Events Calendar

CPD points: 1.5

Building Bridges: Cross-Border Collaboration in Landscape Architecture

In the spirit of Te Rā o te Whanaungatanga(International Day of Friendship), this session explores how landscape architecture can foster meaningful connections across cultures, geographies, and knowledge systems. 

Hosted by Tuia Pito Ora New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (NZILA) and moderated by NZILA President Ralph Johns, this kōrero (discussion) brings together practice and academia to share two distinct but complementary perspectives on cross-border collaboration.

From Aotearoa (New Zealand), Henry Crothers (LandLAB) will present Te Ara Tukutuku, a transformative waterfront project in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland). Delivered in collaboration with international partners including SCAPE (New York), the project demonstrates how design grounded in mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge systems) can travel across borders while remaining deeply connected to place. It offers a powerful example of how global partnerships can support locally-led, culturally anchored outcomes.

From Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, Dr Andre Brown will be joined by Keegan Barnett-Bates of Designgroup Stapleton Elliott to reflect on the establishment and ongoing development of the Wellington Institute at Zhengzhou University in China. This unique academic partnership creates opportunities for cross-cultural exchange, shared learning, and new pathways for landscape architecture education. Keegan, an NZILA member and recent graduate, will share reflections from his time teaching within the programme in China, offering insight into the lived experience of international collaboration and the next generation of practitioners working across borders.

Together, these perspectives highlight the value of whakawhanaungatanga (building and strengthening relationships) in practice and education. Guided by Ralph, the session will draw connections between these experiences and open up discussion on how landscape architects can continue to strengthen regional and global relationships in response to shared environmental and societal challenges.

What to Expect

Participants will gain insights into:

• International collaboration in landscape architecture practice and education
• Cross-cultural exchange and knowledge sharing
• Building and strengthening professional relationships across borders
• Lessons learned from partnerships between New Zealand, China, and international collaborators
• The role of landscape architects in addressing shared environmental and societal challenges