On 5 and 6 November, the landscape architecture community came together at Majestic on Durham in Ōtautahi Christchurch for Firth NZILA Wānanga 2026.

Guided by the theme Ka Rū Ka Hā | Awaken the Energy, the two days brought together landscape architects, students, collaborators and industry partners to share knowledge, challenge thinking, reconnect with colleagues and explore the role our profession can play in shaping the future of Aotearoa.

It was a chance to step away from the everyday, engage with new perspectives and reflect on where we've come from, where we're heading and what becomes possible when we work together.

Ideas, conversations and connections

From Alison Page's powerful international keynote on Designing with Country to conversations about what an Aotearoa practice looks like, the Wānanga invited delegates to consider the relationships between people, whenua, culture and design.

The programme explored the influence of landscape architecture beyond traditional practice, climate action, resilience, leadership, collaboration and the opportunities and responsibilities ahead of us.

A particularly special moment was the celebration of Dr Diane Menzies ONZM, whose extraordinary contribution to landscape architecture was recognised following her receipt of the IFLA Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe Award. It was a privilege to hear her reflections and acknowledge her leadership and lasting influence.

See the footage from Tahu News. 

Thursday afternoon took delegates out across Ōtautahi for five field trips, exploring landscapes and projects throughout the city. The experiences were brought back into the room on Friday through our Field Notes session, connecting what we'd seen and experienced with the wider conversations of Wānanga.

Read more about the field trips and see the photos.

Across the two days, James Daniels guided us through the programme with care, warmth and humour, bringing together different voices and perspectives and helping make space for meaningful conversations. We were incredibly fortunate to have him as our MC and facilitator. Thank you, James. 

The people who made it happen

A huge thank you to every speaker, presenter, facilitator and panellist who generously shared their time, expertise, experience and perspectives.

Our thanks to Alison Page, Hirini Matunga, Sibyl Bloomfield, Mapihi Martin-Paul, Hugh Smith, Joshua Joe, Dave Little, Zach Barker, Ralph Johns, Diane Menzies, Bruno Marques, Josephine Clarke, Peter Whiting, Nicole Tune, Nicole Thompson, William Hatton, Bernice Cumming, Antony Shadbolt, Jessica Halliday, Bronwyn Hayward, Zanta Jones, Livvy Harris, Ghada Elashi, Ann-Marie Head, Rachael Eaton, Chantal Lauzon, Mike Annear, Anne Newman, Sean Burke, Haylea Muir, Brad Ward, Helen Kerr, Matthew Bradbury, Henry Crothers, and Simon Button, alongside our workshop contributors, field trip reporters and other panellists.

Thank you for the ideas, challenges and conversations that made Wānanga what it was.