Hoahoa Māori Māori Design

This is the world’s leading resource on Māori design where you’ll find insights, resources and examples of Māori design best practice. The bedrock of the guidance provided here is the seven outcomes-focused around the Te Aranga Principles. These principles express the thinking, input and tikanga of numerous iwi throughout Tāmaki Makaurau and beyond.

Two apartment buildings which have been designed in collaboration with Marutūāhu artists, with cultural landscape values embedded to communicate the visual identity of the Marutūāhu Rōpū (group), through brickwork reflecting tukutuku patterns and features such as pou, a waharoa and precast concrete retaining details.

Toi and Whetū, two residential apartment buildings delivered by the Marutūāhu-Ockham Group, Point Chevalier.

People sitting on the civic steps at the entrance to Commercial Bay. The steps include an immersive light feature on the risers with two Māori designs, one reflecting the whariki (woven welcome mat), and the other reflecting the volcanic activity of the Tāmaki Isthmus and arrival of outsiders to New Zealand.

The Civic Steps at Commercial Bay, named Te Reo Pōwhiri by Mana Whenua. Artist is Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Manu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Haua).

A walking and cycling bridge that connects the two sides of the Panmure Lagoon, displaying the Māori and Croatian patterns in the metal railing detail, as well as the nighttime lighting design.

Te Kōpua o Hiku, Panmure. Mahi toi by Janine Williams (Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara, Ngāti Mahuta) and Shannon Novak (Ngāti Pākehā, Tarara/Croatian).

Rendered medium density housing development. Three storey attached dwellings with curved roof form are fronted by a central communal area with seating and landscaping.

Ukutoia Kāinga Hou, residential housing concept design for Glen Innes, by TOA Architects.

The upper portion of Karanga-a-Hape rail station building, including the station name signage; the threshold element above the entrance with two moulded manaia (guardian figures) placed on a base reflecting traditional angular carving; surrounded by angled metal fins creating a pattern reflective of Te Ika-whenua-o-te-rangi, the Milky Way constellation.

Karanga-a-Hape Station entrance, Mercury Lane. Mana Whenua lead artist was Reuben Kirkwood (Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki).

Aerial view of the public space located adjacent to Commercial Bay and Waitematā Station at Lower Queen Street, with basalt pavers that form a whāriki (welcome mat) designed by Mana Whenua weavers to depict a woven harakeke (flax) mat.

Te Komititanga, artwork design lead Tessa Harris (Ngāi Tai ki Tamaki), together with weavers from Te Ākitai Waiohua, Ngāi Tai ki Tamaki, Ngāti Te Ata and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.

Waimahara is an interactive artwork designed to deepen our connection to place. It describes the memory of water, specifically Te Waihorotiu, the stream flowing beneath the Myers Park underpass to Waitematā Harbour. Like the stream, this artwork is alive. It responds to the environment, weather and our presence by changing light patterns and sound.

Waimahara, by Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Manu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hauā).

Hoahoa Māori guidance and resources

Rangahau take hoahoa whaitua tūmataiti Māori Māori design case studies

Tōia

Toia is a multi-purpose community facility located in central Otahuhu.

We see Kāinga tuatahi three-storey walk-ups arranged around a communal garden. It is a sunny day and the wooden planter boxes contain mulch with food plants about to grow up to the sun. The paths between the beds are white chip. The walk-ups each have a large single pitched roof, with a mix of corrugated iron and timber cladding.

Kainga Tuatahi

30 townhouses, with a range of two, three and four bedroom configurations aituated in Ōrākei on Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei ancestral whenua.

Architecturally beautifull in wood panelling at various angles along the frontage, this Music and Arts centre expresses place and Māori culture

Te Oro

Te Oro comprises of three two-storey pavilions linked by a naturally lit circulation space.

Te Wananga designers perspective aerial view

Te Wānanga

Te Wānanga integrates public space with upgraded ferry infrastructure to revitalise the City Centre’s interface with Te Waitematā (Waitematā harbour).

Ukutoia

Ukutoia Kāinga Hou is a housing solution that enables Māori whanau to live and thrive together, as Māori.

Commercial Bay

Demonstrating the value that meaningful engagement with Mana Whenua and application of the Te Aranga Māori design principles.

Three quarter view of a development with two buildings with three storeys each, arranged around a communal space.

Tuakana/Teina

Modifiying a typical suburban site to create extended Māori intergenerational living, with enough housing for up to 8 family units.

The papakainga design provides a mix of communal and private spaces across 3 dwellings.

Tuatahi

This papakainga example is situated on a typical large suburban site.

The papakainga is centred around a communal green space, which provides space for dining, fruittrees, a vegetable patch and an open green play area.

Tuarua

Suburban papakāinga / multi-generational housing solutions can be developed on suburban sites.

Photograph taken from outside Toi o Tāmaki - Auckland Art Gallery

Toi o Tamaki - Auckland Art Gallery

Demonstrating how Mana Whenua engagement can lead to unique, meaningful and beautiful design outcomes.

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Hoahoa Māori Māori Design

Hoahoa Māori guidance and resources

Te Aranga Design Principles

Tāmaki Makaurau: Ngā Iwi Māori

Māori housing resource

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