Field days in 'meanwhile spaces'

A field day for primary children designed by the Mauri ora and Urban Wellbeing research team: An AUT Sustainability Studio co-design, holistic wellbeing, project with local communities, the Southern Initiative, Healthy Families, Panuku, Auckland Teaching Gardens, and AUT sustainability students at the Papatoetoe Food Hub ‘meanwhile space’. Diagram: Angelica Wong, Dione Tay, Ken Tong, Poppy Schubert, and Tegan Jade Martin.

From 1 March to 31 May 2019, the Building Better Mauriora and Urban Wellbeing team led a South Auckland-based wellbeing-focused co-design project with AUT sustainability students, local communities, The Southern Initiative, Healthy Families, Panuku, and the Auckland Teaching Gardens at the Papatoetoe Food Hub ‘meanwhile space’. The project was aligned with the Papatoetoe Food Hub principles of manaakitanga (hospitality, kindness) and whanaungatanga (making of relationships, connection). They employed a range of tactics to improve local mauri – the integrated wellbeing of people and place – through innovative engagement with under-utilised ‘meanwhile spaces’.

Some activities within the project explored concepts for urban food or gardening initiatives working with local schools, child-care centres, and communities, while others aimed to build local social capacity or connection by designing space for local play groups, work experience, and other community platforms.

AUT co-design project leader: Dr Amanda Yates

AUT students

Angelica Wong, Dione Tay, Ken Tong, Poppy Schubert, Tegan Jade Martin, Nathan McKenzie, Victor Ma, Caitlin Hogan, Hannah Rayneau, James Fisher, Samantha Cantle, Sophia Whitelock-Bell, Holly Haines, Maria Robinson, Natasha Whyte, Alice Thompson, Ella Forde, Galatea Pepperell, Julianna Jung, Lucy Cossar.

Co-Design Partners

The Southern Initiative co-design partners and respondents – Julio Bin, Ben Maw, George Makapatama, David Rameka.
Healthy Families co-design partners and respondents – Raju Ramakrishna, Nikki Timu, Alex Whitcombe.
Panuku: Helena Chan, Connie Clarkson.
Auckland Teaching Gardens: Graeme Hansen