Kia ora e te whanau,

Nga mihi o te ra. 

May 2019 has been a busy month for me, with a number of hui and events around the country.
  
I was invited to attend and present the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects Tuia Pito Ora awards at the Lincoln University School of Landscape Architecture Awards (SOLA) at the SOLA building on 3 May. It was exciting for me to go back to graduation after more than 20 years and to see and meet the amazing talent that is coming through our schools.

It’s University awards and graduation season, so on 14 May I was also invited to attend and present the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects Tuia Pito Ora awards as well as a few other awards, at the Victoria University School of Architecture awards ceremony.

Both of the awards ceremonies highlighted to me the very high-quality graduates that are coming through our programs and also the need for stronger connections between practice and the University programs.  I am inspired to go back to the Universities and offer to do more to connect with students before they step out into the professional world.  Well done to both Lincoln SOLA and VUW Architecture schools for your excellent awards programs and ceremonies and in particular your excellent graduates.

On 4 May, I was invited, along with other members of the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects Tuia Pito Ora Executive to the annual Te Tau-a-Nuku hui, which was held in Tāmaki Makaurau. After a waiata and a hangi in a box we had some very fruitful conversations which led to a stronger understanding and relationship between New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects Tuia Pito Ora and Te Tau-a-Nuku.  We have a number of initiatives to make progress on  together. 

The 2019 Conference Creative team and the Operational team continue to make progress on planning for the conference in November in Christchurch.  The theme, DISRUPTION, centres on the responses that critical-thinking people have actioned in the face of disruption, whether this has been instigated by natural systems or humans.  The first of the keynote speakers have been confirmed, including Julie Bargmann.  Get in quick for your Early Bird conference enrolment. 

The Resene New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects Awards 2019 applications closed on Monday 1 April with a very strong group of awards applications received.

As always, if you have anything you want to share with me, then please drop me a line.  
 
Mā te wā,

Brad