Jasmax Graduate Wins Women In Construction Award

22/08/2018

Jasmax Architectural Graduate, Elisapeta Heta, wins Rising Star (office-based) Award at the Hays National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Excellence Awards 2018.

Announced at a ceremony in Auckland last Friday, Heta’s win recognises her commitment to the integration of Te Ao Māori design and values into the modern architecture and construction industry.

NAWIC Judges commented: “Elisapeta Heta genuinely cares about kaupapa, the things we design, life, communities and people. Referees described Elisapeta as a courageous, intelligent wāhine who has a willingness and ability to both teach and engage.”

Heta, of Ngāti Wai, Waikato Tainui and Samoan heritage, is one of four co-founders of architecture firm, Jasmax’s, cultural engagement unit, Waka Maia. The Waka Maia team are focused on bringing Maori and Pasifika values to the current architectural and design processes in order to influence a truly unique Aotearoa built environment vernacular.

Of relevance, Heta is one of the design team working on the New Zealand Pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai. The pavilion theme is kaitiakitanga, our care for people and place and for future generations.

Elisapeta says it was inspiring be in a room with so many incredible women making a powerful contribution to the industry. "I'm really honoured and humbled to receive this award. The calibre of wāhine nominated, as finalists and winning on Friday night was quite awe inspiring. I'm proud to represent my whānau and my office and winning was an added bonus."

The awards were announced at a ceremony in Auckland on 17 August. There were 60 high-achieving women nominated for the NAWIC Excellence awards with 39 finalists across six categories.

ENDS

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