Programme
In Aotearoa New Zealand, manaakitanga is the showing of respect, generosity and hospitality to people – from family and communities to guests and visitors. ‘Mana’ is the spiritual essence found in a person, place or object, while ‘aki’ is to encourage or urge on. Together, as manaaki, they introduce the idea of reciprocity and the power of hospitality. When we invite people to our country, we give them hospitality and uplift their mana. In return, they respect our customs and culture, enhancing our mana in return. As you join us for the week, you’ll experience this concept in a full and varied programme of activities, experiences and occasions, all created to lift the spirit, along with moments to relax and simply enjoy good company.
AGI Welcome Drinks
18:30 — BIVACCO, Bar & Griglia — Wynyard Quarter
Nau mai, haere mai – Welcome AGI Friends. We celebrate your arrival at BIVACCO on the water of the Waitematā Harbour. We laugh, we talk, we embrace, we raise our glasses to new friends and the beginning of our adventure, on the edge of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest recreational marina.
Location
Bivacco
115 Customs Street West,
Auckland CBD
AGI Open — Day One
10:00 — Aotea Centre
We embark on the two-day AGI Open at the Aotea Centre, Auckland’s flagship venue, with an audience of up to 2,000 creative community in attendance. The large, multi-tiered auditorium spills out into expansive foyers and a large public square – the perfect environment for sharing design knowledge in a festival-like format that aims to inspire a new generation of designers.
Location
Aotea Centre
115 Customs Street West,
Auckland CBD
AGI Special Project
10:00 — Objectspace Gallery
Following day one of AGI Open we head to Objectspace, a public gallery dedicated to the framing of New Zealand craft, design and architecture practice within a range of cultural, economic and social frameworks.
The theme for our Special Project is in Te Reo Māori, Kōrero.
\ koh-re-ro \
1. (verb) to tell, say, speak, read, talk, address
2. (noun) speech, narrative, story, account, discussion, conversation, discourse, statement, information.
We invite you to design a poster with two words in any language, which we’ll print in White Ink on Fedrigoni Sirio Black.
As an organisation we reflect many countries, many languages, and many different lived experiences, all of which are reflected in the constantly evolving language of design. We will gather together at the Congress to engage in conversation, just as our work is in constant dialogue with the world around us.
The results will be exhibited together in visual dialogue at Objectspace Gallery during the Congress and in a Kōrero publication which will be sent to all members post-Congress.
Location
Objectspace Gallery
13 Rose Road, Grey Lynn,
Ponsonby, Auckland
AGI Open — Day Two
10:00 — Aotea Centre
Our immersion in design culture and visual communication continues at Auckland’s Aotea Centre. We will share forms of individual creative expression and personal design philosophies, from image making and life-centred design, to design outside capitalism, world-making and design futures driven by artificial intelligence.
Location
Aotea Centre
115 Customs Street West,
Auckland CBD
AGI Open — Studio Party
19:30 — Alt Group
To celebrate the end of the AGI Open, we welcome you to a party at Alt Group studio. Music will be playing, custom cocktail drinks will be flowing, and the Asaba Table will be available for ping-pong stand-offs.
Location
Alt Group Studio
16 Mackelvie Street
Grey Lynn, Ponsonby
Auckland
AGI Congress — Day Three
08:45 — The Cloud
At the Cloud, an event space on the end of Queen’s Wharf, we immerse ourselves in the design culture of Aotearoa New Zealand with leading contemporary artists whose engagement with Te Ao Māori – the Māori world view, customs, protocols and identity – is evolving the design expression of place and revitalising indigenous language, mark making and customary practice.
Location
The Cloud
89 Quay Street,
Queen’s Wharf
Auckland CBD
AGI Tour of the Māori Collection
16:45 — Auckland Museum
Accompanied by Aotearoa’s leading Māori arts curator, we visit Auckland Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of Māori and Pacific artifacts. Sited on the highest point of a large urban park, with panoramic harbour views, the building’s neoclassical facade belies an interior refurbishment that speaks to Pacific design. This personalised tour includes the Hotunui meeting house, carved in 1878, and Te Toki-a-Tāpiri, one of the last traditional waka (canoe), carved around 1836.
Location
Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Auckland Domain
AGI Congress Art Tour — Day Four
10:00 — Gibbs Farm
The ‘farm’ is a privately owned, sculpted landscape on the edge of the Kaipara Harbour, an hour from Auckland’s city centre. It was created by Alan Gibbs, a prominent New Zealand businessman, who has transformed the land with major, site-specific sculptures by Anish Kapoor, Sol LeWitt, Richard Serra, Maya Lin, Neil Dawson, Andy Goldsworthy, Daniel Buren and many more. To be granted access to Gibbs Farm is a rare privilege – even for those that live in Auckland, so we count ourselves fortunate to have exclusive access.
Location
Gibbs Farm
0984/2421 Kaipara Coast Highway,
Makarau 0984
AGI Gala Dinner
19:00 — Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
To officially mark the end of the AGI Open and Congress, we undertake a formal celebration at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki – the principal public gallery in Auckland, and winner of building of the year at the 2012 World Architecture Festival.
We will be transported to the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki by Bus.
Buses will depart from the QT Hotel at 18:45 pm for a 19:00 pm start.
We will have a private viewing of the Auckland Art Gallery’s current show ‘Romancing the Collection’. This collection includes major holdings of historic, modern and contemporary New Zealand and international art, and outstanding works by leading Māori and Pacific artists.
Location
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Cnr Kitchener and Wellesley Streets
Auckland Central
AGI General Assembly — Day Five
10:00 — The Annex
We continue the official business of the Congress with the AGI General Assembly at the Annex, a venue at the heart of Wynyard Quarter, walking distance from the suggested hotel accommodation.
Location
The Annex at 10 Madden Street
10 Madden Street
Auckland CBD, Wynyard Quarter
AGI Excursion — Karekare Beach
13:00 — Karekare Surf Club
After the official closing of the AGI Open and Congress, Dean Poole and Krista Dudson invite members to their bach at Karekare beach – “our home away from home”. Nestled into the native rainforest of the Waitakere Ranges and a 40-minute car ride from central Auckland, it’s a location that will make you feel like you’ve arrived at the edge of the world. For active relaxers it’s a chance to surf, take a waterfall walk, or enjoy a 5-minute stroll to the remote, awe-inspiring black-sand beach. Or, simply take the time to sit, chat and eat, immersed in nature and surrounded by birdsong.
Location
Karekare Surf Club
2 Karekare Road, Huia, Karekare
Waitakere Ranges Regional Park
AGI Relax
Waiheke Island
For members staying on in Auckland, we welcome you to a relaxed afternoon on stunning Waiheke Island, a haven of beautiful vineyards, olive groves and white sand beaches located in the Hauraki Gulf, just a 40-minute boat ride from downtown Auckland.
We invite you to Mawhiti, a stunning residence with captivating views of the Auckland skyline and harbour. The private architectural retreat with its sculptural Gateway Pavilion was designed by Stevens Lawson Architects, and is the perfect spot for fine wines and a classic New Zealand barbeque lunch.
Additional recreational activities to be announced.