News
'Ankle to Waist Deep' event in Tāmaki Makaurau
Posted 26 09 2025
in News
Hearing from our grads
Last night, Tuia Pito Ora New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects Auckland Branch hosted the 'Ankle to Waist Deep' event - an evening of presentations and discussions from Graduate Landscape Architects with up to 5 years professional experience in the industry.
The evening included presentations from Rhys Baker, Nicole Tune, Izzy Ussher, Nikki Clendinning, Yichen Liu, Daniel Watt, Hamish Murphy and Amber Bray. It was energising to hear how they have found transitioning into the profession, the insights they have gleaned and the projects that they have been working on. The event was well attended, with an impressive turnout from students, graduates and experienced professionals. The response to the event shows a real interest in the transition from study to professional practice, how recent graduates navigate this process in a day to day sense, and what this says about the way our design studios and culture as a profession is configured.
Participants included: Isthmus, Boffa Miskell, LandLAB, Rough Milne Mitchell Landscape Architects, Stellar Projects.
Our reflections as a branch include: this type of event offers a connection across all levels of practice and education, interesting insights around collective authorship and the ability to shape projects as a graduate, and how landscape architects often draw on diverse skillsets, previous study and previous vocations to find their 'way in' to the industry. In tune with the event theme of immersion, there was a consistent kaupapa of graduates (safely) tackling 'deep end' tasks within the scope of project and making large leaps forward in their capabilities and confidence.
For some, this was a preview of what professional practice will be like, and for others this was a preview of our next generation of emerging designers. We're in good hands!
NZILA Auckland Branch
