Empowerment through Collaboration

Since the 1970s, more than half of the Tokelau population has relocated to New Zealand due to limited natural resources and overcrowding of the 10km2 land area. In the Wellington region Tokelau groups have sought to maintain their cultural traditions and this paper discusses a collaboration between Te Umiumiga, a Tokelau Hutt Valley community, and the School of Architecture at Victoria University of Wellington, in the design and development of a sustainable, cultural community centre complex. Outcomes included a museum exhibition, which involved a further collaboration with Pataka Art + Museum and a project with the Tokelau youth. University staff and students were empowered to engage directly with the community, undertaking design work, the construction of furniture, an exploration of alternative energy sources and community garden initiatives.