Pasifika projects shine at 2025 Resene Student Design Awards

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Mila Makasini from Te Kura Matatini ki Otago — Otago Polytechnic, School of Architecture was the winner of the 2025 Resene Student Design Awards for his project ‘Lalava’i Fonua: Lashing & Weaving [of, in, with] people, place, culture’.

Mila Makasini from Te Kura Matatini ki Otago — Otago Polytechnic, School of Architecture was the winner of the 2025 Resene Student Design Awards for his project ‘Lalava’i Fonua: Lashing & Weaving [of, in, with] people, place, culture’. Image: Mark Tantrum

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John Gerondis of Resene (left) with the winning and highly commended students and jury comprising NZIA President Huia Reriti, Karl Waipatene, Tina Williams and Murali Bhasker.

John Gerondis of Resene (left) with the winning and highly commended students and jury comprising NZIA President Huia Reriti, Karl Waipatene, Tina Williams and Murali Bhasker. Image: Mark Tantrum

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Winning and highly commended students celebrate together.

Winning and highly commended students celebrate together. Image: Mark Tantrum

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Lalava’i Fonua: Lashing & Weaving [of, in, with] people, place, culture’ by Mila Makasini.

Lalava’i Fonua: Lashing & Weaving [of, in, with] people, place, culture’ by Mila Makasini. Image: Mila Makasini

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Lalava’i Fonua: Lashing & Weaving [of, in, with] people, place, culture’ by Mila Makasini.

Lalava’i Fonua: Lashing & Weaving [of, in, with] people, place, culture’ by Mila Makasini. Image: Mila Makasini

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Lalava’i Fonua: Lashing & Weaving [of, in, with] people, place, culture’ by Mila Makasini.

Lalava’i Fonua: Lashing & Weaving [of, in, with] people, place, culture’ by Mila Makasini. Image: Mila Makasini

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Amelia Lee Chee from Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau — Auckland University of Technology, Highly Commended for her project ‘Fale Tupu: An Indigenous Toolkit for Designing Culturally Grounded Living Environments with Pasifika Communities in Aotearoa ’.

Amelia Lee Chee from Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau — Auckland University of Technology, Highly Commended for her project ‘Fale Tupu: An Indigenous Toolkit for Designing Culturally Grounded Living Environments with Pasifika Communities in Aotearoa ’. Image: Amelia Lee Chee

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Sarah McLeod-Venu from Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, Highly Commended for her project ‘Fa’a’ato’atoa: From Fractals to Fullness’.

Sarah McLeod-Venu from Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, Highly Commended for her project ‘Fa’a’ato’atoa: From Fractals to Fullness’. Image: Sarah McLeod-Venu

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Three projects featuring architectural explorations emblematic of Pasifika cultures were recognised with top honours at the 2025 Resene Student Design Awards last night.

The three top projects were chosen from among 15 Finalists from across Aotearoa that participated in Awards this year, making 2025 the largest competition yet produced by Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects.

Mila Makasini from Te Kura Matatini ki Otago — Otago Polytechnic, School of Architecture was the winner of the 2025 Resene Student Design Awards for his project ‘Lalava’i Fonua: Lashing & Weaving [of, in, with] people, place, culture’.

This was the first year that students from Otago Polytechnic participated in the Awards, following the architecture programme’s accreditation from the NZRAB earlier this year.

Also recognised for excellence with Highly Commended awards were (in alphabetical order):

Amelia Lee Chee from Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau — Auckland University of Technology, for her project ‘Fale Tupu: An Indigenous Toolkit for Designing Culturally Grounded Living Environments with Pasifika Communities in Aotearoa ’.

Sarah McLeod-Venu from Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, for her project ‘Fa’a’ato’atoa: From Fractals to Fullness’.

Jury convenor and Perehitini (President) of Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Huia Reriti said: “We were blown away by the quality of the projects appearing in the Awards this year. It was certainly challenging to select from so many worthy finalists, but we’re delighted to recognise these finalists representing Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa and Aotearoa with the top awards.”

Assisting Huia on the jury were Murali Bhaskar, Design Director at Boon Architects, Karl Wipatene, Director, a.k.a  Architecture, and Tina Williams, NZIA Wellington Branch Chair.

The awards were presented and a ceremony for close family and friends at Victoria University of Wellington on the evening of 27 November.

Institutions participating in the 2025 awards included:

· Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington (host)

· Te Kura Matatini ki Otago — Otago Polytechnic

· Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau — Auckland University of Technology

· Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka — Unitec

· Waipapa Taumata Rau — The University of Auckland


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