2024

Decolonising Aotearoa's Forest Ecology

Emille Tatton

Nursery perspective on wood
Seed shelter perspective image, printed onto hand milled timber from the site.

The colonisation of Aotearoa brought the introduction of exotic flora and fauna species, causing harm to the land’s unique whakapapa. Ōngarue, a rural town in the central North Island, exemplifies the devastating impact of monocultures on erosion, where commercial pine plantations have displaced indigenous ngahere and cultural heritage. This project, conducted on a family-owned pine plantation in Ōngarue, explores the potential of architecture to support reforestation with indigenous species, while inspiring stronger connections between tangata and whenua. The next collective owners of this site, as well as the clients for this project are equally the Ōngarue river, the local people, my whanau and the flora and fauna of Papatūānuku. The interventions - a seed raising shelter and renovated haybarn accommodation - initiate meaningful collaboration between people and the land, bringing agency to the river, the flora, the fauna and the whenua.

Site plan Ōngarue
The site redistribution plan for 2045
Plans and Sections
Nursery Floorplan 1:100@A0
Plans and Sections2
Nursery section 1:100@A0
Haybarn section
Haybarn Section 1:50@A0
Haybarn2
Haybarn Floorplan 1:50@A0
Haybarn perspective on wood
Haybarn perspective on wood

Each cross-section of timber reveals grain patterns that trace the changing seasons, recording years of growth, rainfall, and climate shifts. Timber becomes a natural archive, capturing the site’s rich history in each ring and marking the fluctuations that have shaped papatūānuku over time. 

Bowl 1
Black maire hand carved bowl, timber from Ōngarue

I was able to talk with Michael Burgess who has been part of the Te Rongaroa marae and local iwi community trust for over 40 years. He is the son of Wini Burgess, who previously owned the block of land before my Grandfather purchased it in 1965. Kahutopuni Ngatai was the daughter of Hori Ngatai Hetet, who came from Pirongia to the land in Ōngarue. Wini Burgess was the son of Chris Burgess and Kahutopuni Ngatai, who sold the land to my grandfather Hone Tatton. The land has since been inherited to my father Marcus Tatton and his siblings.

Ownership history
Ownership history of the Ōngarue block