Whakawhaiti te Motu Kairangi

He taura here tangata, he taura here whenua, he taura here wai

A binding rope of people, a binding rope of land, a binding rope of water

Connor Dower, John Vautier & David Wang (Group 06)

This project focusses on the damaged ecologies and overlooked histories of Miramar Peninsula through a framework built upon four key actions: restoring terrestrial habitats, regenerating coastal edges, revealing heritage, and expanding and caring for the web of trails. We tried to make space for ecological and cultural recovery. 

Water is the cornerstone of our design philosophy for this project. Streams that were hidden are brought to the surface again. Rain is slowed and considered through planting. And saltwater habitats are restored for species that have all but disappeared from the coast.

Each site contributes to the whole. Building up ecological resilience, maintaining and enhancing habitats, creating spaces for cultural contemplation, and bringing to play forgotten streams and stories. 

Planting is done in clear phases. Pioneer plants picked for their hardiness to exposure and poor soils set the groundwork. More delicate plants are introduced in the secondary phase when conditions are improved and the established pioneers can provide protection. And the final stage sees enrichment plants help with habitat growth when the site is relatively sheltered.

Our design did not narrow the further into research we went. From the start, it was about telling more than a singular story. The history of Miramar Peninsula is vibrant with myths and has been a region of memory for as long as historic community settled there.