Meet the Panelists

Tom is a dual-registered landscape architect (NZILA/AILA) and qualified urban designer based in Tauranga. Tom has 18 years’ of local and international design and planning experience working on a wide range of landscape architecture and urban design projects preparing masterplans, design frameworks, resource consent and construction documentation for sites of varying scales within urban and rural environments. He has a strong appreciation for the relationship between people and place and is passionate about developing sustainable design outcomes that engage and enhance these connections. Tom has provided urban design and landscape architectural advice, peer reviews for councils across the North Island, including expert witness roles for Notice of Requirement hearings.

Rameka is the Studio Lead for TOA Architects in the Waiariki-Bay of Plenty region. He has over 12 years’ experience comprising of strategic Māori design leadership and work experience in the built environment, cultural design, architecture and urban design, and Māori business sectors. He has significant experience and a passion for using Kaupapa Māori design principles and tikanga to inform spatial and architectural design in cultural, civic, commercial, education, papakāinga and landscape projects and has developed and managed many Māori design engagements over his career to date.

Mark is an experienced transportation planner and traffic engineer who has worked across New Zealand, in Australia, and with a focus across the Bay of Plenty and Waikato areas. He is resident in Tauranga. Mark has wide experience across both the public and private sectors. This has involved him in a diverse range of multi-disciplinary undertakings, specialist expert witness, technical industry representation and projects ranging from the strategic through to implementation.

Tara is a Registered Architect and Senior Associate at Designgroup Stapleton Elliott (Tauranga studio). Tara’s experience covers a diverse range of sectors, including commercial, mixed-use, education, and multi-residential, in both NZ and Australia. Master planning and multi-unit housing/mixed use developments are key areas of interest. Particularly, how med/high density housing typologies are introduced and integrated effectively within existing urban fabric and communities. Her approach to new developments aims to achieve the best possible urban design outcomes whilst balancing commercial realities to establish a positive outcome for all stakeholders.

Camden runs a small residential practice Cummings Studio Architects based in Tauranga. He is a registered architect who has worked internationally in Australia and the United Kingdom with 30 years of experience in the built environment. Camden has worked on a variety of scales and sectors from high density residential towers to health, civic, education, and infrastructure. Camden has been Branch Chairperson of the Waikato Bay of Plenty NZIA and has convened local awards both for the NZIA and Property Council. He has a Master of Architecture and bachelor of design. Camden has a wealth of local knowledge including having worked on both the University of Waikato City Campus and the Tauranga Airport upgrade.

As one of his company’s principal landscape architects and urban designers, Morné’s approach is centred around the holistic understanding of design process, and the integration of the natural and built environment. Morné has background in a range of projects and his experience ranges from large-scale masterplanning and urban design frameworks, through to detailed design and construction of projects on site. He advises a broad range of clients including central government, councils, community groups and private developers. He has a specialist expertise in several fields of landscape architecture and urban design ranging from subdivision design, masterplanning of housing developments, urban design advice, workshop and stakeholder facilitation, and detailed design of public and private realm projects.

Libby is a Tauranga born and bred Urban Planner and Designer. She works for Accessible Properties as the Housing Development Manager. Libby's professional focus centers on urban design, master planning and strategic planning. She is particularly interested in affordable housing. She brings a practical and results-oriented approach to her work, focusing on maximizing value and identifying economically viable opportunities. 

Natasha is an architect, urban designer and director of Auckland practice MAUD. Her belief that quality design solutions play a significant role in creating successful, liveable spaces, is backed by her experience working on a variety of projects across architecture and urban design. She has a particular interest in housing and areas undergoing transformation. As an urban designer, she has worked for both the private sector and for local government, is skilled in urban analysis and masterplanning, and has been involved in high-level, strategic planning and visioning projects for areas designated for change.

Ngata is a principal at Beca. He is an accomplished architect and masterplanner with a deep interest in the potential of indigenous cultures to inform the built environment. In a career spanning over 23 years, Ngata has amassed considerable experience in both New Zealand and abroad, with the latter gained in markets as diverse as Australia, Asia and the Middle East. His expertise spans a range of building typologies at a variety of scales including commercial, retail, hospitality, civic, multi-residential and cultural. As a strategic and independent thinker, Ngata is trusted with some of the most significant projects in New Zealand, and he combines a deep sensitivity to local context with international perspective.

Nick is a co-founder of Studio Pacific Architecture. Alongside his architectural projects Nick has developed an expertise in urban regeneration. He is involved in a diverse range of large scale mixed-use greenfields and brownfields new communities across the country. He works with multi-disciplinary teams weaving infrastructure, urban design, landscape architecture and architecture together. He is interested in new models of social, and affordable housing. He has a deep respect for Te Ao Māori, and the principles of co-design. He is an independent commissioner, assessor for NZRAB, painter, photographer and a Trustee of the Wellington Sculpture Trust. He brings a critical design eye to all his creative endeavours.

Lee is a practicing urban designer and urban planner with over 27 years’ experience in an extensive range of urban design and urban planning matters. He has qualifications in urban planning, urban design, and environmental science. He is currently the Head of the University of Auckland’s School of Architecture and Planning, and director of the University’s Urban Design programme. He is currently involved in a number of research projects considering a range of urban design implementation issues including the role that masterplans play in ensuring urban design quality. Lee also is an Auckland Council, Queenstown Lakes and Kaipara District Council Independent Hearing Commissioner.

