16 Jun 2025
We are delighted to celebrate a significant milestone as Josephine Horsley and Matt Bangs mark 10 years with Studio Pacific. Over the past decade, both have made a real impact on projects across Aotearoa – helping to shape landscapes that resonate with people, place, and purpose.
Josephine Horsley
Based in Wānaka, Josie has played a key role in delivering projects that connect with their surroundings. With a background in residential architecture and experience as a landscape designer working in Melbourne on a mix of major infrastructure and smaller park projects, she brings a broad and thoughtful approach to landscape design.
Josie’s projects often focus on large-scale master planning, where she works to integrate new developments into existing neighbourhoods to reflect local character and achieve positive social outcomes. Her work includes regenerative projects in Tāmaki Makaurau and Eastern Porirua, helping to create safer and more enjoyable spaces for the community while retaining the character of the existing neighbourhoods, and 30 Madden, an elevated landscaped space for residents that overlooks Wynyard Quarter and supports inner-city living.
More recently, she has been involved in the New Zealand Parliament Western Precinct landscape project, helping to navigate the complexities of a nationally significant site with deep cultural and civic meaning. Josie’s commitment to sustainable design and her collaborative approach have been central to the success of these projects.
Matt Bangs
Matt is a Senior Associate and Registered Landscape Architect based in Tauranga. His work covers a wide range of project types, from civic and cultural design to ecological restoration, urban regeneration, and infrastructure.
He was a key part of the team behind the Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway, where he developed landscape and urban design proposals and carried out on-site construction observations. His work also includes the Home of Compassion in Island Bay, a quiet and contemplative landscape that supports the site’s spiritual, cultural and community roles.
More recently, Matt has been closely involved in Te Manawataki o Te Papa, a major civic and cultural redevelopment in Tauranga’s city centre. His calm, grounded approach and focus on working with mana whenua and community partners have helped shape a design that responds to place, history and future use.
Ngā Mihi, Josie and Matt
Josie and Matt have brought a great deal to Studio Pacific over the past 10 years. Their thoughtful design work, leadership, and commitment to positive social and environmental outcomes continue to make a strong and lasting contribution to our studio and the communities we work with.
Ngā mihi nui ki a kōrua – thank you both for your commitment and the positive impact you’ve made at Studio Pacific.
Josephine Horsley is a Landscape Designer based in Wānaka. Her work over the past 10 years has focused on master planning and public realm projects across Aotearoa.
Matt Bangs is a Senior Associate and Landscape Architect based in Tauranga. He has contributed to a wide range of civic, infrastructure, and cultural projects over the past decade.