Te Hunga Panuku: J'Adoube Elkington

Photo: Kate MacPherson

TE HUNGA PANUKU PROFILE J’Adoube Elkington is a Wakatū scholarship recipient and has participated in both our taiohi and ahi kaa wānanga. He recently

J’Adoube completed his Master of Architecture qualification at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington, and undertook Elkington a Wakatū internship. He tells us about his experiences in 2020, and his plans for 2021 and beyond.

NGĀTI KOATA. WAKATŪ TŪPUNA: HŌRI TE RURUKU, HONI HUKAROA (HŌANI), REIHANA TE UHIWAERO, HURA PAKAKE, HAROTA TORANGATIRA (TE ORANGATIRA), HERA RANGIMATORU

When I finished my Masters, I knew I didn’t want to go into an office-based job straight away, but I had an open mind about what I was going to do. Like most people, my plans for 2020 were disrupted by Covid-19. One option had been

to spend the winter working as a snowboard instructor, but that didn’t happen. However, once domestic travel restrictions lifted, I explored some of the South Island, which was amazing. The first part of my Wakatū internship was with the Whenua team on a range of work from commercial rentals to developing subdivisions. I also spent time with businesses Whenua works closely with, including a local architectural firm. It was so valuable to spend time with the types of people and professions that I will eventually be dealing with. It also gave me clarity about the type of environments I want to be in, and the kind of work I want to do. It was an awesome way to get work experience without having to commit to a long-term job. I spent time with the Manaaki team in the second part of my internship. It was great to see how kind and hospitable a work-based team can be. It was one of the friendliest and most comfortable work environments I’ve experienced. As part of my time with Manaaki, I assisted at a wānanga for Karioi, the indigenous crops project. I learnt a lot and I’m looking forward to continuing to be engaged with Karioi. I’ve had a long involvement with Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) and this last summer I’ve worked as a lifeguard supervisor, based at Auckland’s west coast beaches. It was a busy season! I was responsible for managing public safety, lifeguards and resources. Despite being a completely different sector, the internship at Wakatū had prepared me for working with different personalities and work styles. Looking to 2021, I’m not quite ready to go into an architectural firm just yet. I’ve applied to be a snowboard instructor again. I’m going to just spend time outdoors and connect with te taiao. I want to keep improving my te reo Māori, and I’d like to get involved in conservation work. All of these experiences will help make me a better architect. My Master’s thesis was called ‘He Waka Tūmanako – a vessel of hope’. It explored the role architecture has in promoting the wellbeing of a community by celebrating and revitalising Māori culture. My project explored the ways in which te ao Māori can be utilised to rethink architecture and to create spaces which empower Māori people and culture as a method of healing and reverting the impacts of colonisation. I grew up in Porirua and Tītahi Bay and I have a whakapapa connection to Ngāti Toa. I may have the opportunity to work with Ngāti Toa on a state-housing project. It’s exciting as it is for Māori, and it aims to not only be affordable but for the design to reflect the people of that place, which is something I’m passionate about. I encourage everyone to apply for a scholarship, and if you’re fortunate enough to be selected for an internship with Wakatū – go for it! It connects you to our whānau and to Te Tauihu as well. It sets you up to enter the workforce and the opportunity to give back to your people at the same time.

Photo: Gabriel Hughes Photography

My Master’s thesis was called ‘He Waka Tūmanako – a vessel of hope’. It explored the role architecture has in promoting the wellbeing of a community by celebrating and revitalising Māori culture.

J'ADOUBE ELKINGTON