Shannon’s expertise lays in master planning, urban design and environmental design. He has extensive experience in development of landscape policies and management plans throughout New Zealand..

Sam is an urban designer/urban planner with 10 years’ experience. He has worked across a range of development, policy and design guidance projects relating to urban growth, transportation and residential and commercial development in the Bay of Plenty, Waikato and across New Zealand. He has a current focus on land use and transport integration and how this can lead to more liveable outcomes.

Keith is a planner with over 40 years professional experience.  He was born and brought up in Tauranga before leaving for university and travel.  He returned to Tauranga in 1990 working first for the Tauranga District Council and then for Beca.  He has grown with Tauranga from before it was first declared a City of 21,500 people in 1963 to its present size of 158,300.  His experience includes planning for major New Towns such as Abuja, the Federal Capital of Nigeria and New Towns in Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Locally he has been involved in many major infrastructure projects, residential development and the preparation of District Plans and Plan Changes.

Brad Friar has worked in the construction & property sector for 25years, in various roles including carpenter, building company owner, client / construction side project manager & design manager. Originally from Hamilton, Brad worked in Melbourne & Sydney for five years for Westfield & Grocon on shopping centre developments, & now calls Tauranga home. As a Design Manager for Fosters, Brad is involved with the front end of developments, including site investigation, design phase management, cost alignment, resource consents & building consents. Projects have been wide & varied, with a focus on mixed-use developments, student accommodation, industrial & commercial projects.

Claire has extensive experience in project management, streetscape design, intersection layout & operation, and universal access design. She works with different scales in both the private and public sector.

Phil has over 45 years’ experience as a designer working predominantly in private practice, the last 33 in his own practice. He is also an in-house consultant to another architectural practice.

Phil has worked on and is presently working on a wide range of developments in New Zealand including education, commercial, mixed use, residential, open space, Local Authority current, and 5/10-year proposal developments.

His involvement has spanned from Concept design, Planning, RMA processes, through to detailed design and implementation of projects, giving him a broad understanding of the complexities of design and development.
Phil has a real passion for creating communities that have both physical and social infrastructure to deliver a sustainable living environment with an emphasis on better suburban and CBD living/working space.

A close working relationship with Tangata Whenua has been a priority since first starting his own practice. Every project has had an emphasis on how to represent the land, people and community around us.

Following a 30-year career leading one of NZ's major architectural practices, Richard independently assists clients with feasibility and design stages of larger-scale building and urban planning projects. Richard is a member of the Auckland Urban Design Panel and is a former member of the Tauranga Heart of the City Technical Advisory Group. He chaired the government Urban Taskforce and is a former chair of the Architects Registration Board. He is a Distinguished Fellow and a past President of Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZIA, and has an Honorary Doctorate from Auckland University of Technology.

Haley has diverse experience across urban strategy, urban design and architecture, with many broad ranging skills. She has experience in delivering key civic/public project and a range of development & schemes.

Jack is an architect by heart but has worked in various sectors, including urban planning, transport infrastructure and business development. He has held active leadership roles on many transformational projects.

Rangitahi was born and raised in Tauranga Moana and has strong Iwi affiliations to Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāpuhi, through his father, and Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Kahungunu on his mother’s side. Rangitahi is deeply connected to his whakapapa, and is committed to bringing his culture, experience, and skills to the work he does as a landscape architect. Rangitahi’s experience includes residential development, playground design, stream restoration, and as a cultural design advisor. With his experience, he also brings a wide range of technical skills and expertise that explores his interest in urban streetscapes, infrastructure development, Nga Aro Tākaro/Traditional Māori Play design and community design projects. With his diverse range of experience working on design-led projects Rangitahi approaches design with a strong commitment to foster the best project outcomes, creating and enriching quality spaces for people to enjoy.

Michael is a Director at Veros and leads the development management team. He has 20 years’ experience across the private property sector, with extensive knowledge of both greenfield and brownfield development with a focus on development outcomes, project viability, front end design and consenting strategies. Prior to joining Veros, Michael gained technical expertise in land development and built form in New Zealand and Australia. He brings a pragmatic approach to design and focuses on the core objectives and functions of the built environment. Michael’s most recent experience is in large scale master planned developments, medium density housing, and as an advisor to a number of local government authorities on residential and development requirements.

Rebecca has been a practising landscape architect for some 24 years, since 1998. As a lead landscape architect, Rebecca places her focus on assessing and designing proposals into an environment, responding to the character, natural environment and the changing needs of a community. She has extensive experience in landscape assessment, characterisation and identification of natural character and landscape values. Rebecca also provides strategic and site-specific advice on open space planning and recreation design, in particular for council policy planners and parks teams and numerous private developers. Locally, Rebecca has extensive involvement in a significant number of Tauranga’s open spaces, including Kopurererua Valley, Memorial Park, Tauranga Domain, Tauranga Waterfront, Blake Park, Arataki Park, Baypark as examples. Rebecca has been involved in numerous urban renewal projects for private developers including the Coast subdivision and Latitude Apartments, alongside many more.