Rangitahi Kawe is a 27 year old landscape architect at Earthart Landscaping in Whakatane. Tauranga is his turangawaewae, where he was born and raised. His marae is Hairini, his hapu is Ngai te Ahi and he affiliates to the tribe of Ngati Ranginui. As a Maori he hopes that his culture, knowledge and skills will assist the profession in enhancing its connection between people and the unique landscapes of Aotearoa. “I wish to establish a cultural relationship between people, land and landscape architecture,” he says. “I want to recognise that having a strong understanding of tikanga Maori, landscape architecture can reignite pride of place for Maori and their lands.”

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