Jahmayne Robin-Middleton (2008-2012)

At the end of last year Jahmayne Robin -Middleton was a finalist in the The Student Design Awards programme which is organised by the New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) and is contested by four fifth-year architecture students from the Universities of Auckland, Unitec (Auckland) and Victoria. This is a very prestigious award which showcases the best of New Zealand’s young architectural talent.

Jahmayne’s work centred around a collaboration with Kohupātiki, a small rural community based in Clive and sought to provide solutions which were specifically tailored to the requirements and aspirations of the stake-holders. Jahmayne received a highly-commended award for his work and judges commented: This excellently presented project is an exemplary model of sympathetic community engagement. Well-considered, meaningful research and respect for Māori design principles lay the groundwork for architectural solutions that could make a real difference to the lives of the families who live in a small settlement.

Jahmayne left Lindisfarne at the end of 2012 having taken advantage of many of the opportunities that the school offers. He was a school prefect, deputy head of Durham house, winner of a Te Whiti scholarship and a valued member of the 1st XV. After school Jahmayne headed to Victoria University to study architecture: “I was in Weir House in my first year, which was awesome. During my first orientation I also became familiar with Te Herenga Waka Marae, so the Victoria community quickly became my ‘whānau away from whānau’.”

Jahmayne’s iwi affiliations are Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto, and Ngāpuhi and he believes his studies at Victoria University have strengthened his appreciation for Māori culture especially in design: “More and more architects are beginning to acknowledge tikanga Māori, and you can see it being incorporated into their work. As a Māori architecture student I feel it’s important that this is being embraced.”

Studying architecture has been academically challenging for Jermayne but support from the University has helped him get through. “I’ve put in some crazy hours and the workload is tough, but I’ve felt very supported through the whole process,” he says. “Victoria has some amazing programmes, including Te Rōpū Āwhina, which is a student mentoring programme for Māori and Pasifika students studying sciences, engineering, architecture and design. I was mentored in my first year, and am now a mentor to younger students, which is really rewarding.”

With all the work that he has put in to his studies and the nomination for this prestigious award, Jahmayne’s professional future looks extremely bright.