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Diane Menzies (nee Bright) ONZM – Inducted 2023
Monday, 30 October 2023
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Marsden Years: 1951 – 1964 (Year 1-13) This award recognises Diane Menzies’ contribution to landscape architecture both nationally and internationally. Diane is, in Marsden terms, a life-timer, completing all her primary and secondary education at this School. She was editor of Te Kura in 1964. Later, in 1971 she completed a Diploma of Horticulture at Lincoln University; followed soon after by a Post Graduate Diploma in Landscape Architecture, this at a time when few women were in the profession. After marriage, travel, work and children she returned to academia and completed an MBA, a PhD with her thesis on the quality of our rural environment, a Masters of Management in Dispute Resolution, an Advanced Diploma in Māori and much more. Although her interests are wide her recent focus has been on the need for housing for homeless Māori, particularly in our urban environment, as well as heritage and social justice. Diane’s career has covered many areas of our landscape – the environment, our parks, urban and recreational spaces and resource management. In all areas she has led from the top with two terms as both President of the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects, and President of the International Federation of Landscape Architects. She has been a Borough Councillor for Eastbourne (a position that does not now exist) and was a commissioner of the New Zealand Environment Court for 11 years. The list of Fellowships she holds is equally as long. In 2008, she was invested as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the environment. Diane’s affiliations are to Rongowhakaata and Aitanga-a-Mahaki. Ngā Aho, a national network of Māori design professionals has recognised her with its Kahui Whetu award for her contribution both both nationally and internationally, of understanding the unique cultural values of the heritage of Māori and Pasifika design. Kahui Whetu means “cluster of stars”, and is the only award Ngā Aho gives. Diane is the first woman to receive it and only the fifth recipient. On receiving this award Diane said - “It may sound insulting but I would put that much higher than getting a gong (she’s an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit) or PhD or anything else. To me it shows you can be respected in both Māori and New Zealand culture, so it’s a cultural affirmation.” Diane returned to academia and consulting in 2012 with a focus centred upon research. Her work and interests still take her overseas, but she is trying now to be kinder to the environment. |