During the recent 2018 Tuia Pito Ora (NZILA) conference in Tāmaki makaurau (Auckland) the Landscape Foundation, with support from Te Tau a Nuku and Ngā Aho representatives, ran the conference design charrette which focused on 'decolonisation' of our cities.

Students from Lincoln, Unitec, Otago, Victoria, AUT, Massey and Auckland University participated and brought together several design disciplines for what was two days of intensive design and progressive thinking about the legacy that colonisation has left in the urban landscape.

The charrette was coordinated by Dr Diane Menzies, with support from three of the conference speakers, Dr Rebecca Kiddle, Alayna Renata and Indigenous Australian planner Timmah Ball, as well as Desna Whaanga-Schollum, chairperson of Ngā Aho. A tremendous amount of support came from Jan Woodhouse of the Landscape Foundation, as well as Fiona Ting, for which much of the organisation, graphic design and arrangements for students would not have been possible without their contribution.

For many of the students, attendance at the powhiri at Te Noho Kotahitanga was their first experience in an immersive Māori environment. Students remarked on the warmth and manaakitanga felt during their stay at Te Noho Kotahitanga, with many thanks to Whaea Lynda Toki, Jess Aranui, Papa Hohepa Renata and others for their hospitality.