Mōhio ki te Whenua/ Understanding the Land

'Mōhio ki te Whenua' recognises the inherent connection that Māori have with the land through an architecture that celebrates Kaitiakitanga – the guardianship, protection, and conservation of the land. This core Māori value reflects a belief of the intrinsic connection shared between humanity and the natural world. Furthermore, the research navigates the different types of heritage present on Rangitoto Island and advocates for the importance of sharing the intrinsic narratives embedded into the historic fabric of the landscape in order to conserve their significance for future generations. By exploring this cultural value, we can begin to hypothesise the coexistence between cultural and ecological conservation.

This thesis proposes a series of architectural designs to be constructed along the existing walking trails of Rangitoto Island. The architectural interventions will aim to incorporate Kaitiakitanga values and infuse the geological, ecological, and human history of the land, creating spaces that allow local and international visitors to interact, connect and understand the environment in a way that acknowledges the importance of both ecological and cultural conservation.