Jamaine Fraser   BDES 1st Hon

Pae Tahi

Tainui Art, Design

Te Arawa

Ko Te Arawa te Waka
Ko Ngongotaha te Maunga
Ko Awahou te Awa
Ko Rotoruanui a Kahumatamomoe te Moana
Ko Ngati Rangiwewehi me Ngati Whakaue te Hapu/Iwi
No Rotorua ahau.

Jamaine is currently undertaking a Master of Design by project degree within the joint partnership between Unitec and Awatoru. Recently he was a recipient of the Ngati Whakaue Education Endowment Trust Scholarship. In the summer of 2009/2010 he was one of two recipients for the Inaugural Maori Internship and Scholarship between Scion Research (Crown Research Institute) and Nga Pae O Te Maramatanga (National Institute of Research Excellence for Maori Development and Advancement). The project that was developed from this joint venture titled ‘Whakapapa O Nohoanga’ was a concept furniture range utilising bio-composite materials within a Marae context that amalgamated Maori beliefs and values with Science. This project and its visual display poster were recognised in the Inaugural Sustainable Bio-economy Student Poster Conference at the University of Waikato and was awarded one of three AgResearch Prizes for best poster. Scion Research and Nga Pae O Te Maramatanga have decided to tautoko Jamaine in his Masters of Design by project degree. During this time he has also completed graphic work as a freelance graphic designer.

In his final year of 2008 at Massey University Wellington, his design research project ‘Te Paea Tohora-The Stranded Whale’ that produced the concept ‘Korowai O Tangaroa – Cloak of Tangaroa’ was recognised in the James Dyson Product Design Awards in Auckland and was awarded Runner-Up. Following these awards the same project received ‘Bronze’ in the Student category of the Designers Institute of New Zealand (DINZ) Best Awards. In 2009 he graduated with a Bachelor of Design: majoring in Industrial Design with 1st class honors. During part of 2009 he also tutored as a design technician at Massey University Wellington.

He has now been a member of Nga Aho Inc for a little over one year and aspires to contribute to the discourses of Māori Design Research, Design Research, Indigenous Product Design and Development and challenge and contribute to the current design identity of Aotearoa New Zealand through his MDES by project process, Science and Technology and Matauranga Māori.

It is a vision for Jamaine to showcase design avenues for the rangatahi who sit in the back of the high school classes drawing. Its is often said that the best ideas come from drawings on napkins, in his case, desks.

Jamaine recognises his whanau and iwi support for the above achievements and acknowledges that such achievements is only possible with the steadfast commitment of his whanau and iwi.

Nau te rourou
Naku te rourou
Ka ora ai te iwi