When Auckland designer Carin Wilson (Ngāti Awa) walks from Karangahape Road, down Queen Street, to the area of reclaimed land before you hit the harbour, he pays homage to the Māori history of the area.

Karangahape Road, an important pathway for travellers from years gone by. Ngā Wai o Horotiu – the stream leading down to the harbour which is now covered by Queen Street. Important landmarks around the port area, and Victoria Park which were points integral to early Māori trading practices. This history is not reflected in these significant spaces.

Now Māori designers like Carin are on a mission to change the way urban designers think and operate.

He says for many years, the profession failed to comprehend that a Māori sense of place offered constructive guidelines that would add a distinctive regional premium to their work.

There was no understanding of how concepts that are important to Māori could or should be part of what they did.

Yet, says Carin, there are many ways that Māori values - including historical landmarks - can be incorporated into urban design to enhance the overall feel of the city.

“No brass plaques or anything like that. Our way of acknowledging important landmarks is to incorporate something living into the place.”

Carin presented his ideas on Design Enabling Māori Identity in Tāmaki Makaurau at the Innovation Auckland Conference held earlier this year.

“We are starting fresh conversations with urban designers, and planners. Events like this help us make a difference.”

Te Puni Kōkiri supported the Māori presence at the conference.

“Our culture is an integral part of the identity, wellbeing and enrichment of New Zealand society,” says Tāmaki Makaurau Regional Director Pauline Kingi.

“It is crucial our indigenous identity and culture be ingrained into the evolving development of our country’s largest city.”

Auckland’s Independent Māori Statutory Board Chief Executive, Brandi Hudson (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Rarua, Ngāti Pikiao), facilitated the workshop.

The board was established as part of the development of Auckland as a Super City to promote issues of significance for Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau with Auckland Council. The board wants to see a stronger Māori identity reflected across the Auckland region.

In September last year it released the Māori Plan for Tāmaki Makaurau – a 30 year blueprint for improving Māori wellbeing and development. The plan includes changes in urban design to reflect Māori identity and culture.

“We want Māori to see themselves in the city and region – in our buildings, on our public transport, in our libraries, and in public art,” Brandi says.

Auckland Council has set a goal of making the city the most liveable in the world and Māori identity is acknowledged as Auckland’s point of difference. “The board will do whatever it can to help make this a reality – for the benefit of all who live in and visit the Tāmaki Makaurau region.”

For more information about the Independent Māori Statutory Board and its Māori Plan for Tāmaki Makaurau go to www.imsb.Maori.nz