Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru o Te Arawa - The Eight Beating Hearts of Te Arawa

Globalisation reduces our ‘sense of place’ through the international standardization of a ‘modern architecture’. This movement is a result of rapid urbanisation, international capital and the exchange of international values and principles among regions. Returning to a localised architecture is significant in activating the ‘identity’ of a place. To prevent a global sameness, we need to place importance on mātauranga Māori in Aotearoa’s cultural landscapes and built environment. Māori, like other indigenous peoples, have had their land, language, culture and identity marginalized since being colonised by the British in 1840.

It takes a long time to heal an injured sense of cultural identity and the effects are enduring for the Indigenous Māori people of Aotearoa (New Zealand).