# Architecture of New Zealand

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Architecture of New Zealand is a built environment of regions, cities and towns of New Zealand, which is best known for its connection to the land between both islands, its use of local materials, and its incorporation of natural elements. New Zealand architects has been generally consistent with architectural trends in the wider Western world, with some special adaptations to compensate for distinctive New Zealand climatic and cultural factors. In a connection to the land between North and South Islands, New Zealand architecture often reflects the surrounding landscape and topography. Contemporary homes may follow the contours of the land and respond to the views of nearby natural landmarks. Although the design of New Zealand homes enhances a connection with the environment.
According to Māori mythology, the creation of New Zealand architecture arose as a result of Sky Father's (Ranginui) children being lost at the sea in their canoe and freezing over. The parts of canoe that froze above the water became both North and South Islands while Auraki, the eldest brother, and his siblings that froze on canoe became what is now known in English as Mount Cook, and Southern Alps. Maori and Kiwi communities incorporate natural elements into their architectural styles, and also, this results in sustainable designs.
New Zealand's architecture is influenced by various cultures and building traditions from around the world, and the island country holds incredible works of commercial, residential, and cultural design. Some of the country's iconic buildings were built with dark basalt blocks or Oamaru stone. These projects are intimately tied to the country’s past and geography.

## History

Before British colonisation of New Zealand, the Indigenous architecture of Māori was an 'elaborate tradition of timber architecture'. Māori constructed rectangular buildings (whare) with a 'small door, an extension of the roof and walls to form a porch, and an interior with hearths along the centre and sleeping places along the walls' for protection against the cold.
As a British colony, the first European buildings were derivative of the European fashions of the time and most colonialists were from England so they reflected English ideas, the first settlers arrived in 1839. Building in stone was realised to be problematic in a land with earthquakes, and uneconomical given the abundance of timber available for construction. There was a Gothic revival style of the 1840s–1860s, and early architects included Benjamin Mountfort and Frederick Thatcher. Significant early colonial buildings include Stone Store, Kemp House (Kerikeri), Pompalier House, Waitangi Treaty House and Old St Paul's in Wellington. In 1905 the New Zealand Institute of Architects was formed.
* Treaty House (from the back) built in 1833–34
* Stone Store, oldest stone building in New Zealand 1836
* Whare mid 1870s (man at front is the Chief Tahau)
* State house, Petone constructed in 1906 designed by Cecil Wood
* Rua Kenana Hepetipa's circular meeting house at Maungapohatu, circa 1908
* Old St Paul's cathedral opened June 1866
* Pataka (storehouse), image 1950s Whakarewarewa
In early 20th century, from 1901 to 1930, New Zealand architects is described as a neo-Classical period, notable architecture firms include Hoggard, Prouse and Gummer, Gummer and Ford, W. Gray Young and Cecil Wood.
In early 1930s following the Great Depression, a modernist aesthetic was introduced to New Zealand, European architect Ernst Plischke was a part of this and his wife Anna Plischke brought her European training in landscapes to influence how building related to the outside space around them.
Later, European and American styles were also built, for example in an early 20th century: Californian Bungalow design of a single level wooden building with a verandah became common.
On 3 February 1931, most of Napier and nearby Hastings in Hawke's Bay was greatly damaged caused by devastating earthquake. However, New Zealand government rebuilt everything across Hawke's Bay region in an Art Deco style, which was popular at that time after the Great Depression and earthquake, just eight years before World War II begins.
Te Whare Rūnanga, Māori meeting house on the Treaty of Waitangi grounds was opened on 6 February 1940.

### South Island developments

Many of the more imposing structures in and around Dunedin and Christchurch were built in the latter part of the 19th century as a result of the economic boom following the Otago gold rush. A common style for these landmarks is the use of dark basalt blocks and facings of cream-coloured Oamaru stone, a form of limestone mined at Weston in North Otago. Notable buildings in this style include Dunedin Railway Station, the University of Otago Registry Building, Christchurch Arts Centre, Knox Church, Dunedin, ChristChurch Cathedral, Christchurch, Christ's College, Christchurch, Garrison Hall, Dunedin, parts of the Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings and Otago Boys' High School. Several more recent buildings have mimicked this style by using brick in place of basalt, but using lighter stone facings in an identical style to the older structures. Notable among these buildings are Otago Girls' High School and the Timaru Basilica. This region was able to call upon the talents of many fine architects during this period, among them Robert Lawson, Francis Petre, Benjamin Mountfort, and George Troup.
Oamaru stone, despite its susceptibility to the elements, is used as a major construction material on several fine buildings, most obviously in the town of Oamaru itself. The historic sector of this town contains numerous fine buildings built in this creamy stone, among them the Forrester Gallery and Waitaki District Council building. Waitaki Boys' High School is also a prime example of the use of Oamaru stone architecture.
Otago town of Ranfurly, which expanded during the 1930s, is also noted for its Art Deco architecture.

#### Effects of triple earthquakes in Christchurch (2010-11)

Unfortunately, Christchurch has greatly suffered from a damage to numerous heritage buildings as a result of triple earthquakes in September 2010 and February and June 2011, which damaged many buildings and sceneries in Christchurch, as well as Canterbury region. However, by one year away, New Zealand government announced that the country want to help rebuilt everything across the whole region.

## Architectural education and registration

Victoria University of Wellington, Unitec, ARA Institute, Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and the University of Auckland train future architects.
Registered Architects in New Zealand are authorised by the New Zealand Registered Architects Board through the Registered Architects Act 2005. Other people can design buildings but there are some things only Registered Architects can do.

## Organisations

* Architecture + Women NZ, New Zealand's professional organisation of women in architecture.
* Heritage New Zealand, a non-profit autonomous Crown entity, was set up through the Historic Places Act 1954 as the New Zealand Historic Places Trust to protect New Zealand's historical and cultural heritage including notable buildings.
* New Zealand Institute of Architects is a professional organisation that promotes architects and provides services to its membership. Not all New Zealand architects are members of the NZIA. Members pay an annual subscription.
* New Zealand Registered Architects Board is a statutory board that assesses, registers and monitors architects in New Zealand.Wellington Architectural Centre
* SAHANZ (Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand)

## Gallery

* Waitetoko Church, near Lake Taupō
* Waiwhetū marae
* Kerikeri Mission House
* The birthplace of Katherine Mansfield, in Thorndon, Wellington
* An art deco building in Ranfurly, near Otago
* The Wellington Harbour Board Head Office and Bond Store
* Greytown First Masonic Hall
* Lopdell House in Titirangi, Auckland
* The Pah Homestead, a historic home in the Auckland suburb of Hillsborough.
* Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
* Futuna Chapel, in Karori, Wellington, incorporates a number of architectural styles