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Window of Palestine
No full textThe poster for the performance ‘Windows of Palestine,’ designed in collaboration with Christopher Nansen captures the essence of the performance. This series transforms architectural elements into storytellers, reflecting the Palestinian urban struggle under military occupation. The performance featured poetry of my original work as well as Abigail Spence's response to Tasneems's story, a Dental student displaced in Gaza, resulting in a poster design by Chris and script by Unitec MARCH (prof) Alumni Abigail Spence that conveys the emotional depth, and narrative strength of the performance. The poster's creation was an iterative process, with Chris and I experimenting with various elements inclduing using the most updated maps to achieve the needed impact that relates to this architectural-poetic performance, ultimately leading to a visually compelling representation that resonated with the NZ Eid Day organizers and audience alike
Education at the crossroads: To be social justice or not to be?
No full textWhat gets you out of bed in the morning? (Or why do you choose to teach?)
Ka tomo te vaka i te ‘atu ‘anga ngaru. Kare ra te rangatira tiratiratu e maremo
Mapping our intellectual terrain
Cross roads: education at the crossroads: to be social justice or not to be.
The choice we make at the crossroads
Neoliberalism
Changes in educational policy and practice: in memorial of things lost
Social justice as counter narrative
Counter hegemony in and around the classroom
Aiga Night 2024
Counter hegemonic practices
Reference
Nameless vast ocean: Imagined and reimagining Oceania
No full textALTERNATIVE TITLE
Oceania: The nameless vast ocean that connects architectures
The term ‘Oceania’ became re-popularised in the 1990s when Tongan anthropologist ‘Epeli Hau‘ofa (1939–2009) disrupted contemporary Pacific discourse to describe a ‘New Oceania.’ Hau‘ofa’s (1994, 2008) writings empowered a Pacific reimagining of the Pacific Ocean as what it always was to Pacific peoples: unbounded, nameless and beyond imposed colonial markers. Hau‘ofa’s work has since revolutionised Pacific architectural design thinking and reframed Pacific architectural histories (‘Ilaiū Talei 2023). Linguistic and conceptual complexity, however, is added through the fact that the term ‘Oceania’ was coined by colonial nations in the early 19th century. Between 1814 and 1837, both in French and German, the terms ‘Océanie’ and ‘Ozeanien’ appear. Oceania, a term used by different sides of colonial realities presents a fascinating conundrum. As authors, positioned from cultural backgrounds of these colonial trajectories German and Tongan we see an opportunity to longitudinally map the usage of this term in an architectural historical context. This is important given the rise of Pacific Indigenous-led architectural scholarship in recent years, emerging from scholars who turn to Hau ‘ofa’s progressive writings. However, rather than dismissing the colonial period completely, we welcome a dialogue from these seemingly opposing yet sometimes complementary colonial and post-colonial vantage points, in particular on modernity and cultural appropriation in Pacific architecture. Through this paper, we address pluralised notions of modernity, from different sides of the colonial experience. When pursuing a purer form of modernity, early 1900s German architects (and artists) were appropriating Pacific architectural forms and ideas. Equally, Tongans around that time and into the present were appropriating architectural styles and materials from colonial states to assert their own sense of modernity. Alongside our review of ‘Oceania’ a term reflecting these complex sides of architectural histories past and present we also present architectural translations of cultural modernities from this sphere
Ornamenting the body: Creative practice exploring the relationship of body politic and space
No full textIn this essay, I set out to explore the multiple facets connecting the politics of space to the politics of bodies. Objects surround our bodies, sized to varying scales. We wear and display them. They are all crafted and designed, yet we fail to acknowledge the political significance of our engagement with them. The political dimension is evident in the design process. Regardless of an object’s scale – even architecture can be viewed as a form of object – its design is typically tailored to a single standardised body.
Scale is a constraint for both jewellery and architecture. Both are designed and bound by spatial context, and the body is the inherent factor to which scale relates, including consideration of how the body moves within space. Small and monumental spaces alike use the human form as a reference point.
This paper explores the ways that scale shifts and adapts in relation to the emotional realm by examining the utilitarian and societal functions of objects and imagining and reproducing pieces that are made visually.
I analyse pieces of my creative practice that explore the spatial practices that emerged across the span from craft to building, developing what can be called a ‘body politic,’ one that uniquely welds landscape concerns with corporeal expressive repertoires that test and afford modes of belonging and identity in complex ways. My creative practice research investigates the complex intersection of craft practices and architecture in the context of a consolidating émigré community that made its home in Titirangi, Aotearoa New Zealand, in the 1950s
Sniffing for accuracy: Canine precision for detecting Phytophthora agathidicida in soil samples
No full textRATIONALE & OBJECTIVE
• Phytophthora agathidicida: Soil-borne oomycete pathogen causing kauri dieback (Bradshaw et al., 2020)
• Pest detection dogs trained to locate and identify Phytophthora pathogen as quick and reliable surveillance tool (Bassett, 2016)
• The dogs can discriminate between target (P. agathidicida) and non-target (P. cinnamomi and P. multivora) scents (Carter et al., 2023)
- New biosecurity concept results in canine detection methods that have not been fully investigated
- Assess the detection accuracy of a trained dog in identifying decreasing amounts of Phytophthora agathidicida in soil sample
Rise of women skateboarding in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Exploring the growth and social dynamics
No full textINTRODUCTION
Larger Project - Examine the processes and politics involved in the sportisation and institutionalisation of skateboarding in Aotearoa, New Zealand
Presentation Focus - Investigating growth and social dynamics of women’s skateboarding in NZ.
