The whakapapa of Te Aranga Design Principles
In 2006, leading Māori design thinkers and practitioners gathered at Te Aranga Marae in Flaxmere, Heretaunga (Hawke's Bay) to formulate an indigenous response to the New Zealand Urban Design Protocol. This hui led to the creation of the Te Aranga Cultural Landscapes Strategy.
The group aimed to create a practical, outcome-based framework that mainstream designers, architects, and planners could use to enhance the visibility, presence, and active participation of local Mana Whenua (local iwi/hapū with tribal authority).
The outcome of the gathering was the Te Aranga Cultural Landscapes Strategy.
The Auckland Design Manual formally adopted the principles in 2013, followed by Auckland Council adopting them more broadly in 2016 to guide public infrastructure and developments.
In 2025, 19 years after that first gathering, Ngā Aho returned to Te Aranga Marae for our Hui-ā-tau, to honor our history and map out future design aspirations.