Kaiwhakamahere Whenua | Landscape Planner
Pouhere | Partner
I left Victoria University with a degree in plant ecology and pedology – that's the study of soil, and soil resources – and a keen interest in botany and plants. I heard about the Landscape Architecture course at Lincoln University, and that sounded like a perfect opportunity to merge my botanical skills with my strong interest in design; so I immediately enrolled and completed the 2-year postgraduate Diploma.
My experience includes development and infrastructure projects, land use and resource management studies, open space assessments, land rehabilitation and design projects for public, corporate and private clients. I am also an experienced expert witness, presenting evidence to council and Environment Court hearings.
My work in landscape and visual effects assessments led to early involvement with wind farms being established in New Zealand. I toured the UK in 2001, meeting with wind farm developers and the British Wind Energy Association and visiting several wind farms in England, Scotland and Wales, including Britain's first wind farm. The following year (2002) I prepared the landscape and visual effects assessment and presented expert evidence during the resource consent process for Te Apiti Wind Farm – the first wind farm to supply electricity to New Zealand’s national grid.
New roading and highways has also been a major area of project involvement from initial investigations and through the assessment and consenting process and during detailed design and site rehabilitation.
My initial interest in native vegetation and soils has remained, and I've been involved with rehabilitation and revegetation plans for quarries, sand mining, landfills and degraded landscapes. Master planning and design work for residential and lifestyle subdivisions, resorts and similar developments are also part of my range of project work.
A long-standing involvement in regional and district- wide landscape and coastal assessments for several councils has led to recognition and subsequent protection and policies for protection of special landscapes and coastal areas in district and regional plans.
I'm an advocate for innovation and finding ways to use advances in technology to help us in our work to provide the best outcomes for our clients and for the landscape.
I've seen the landscape planning discipline grow and evolve into a very strong part of the services we offer. Mentoring younger colleagues who share my interest in the broader-scale — the wide landscapes and natural character of the various regions around the country — has been one of the best aspects of my career. Boffa Miskell has, from the beginning, been about supporting and developing people; and it's been very rewarding to see that those values remain a foundation of our business.
Qualifications
Diploma of Landscape Architecture, Lincoln College
Bachelor of Science, Victoria University
Design Leadership Course, Harvard University
Affiliations
Fellow, New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (FNZILA)