Methodology
Gender dynamics in skateboarding: A historical perspective
Participation rates in Aotearoa
Key findings
Challenges and marginalisation
Reference
Bahal: Kathmandu’s courtyard: Reviving the vernacular architecture of Nepal
No full textRESEARCH QUESTION
How can contemporary vernacular architecture be developed for Nepal in a suburban context?
ABSTRACT
Nepal is a mountainous country between India and China with a diverse landscape and a cultural mosaic that shapes its architectural heritage. Amidst seismic challenges and rapid urbanisation, constant urban development has been throughout architectural history while building resilience against these hazards. However, very few have observed the transformation of this architectural heritage. Modern construction practices are superseding vernacular architecture, especially in countries like Nepal. Meanwhile, the sustainable features of vernacular architecture are also being overlooked due to design considerations and construction methodologies. Therefore, it is necessary to acknowledge and incorporate the elements of vernacular architecture in contemporary design.
Domestic architectural transformation in the Kathmandu Valley was predominantly evident from foreign architects rather than from Nepalese architects. Architects like Carl Pruscha and Louis I. Kahn have left enduring effects on Nepal's architectural canvas, offering inspiration and guidance for contemporary design. Complementing these architectural precedents, visions drawn from literature emphasise the profound significance of vernacular architecture in preserving cultural identity and nurturing sustainable development. Literature studies deepen our understanding of the intrinsic link between architecture and cultural identity. Nepalese architectural historians like S.R. Tiwari studied the importance of traditional architectural value in a modern context and found that sustainability and the quality of life via traditional methods are achievable in contemporary practice. Scholars like Marcel Vellinga have stressed the importance of vernacular architecture as a source of architectural knowledge that fosters sustainable architectural practice through resources and technologies to develop culturally and environmentally. Paul Oliver explores Nepalese architectural practice related to sloped land farms in response to location, climate, and subsistence needs. Juhani Pallasmaa's exploration of phenomenology encourages architecture rooted in human experience and cultural context, fostering a sense of place and belonging.
Converging architectural precedents and literature offers a holistic understanding of Nepal’s architectural heritage and contemporary challenges. By acknowledging the wisdom of the past and engaging with scholarly discourse, architects can create spaces that honour Nepal's rich cultural tapestry while addressing the complexities of modernity and sustainability. This project aims to bridge a gap between vernacular and contemporary architecture in Kathmandu. The findings from this research transformed into a design departure, culminating in a suburban building complex. This research outcome addresses the lack of holistic design approaches, evident in Kathmandu’s architectural practice. This proposed building complex intends to be a testament to Nepal’s rich cultural tapestry while acknowledging the imperatives of modernity and sustainability
Navigating linguistic realities in Aotearoa: Maintaining Tagalog and supporting Māori revitalisation
No full textOBJECTIVES
+ Setting the stage: NZ population, language statistics& brief history
+ Theoretical frameworks & key literature
+ Research methodology
+ Findings and discussion
PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES
To explore how a family navigates the dual challenge of maintaining the Tagalog language and supporting the revitalisation of te reo Māori, from the perspective of a Filipino migrant mother.
This study provides a snapshot of multilingual practices, language preservation for linguistic inclusivity, integration and solidarity
Preliminary findings of wētā susceptibility to fluralaner, a common antiparasitic treatment for pets
No full textBACKGROUND
Antiparasitic treatments for companion animals are approved based on the understanding that their benefits outweigh potential harm. However, when these treatments are administered to large populations of healthy companion animals, the environmental impact of thousands of doses annually may not justify the benefits to Aotearoa New Zealand unique ecosystem. Fluralaner, a commonly used broad spectrum antiparasitic treatment in companion animals, is categorised as an isoxazoline insecticide and acaricide. It is a relatively recent addition to the market, initially approved for use by topical treatment in cats and dogs in 2015 in New Zealand. This study aims to investigate the impact of fluralaner on native invertebrates in Aotearoa New Zealand. Method The efficacy of fluralaner on native invertebrates endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand was evaluated through topical application to the thorax of Teleogryllus Commodus (field crickets) a taxonomically similar species to the New Zealand ground wētā (hemiandrous spp). Observations of behavioural changes were made at 1 hour, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours post-application.
RESULTS
Contact exposure to fluralaner did not cause consistent mortality. However, an affect - unable to move away from noxious stimuli but still responsive, on the back but unable to move away from noxious stimuli , hyperextended legs with ability to still upright - was seen at concentrations as low as 2 mg/mL (66% were affected at 24 hours). The LC50 was observed at 14 mg/mL at 24 hours.
CONCLUSION
The environmental impact from runoff or through excretions from the use of commonly used antiparasitic drugs in companion animal species requires further investigation. With concentrations as low as 2 mg/mL causing an effect on Teleogryllus commodus at 24 hours, further investigation is required on pathways to the environment, accumulative effects, the effects of this drug on non-target organism unique to Aotearoa New Zealand and potential hotspot location of environmental contamination
The future promise of Tau Henare Marae
No full textThis article explores how traditional knowledge and the aspirations of Tau Henare Marae whānau, of Ngāti Hine iwi and Te Orewai hapū, shaped an architectural design response – a proposed master plan for future development. This plan embeds their identity within both natural and built environments. Findings are presented from a Master of Architecture (Professional) thesis employing kaupapa Māori (Māori approach) methodologies such as pūrākau (a collection of traditional oral Māori narratives), Te Aranga Principles (Māori design principles), wānanga (discussing and learning about tribal knowledge) and whānau interviews in a comprehensive qualitative analysis of Tau Henare Marae buildings and landscaping. The research revealed that integrating kaupapa Māori approaches into architectural design significantly enhances iwi (tribe) and hapū (subtribe) engagement and promotes a strong sense of identity, leading to innovative re imaginings of the built environment