Fast Forward 2026: Transcolonisation! | Tyrone Ohia

Fast Forward 2026: Transcolonisation!

Semester 1

In the Architecture NZ article Transcolonisation 1990-2020, Anthony Hōete charted how architecture in Aotearoa was negotiating the complex entanglement of colonial inheritance and Indigenous resurgence. He described a 30-year trajectory in which design culture shifts from bicultural acknowledgement toward a more assertive Te Ao Māori architectural project, seeking to reconcile European traditions with Indigenous spatial knowledge. This process of transcolonisation reframes architecture as an evolving dialogue in which Māori worldviews increasingly steer form, narrative, and purpose. Hōete positions this shift not as a stylistic turn but as a structural rebalancing, reshaping how architecture inhabits land, memory, and identity.

Embedded within the Fast Forward lecture series, the University of Auckland’s School of Architecture and Planning’s annual flagship lecture series, Transcolonisation 2026, asks pre-eminent Māori how their creative practice might influence architecture and the built environment.

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Tyrone Ohia |

Tyrone Ohia (Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāi Te Rangi) is the Founder and Creative Director of Extended Whānau, a Tāmaki Makaurau–based design studio known for not just pushing but for reconfiguring the boundaries of contemporary Māori design and visual communications. His work spans books, exhibitions, campaigns, and large-scale cultural projects, always driven by a commitment to making te ao Māori visible, relevant, and boldly expressive. To font up! Ohia’s design achievements have been widely recognised: he won the Gerard Reid Award for Best Book for Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art, alongside the Best Illustrated Book and Best Typography awards at the 2023 PANZ Book Design Awards. His studio has also received a prestigious Type Directors Club Award for its striking design celebrating architect Rewi Thompson. Ohia’s leadership continues to shape national conversations, most recently through creative direction for high‑profile cultural initiatives such as Dame Hinewehi Mohi’s Haka campaign.

10 CPD points available.

Please note that tickets purchased from unauthorized third-party websites are not valid; please use only the approved website (eventbrite.co.nz) for ticket purchases/registrations.

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Getting to the venue:

The main Faculty of Engineering and Design buildings are conveniently located at the heart of the University's City Campus, and are easily accessible via many forms public transport. For further information on public transport schedules, visit the Auckland Transport website.

For those driving in, further information on parking options can be found here.

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Host or Publisher Faculty of Engineering, University of Auckland