Landscape Architects Put The Future Of Our ‘Edible Landscapes’ On The Menu In Heretaunga Hastings

The 2025 Wānanga of Tuia Pito Ora New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (NZILA) is putting the future of our ‘edible landscapes’ on the menu this week on 22-23 May at a time of critical change.

The NZILA Firth Wānanga 2025 will be bringing three (3) international speakers and 17 local speakers to the stage at Toitoi - Hawke's Bay Arts & Events Centre in Heretaunga Hastings on Thursday and Friday.

International speakers for the conference will be offering a world perspective on the importance of food sovereignty and the problems, challenges, solutions, and opportunities for edible landscapes – horanuku hora kai - in everyday public spaces and in industrial food production.

They are: Tim Waterman who is Professor of Landscape Theory and Inter-Programme Collaboration Director with the Bartlett School of Architecture at University College London; Dr Joshua Zeunert who is a Scientia Associate Professor at UNSW in Sydney in the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture; and Nick Rose, Executive Director of Sustain: The Australian Food Network and a lecturer in food studies.

Local speakers such as Te Kahautu Maxwell will bring expertise in mātauranga Māori to the table and entrepreneurs such as Morgan Maw (Boring Oat Milk), Cameron Taylor (Taylor Corporation) and Renee Taylor (Salt Aotearoa) will add a business perspective to the story of edible landscapes.

Registered landscape architecture professionals from across Aotearoa New Zealand will also be raising thoughts over the two-day event set against the background context of RMA reform discussions and the Government’s release of a RM reform blueprint by an Expert Advisory Group in March.

Judge Laurie Newhook will conduct a wrap-up session bringing insights together and helping to shape the profession’s collective response to emerging challenges.

More details about NZILA Firth Wānanga 2025 can be accessed at www.nzila.co.nz For an article about our international speakers visit Landscape Architecture Aotearoa http://bit.ly/44Kt2vz

Local Speakers include: Monica Bainbridge (Boffa Miskell), To’osavili Nigel Bickle (CE, Hastings District Council - Te Kaunihera ā-Rohe o Heretaunga), Shannon Davis (School of Landscape Architecture – Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University), Sarah Flynn (Boffa Miskell), Rachel Hill (WSP), Gary Marshall (Resilio), Morgan Maw (Boring Oat Milk), Te Kahautu Maxwell (University of Waikato/ Lincoln University), Daniel McEwan (Timbre.nz), Richard Morris (Lincoln University’s Designing Future Productive Landscapes Centre of Excellence), Judge Laurie Newhook, Mel Robinson (Designgroup Stapleton Elliott), Charles Ropitini (Hastings District Council - Te Kaunihera ā-Rohe o Heretaunga), Cameron Taylor (Taylor Corporation), Renee Taylor (Salt Aotearoa), Ngahiwi Tomoana (Ngāti Hawea and Ngāti Hori), Peter Wilson (SLR Consulting).

Organisers of the event are grateful to assistance from the Hastings District Council. The 2025 Creative Panel responsible for bringing the Wānanga programme to life consists of: Shannon Bray, Lizzie Burn, William Hatton, Joshua Hunt, Ashleigh Hunter and Daniel McEwan.

Supporting partners for the event are Firth, Aco, Urban Group, BelAire, Streetscape and Wayfinder; along with further supporters and exhibitors: EasyBigTrees, MHL, Hydro, Advance Landscape Systems, Boundaryline, Horizon International Ltd, Ibex, LMAtimber, MetroGreen, Permeable Concrete NZ and Smart Grass.

© Scoop Media