Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation

It was a privilege to host Professor Pamela Bell for her inaugural lecture, Learning by doing: five lessons from failure in life, university, and the built environment.

From her early experiences as New Zealand’s first Olympic snowboarder to her work in the built environment, Pamela’s reflections offered a powerful perspective on the role failure plays in shaping both people and practice. In a field often defined by precision and planning, her lecture was a reminder that learning is rarely linear and that “doing” remains one of the most effective teachers.

Inaugural lectures are an opportunity to celebrate the depth of expertise within our academic community, while also sharing the thinking that drives real-world impact. This was no exception.

A thought-provoking session that resonated well beyond the lecture theatre.

Hononga at DesignArt Tokyo: Contemporary interpretations of Māori spatial, material, and digital design practices

A design collective of academics led by Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation exhibited work, Hononga, at DesignArt Tokyo. Hononga prompted thoughtful dialogue among designers, academics, and the public, illustrating how Indigenous knowledge systems can meaningfully shape sustainable, regenerative design futures while fostering cross-cultural exchange between Aotearoa and Japan.

Read the full story: wgtn.ac.nz/wfadi/about/news/hononga-at-designart-tokyo-contemporary-interpretations-of-maori-spatial-material-and-digital-design-practices

Image: Tiki Āhua (Tiki’s Form). Collaborators- Rangi Kipa, Zach Challies, David Hakaraia

How can the built environment drive progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals? Designing Tomorrow: the SDG Blueprint for Built Environment Futures was hosted at Te Aro campus as part of SDG Action Month 2025.

Check out some of our panelists' key takeaways from the conversations: wgtn.ac.nz/wfadi/about/news/leaders-designing-tomorrow-through-the-sdg-blueprint

Congratulations to Master of Design Innovation graduate Kate Rowland, who was a 2025 winner at the Best Design Awards, hosted by The Designers Institute of New Zealand, for a project that blends cultural reconnection, sustainable practice, and material experimentation.

Kate reflects on the research journey, the impact of their studies, and how this work is guiding their future practice: wgtn.ac.nz/wfadi/about/news/design-graduate-weaves-matauranga-maori-and-material-innovation-into-award-winning-light-project

Celebrating Inclusive Design: 2025 Whaikaha Award Winners Announced

The Whaikaha Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion was made in collaboration with Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People.

Students from across the faculty were invited to submit creative work responding to the theme ‘Working with Disabled People’.

Tess Roberts was awarded the Whaikaha Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Architecture for her project ‘Truly Essential. On Design: Living with Essential Tremor’.

Valeriya Vinogradova received the Whaikaha Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Design for her project ‘Tips and Tricks for Creating a Disabled Character. Based on Pet Peeves of Disabled People’.

Phoebe Zeller, lecturer at Te Kura Hoahoa School of Design Innovation says, “It is a great honour to be able to celebrate work in this space. It is hugely important to us to highlight the skill, effort, and consideration that go into inclusive projects.”

Read the full story: wgtn.ac.nz/wfadi/about/news/celebrating-inclusive-design-2025-whaikaha-award-winners-announced

A two-day visit from representatives of the Fondazione Mont’e Prama has marked the beginning of an ambitious cultural and academic partnership between Sardinia and Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Architecture.

Rod Barnett from The School of Architecture, Ana Sciascia from Pataka Art + Museum, and Anthony Muroni from the Mont'e Prama Foundation entered a Memorandum of Understanding, setting out plans for a joint exhibition that connects cultures through design, as well as research, student engagement, and curatorial development.

Read the full story: wgtn.ac.nz/wfadi/about/news/sardinian-delegation-visit-sparks-new-international-partnership-with-the-school-of-architecture

Paving the Way for a Digital Future in Construction

After 15 years working at the forefront of Aotearoa’s construction and design industry, Jake Nash is bringing hard-earned expertise and a passion for digital innovation to the new construction programme at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

Read the full story: wgtn.ac.nz/wfadi/about/news/jake-nash-is-paving-the-way-for-a-digital-future-in-construction

Mu sa Bula Vinaka & Talofa lava,

[Fijian]
Na yacaqu o Kaline Masitabua
Au na cauravou mai Solovola, Ravitaki, Kadavu
Vasu I Ketei, Totoya, Lau

[Sāmoan]
O lo’u igoa o Sarah McLeod-Venu
Ou te sau mai le nu’u o le Tanugamanono ma Lelepa

We warmly invite you to Vā Tapuia. Yalavatabu. Our Sacred Space, an architectural exhibition celebrating culture, research, and Pasifika identity.

We are two Pasifika Master of Architecture (Professional) students at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, and this exhibition marks the culmination of our thesis research journeys. Our work weaves together our rich, strong, and living cultures, explored through architectural thinking, making, and spatial storytelling.

This exhibition showcases our full bodies of research, including our design processes, speculative explorations, and final architectural propositions.

[Kaline Masitabua]
How can architecture create an experience that enhances the significance of veiqaraqaravi vaka vanua to strengthen cultural roots?

[Sarah McLeod-Venu]
Can the intangible concepts of fa‘asamoa, through ceremonial practices and vā, be translated into tangible architectural form and spatial experience in contemporary architecture?

Vā Tapuia. Yalavatabu. Our Sacred Space is a celebration of milestone, memory, identity, and Pasifika pride. We would be honoured to have your presence as we share this important moment in our academic and cultural journeys.

Please refer to the Exhibition Poster attached for further information.

We hope to see you there,

Vinaka vakalevu & Fa’afetai tele lava,

Kaline Masitabua & Sarah McLeod-Venu.

Huge congratulations to our Resene Student Design Awards 2025 Finalists Kamilla Melashchenko and Max Young, and Sarah McLeod-Venu who was Highly Commended 🎉

📸Emily Hall

📢Scholarships for 2026 study

Master of Construction and Building Science (Research): https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/scholarships/current/master-of-construction-and-building-science-research-scholarship/_recache

Master of Construction Law: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/scholarships/current/master-of-construction-law-scholarship

Master of Urban and Regional Planning: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/scholarships/current/master-of-urban-and-regional-planning-scholarship

Explore more Architecture and Design scholarships: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/scholarships/find-scholarships?study_areas=architecture,design

Find a scholarship | Scholarships | Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Find a scholarship that's right for you—search the scholarships database to find out what's on offer and how to apply.