As part of our Craft Curriculum series, join Carin Wilson and Rau Hoskins for a kōrero presented in conjunction with He maramara tupu aranga: Carin Wilson and 50 years of Aotearoa design.

Focusing on the concept, ‘Defining Our Design  Aesthetic’, Carin and Rau will discuss the past, present, and future of Māori design, reflecting on the emergence of a distinct Māori design language, where it sits today, and the opportunities and challenges shaping its development.

Taking Carin’s address to the Designers Institute of New Zealand in the early 1990s as a point of departure, the pair will consider what has changed over the past three decades and share their aspirations for the future.

—

Carin Wilson (Mātaatua, Ngāti Awa, Tūhourangi) began making furniture in Ōtautahi Christchurch in the 1970s, after leaving law school to pursue a creative career. Since then, he has become a pivotal figure in New Zealand’s creative landscape, particularly advocating for Māori participation in design and urban development. He was a leader in the country’s craft movement in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, promoting dynamic discussion towards defining an aesthetic reflective of Aotearoa and advocating for the value of craft practice. Alongside his furniture making, Wilson has exhibited sculpture extensively, has taught at tertiary institutions and is founder and director of Studio Pasifika, a multidisciplinary design and architecture studio. Wilson has also held a number of leadership positions across institutions, including as founding member and inaugural chair of Ngā Aho: Network of Māori Design Professionals, president of the Designers Institute (1991–93) and president of the Crafts Council of New Zealand (1982–85). His practice continues to span different disciplines and kaupapa, including the 2025 sculptural commission Ngā Poutiriao Torohū and the further development of Te Kōngahu Museum of Waitangi.

Rau Hoskins (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hau, Ngāti Hao, Ngāti Rahiri) is a practitioner, researcher and educator working in the field of Māori architecture, housing and cultural landscape design. Over the last 30 years he has worked extensively across kaupapa Māori design, iwi engagement, urban design, Māori heritage, cultural and educational design consultancy. Hoskins was born in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and raised in Whangārei before attending Waipapa Taumata Rau The University of Auckland to complete bachelors and masters degrees in architecture. He is a founding Director of designTRIBE architects which specialises in the field of Māori architecture particularly within cultural / marae, civic, visitor, health, urban design, educational and papakāinga environments. Hoskins has been a member of the Auckland Council Urban Design Panel, TRC Urban Design Panel, and continues to work with Auckland Council, Eke Pānuku, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, TRC and Kāinga Ora on the application of mana whenua design principles in a range of high profile urban design projects. He is a board member and Māori Heritage Council Member of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, a former board member of Te Matapihi he Tirohanga mo te Iwi national Māori housing network and was founding Chairperson from 2011 – 2020. He is also the Chair of Toi Ngāpuhi. Rau is one of the creators of the Te Aranga Design Principles which are utilised both nationally and internationally to guide engagements with Indigenous peoples in public realm projects.

—

Objectspace’s Craft Curriculum event series is developed to accompany Carin Wilson’s retrospective exhibition He maramara tupu aranga, extending his work in advocacy and education around Aotearoa craft and design.