16 Sep 2024
We’re proud to celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori 2024 and this year’s theme, Ake Ake Ake – A Forever Language, reflecting the resilience of Te Reo Māori and our commitment to honouring Māori culture in the built environment.
We are proud to celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori 2024 and embrace this year’s theme: Ake Ake Ake – A Forever Language. The theme acknowledges the remarkable resilience and adaptability of Te Reo Māori, which, much like the land itself, has endured under pressure and continues to thrive in modern Aotearoa. For us, it is more than just a language—it represents an enduring cultural journey that we are honoured to be a part of.
Māori as Storytellers in the Built Environment
As tangata whenua, Māori have long shaped the built environment of Aotearoa, infusing their cultural and historical connections into the whenua. At Studio Pacific, we are deeply guided by the principles within Te Kawenata o Rata and Te Tiriti o Waitangi for projects significant to mana whenua. We see ourselves as conduits and amplifiers, where Māori are the storytellers. Our role is to listen and reflect their identity, narratives, and whakapapa in the built environment.
This commitment is expressed through our co-design approach, working closely with mana whenua clients and consultants to ensure their values and stories are not only told but embodied in tangible outcomes. We believe that the architecture of Aotearoa should always reflect the rich cultural heritage and deep-rooted connections of its people.
Investing in the Next Generation
Fostering the next generation of diverse architectural talent is crucial to our practice. Through financial scholarships and work opportunities, we actively support Māori and Pacific Peoples to grow, encouraging greater diversity and new perspectives within the industry. These initiatives ensure that the architectural landscape of Aotearoa will continue to grow in richness and diversity, supported by the voices and talents of our emerging designers.
Learning and Reflecting Te Ao Māori in Practice
For more than a decade, we have been committed to folding Te Reo Māori and Māori tikanga into our daily practice at Studio Pacific. From regular workshops providing context and understanding around Te Tiriti o Waitangi to engaging with tikanga in our work processes, these practices are a core part of our professional development. They enable us to strengthen our relationships with mana whenua and enhance the outcomes that matter most to them.
Ake Ake Ake – A Commitment to the Future
The theme Ake Ake Ake reminds us that the journey of uplifting te reo Māori is one that continues forever. It reflects the enduring commitment of New Zealanders to embrace the language, culture, and identity of Māori people long into the future. At Studio Pacific, we are proud to be part of this journey, ensuring that Māori values, history, and narratives are not only acknowledged but celebrated in the spaces we create.
This Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, we reaffirm our dedication to a future where Te Reo Māori and Māori culture thrive in both the spoken word and the built environment—Ake ake ake – Te Reo Māori, A Forever Language.
A workshop on engaging with tikanga in our work processes held at Studio Pacific.