangata?
“Hosting the NZ Institute of Landscape Architects’ 2024 Nohonga Competition at Unitec is invaluable as it offers students a unique chance to observe how young graduate landscape architects tackle real-world issues through public engagement,” says Matthew Bradbury, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at Unitec.
“This event highlights innovative solutions and practical applications, showcasing the ability of emerging professionals to address contemporary challenges in the public realm.
“We hope the presence of the Nohonga will inspire students to collaborate with professionals for the 2026 competition and foster a spirit of teamwork and innovation in addressing landscape architecture challenges.”
The three Nohonga on display at Unitec are:
• The Wave – a collaboration between Zak White, Jo Kearney and Alfred Chan (Boffa Miskell). Wave has been placed under the shelter of the 19th-century veranda on the former Unitec campus, providing a quiet, contemplative space for students.
The form of this nohonga represents a connection to the cycles of the seasons, moon and tide. Wave is centred on embodying our interdependency with these elements, with its undulating form residing and rebalancing.
Contributors: Urban Effects on Fabrication and Construction, ITI NZ | Accoya on Timber Supply, Coastwood on CNC services, and Mitchell Vranjes, Engineering Consultant.
• Ka mua, Ka muri – a collaboration between Zak Kelland, Nicole Tune and Hamish Murphy (Boffa Miskell). Ka mua, Ka muri has been placed at the front entrance of the Architecture School, facing the front door and one of the most beautiful trees on the former Unitec campus, a magnificent Jacaranda mimosifolia.
This nohonga captures the whakapapa (life cycle) of a rākau (tree), physically responding to the whakataukī ‘ka mua ka muri’ (“walking backwards into the future”).
Contributors: Scott Geddes of Auckland Tree Services, Cathy Challinor with design support, Andi Suryadharma with construction support, and Boffa Miskell.
• Pōkare – a collaboration between William Chrisp (Bespoke) and Ryan Peralta (Whangarei District Council). Pōkare has been placed by Camelia Piriki on the edge of the Wharekai Manaaki, looking out over the Ngākau Māhaki ātea the pā harakeke, and Te Wai Unuroa a Wairaka.
Pōkare creates a space for pause, inviting both individual and shared moments of contemplation and reflection. The rippling form symbolises that even in stillness, life — like the cycles of nature — continues to evolve and change.
Contributors: Fabrication Specialists, Greenscene, Cut Shop and Plyman.