New Zealand Institute of Architects

Professional body in New Zealand

Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects

Formation| 1905, reformed by Architects Act 1963
Type| Professional body
Location|

* Auckland, New Zealand

Region served

| New Zealand
Membership| about 4000

President

| Huia Reriti

Interim chief executive

| Mark Abbot
Website| nzia.co.nz

Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) is a membership-based professional organisation that represents approximately 90 per cent of registered architects in Aotearoa New Zealand and supports and promotes architecture in New Zealand.[1]

The organisation was founded in 1905 and is committed to supporting members by providing ongoing professional training and material and services that are essential to their work.

The Institute has eight branches throughout the country and is headed by a President who serves a two-year term. The day-to-day functions of the Institute are undertaken by an Auckland-based team led by a chief executive.

## Background

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Due to the Architects Act 1963 splitting functions between the Institute and the New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB), [2][3] the Institute became an incorporated society in 1992,[4] while the NZRAB retains responsibility for the registration of architects.

In 2019, the Institute was gifted the name Te Kāhui Whaihanga by Haare Williams (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tūhoe), MNZM who said: “The name Te Kāhui Whaihanga is not only about architecture, but it’s also about building a nation; building a future and building a people. It's to do with identity.”[5]

In 2017, representatives of the Institute and Ngā Aho, the society of Māori design professionals, signed Te Kawenata o Rata, a covenant that formalises an ongoing relationship of co-operation between the two groups.

Governance of the Institute is undertaken by the NZIA Council, led by an elected President, which meets four times a year.[2]

Current Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Board

* President: Huia Reriti[3]
* Auckland director: Michael Thomson
* Gisborne & Hawke's Bay director: Chris Ainsworth
* Waikato & Bay of Plenty Director: Evan Mayo
* Western director: Felicity Wallace
* Wellington director: Carrinya Feaunati[4]
* Nelson & Marlborough director: Simon Hall
* Canterbury director: Michael Smith
* Southern director: Tim Ross
* Co-opted Emerge representative: Harry Platt
* Co-opted Ngā Aho representative: Matt Ritani

Past presidents include Judith Taylor (2022–2024) and Judi Keith-Brown (2020–2022).

## New Zealand Architecture Awards

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The institute also functions to celebrate outstanding architecture, in part by presenting annual awards for excellence in architecture.[5][6] The awards programme consists of Local Awards, run by each of the institute's eight branches, and New Zealand Awards, a national level distinction.

The Institute’s ‘named awards’ are conferred in categories of public, commercial, educational and residential architecture, and are named for the influential New Zealand architects Sir Ian Athfield, Sir Miles Warren, John Scott and Ted McCoy, each of whom has made a powerful contribution to the practice of architecture in New Zealand.

In 2022, the Institute introduced the John Sutherland Practice Award to honour individuals, groups, or collectives for their influence and impact on architecture. The award recognises wider architectural endeavours such as professional practice, advocacy, research, and building science. The award is named after Distinguished Fellow John Sutherland, in recognition of his influence on the architectural profession.[7][8]

Since 2015, the Warren Trust Awards for Architectural Writing have been awarded by the Institute for inventive and meaningful architectural writing. The awards are categorised by age: Tamariki (0-13 years), Rangatahi (14-18 years), and Open (18+ years). The awards are a joint venture with The Warren Trust, a charitable organisation in honour of Sir Miles Warren.[9][10]

The institute is not responsible for the registration of architects, which is within the purview of the New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB).

## Gold Medal

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Main article: NZIA Gold Medal

The most prestigious honour in New Zealand architecture is the Gold Medal, which is conferred to an individual or group for their outstanding contribution to the practice of architecture, demonstrated through the production of a consistently high-quality body of work over a period of time.[11]

## Distinguished Fellows

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The Institute honours up to 10 living Distinguished Fellows, who are recognised as being an exceptional influence on or contributor to architecture in New Zealand”. As of 2024, the distinguished fellows are Brian Aitken, Nick Bevin, Richard Harris, Maurice Mahoney, Anne Salmond, Graeme Scott, Julie Stout, John Sutherland, and Christina van Bohemen.[12]

## Fellows (FNZIA)

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The New Zealand Institute of Architects recognises and honours architects, academics or retired architects who have "achieved a high standing in the profession" or "given meritorious service to the profession or institute."

Nancy Northcroft is the first known women to have received this honour in 1966.[13] Other women who have received fellow honours are Lillian Chrystall, Claire Chambers[14] and Ellen Brinkman.[15]

## See also

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* Architecture of New Zealand

## References

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1. ^ "Who We Are". Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
2. ^ "Our structure". NZ Institute of Architects. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
3. ^ "Huia Reriti, FNZIA, Perehitini of Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects". Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
4. ^ admin (30 August 2022). "Change-maker and Keystone alumni the newest board member of the New Zealand Institute of Architects". Keystone Trust. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
5. ^ "Who we are". Nzia.co.nz. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
6. ^ "NEW Zealand Institute of Architects". The Community Archive. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
7. ^ Architects (www.nzia.co.nz), NZ Institute of. "John Sutherland Practice Award". NZ Institute of Architects (www.nzia.co.nz). Retrieved 23 September 2024.
8. ^ "2022 John Sutherland Award winner: Architecture+Women•NZ". Architecture Now. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
9. ^ "Warren Trust Award for Architectural Writing - Entries closing soon".
10. ^ Architects (www.nzia.co.nz), NZ Institute of. "Warren Trust Writing Awards". NZ Institute of Architects (www.nzia.co.nz). Retrieved 24 September 2024.
11. ^ NZ Institute of Architects (www.nzia.co.nz). "The NZIA Gold Medal – New Zealand Institute of Architects". NZ Institute of Architects (www.nzia.co.nz). Retrieved 25 April 2023.
12. ^ NZ Institute of Architects (www.nzia.co.nz). "Distinguished Fellows". NZ Institute of Architects (www.nzia.co.nz). Retrieved 25 April 2023.
13. ^ "Notice of Meeting 18 March 1966". New Zealand Institute of Architects: Annual Report 1965. New Zealand Institute of Architects: 2. 1965.
14. ^ Cox, Elizabeth, ed. (1 January 2022). Making Space: A History of New Zealand Women in Architecture. Massey University Press, Architecture + Women NZ. p. 423\. ISBN 978-1-991016-34-8.
15. ^ "Membership Honours: 1991". Profile 1992: New Zealand Institute of Architects: Architects and Architecture. New Zealand Institute of Architects. 1992.

## External links

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* New Zealand Institute of Architects

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Italy
* Czech Republic

Other|

* IdRef
* Te Papa (New Zealand)