local is a collective of established Landscape Architects with a commitment to advancing our experience and respect of our surroundings through collaboration and creativity. Together our whānau respond to local needs with bespoke design teams conceived around unique project requirements. Our vision proposes an innovative way of working that nimbly responds to the individual needs of our clients, communities and environment. We work collectively to enable meaningful designs that strive to be a universal benchmark while remaining local.
Dan Males: Principal
Dan is a Fellow of Tuia Pito Ora - New Zealand institute of Landscape Architects and received his postgraduate and degree in landscape architecture from Leeds Beckett University following studies in the UK and USA. He has over 20 years’ experience as a Landscape Architect working in the UK, USA, China and, for the past 18 years, New Zealand. With a focus on collaboration Dan has been responsible for a collection of local and high-profile projects throughout the UK and New Zealand. He has worked closely with clients and specialist teams to deliver some of New Zealand’s most loved and award-winning landscapes, ranging from the gardens of Government House to the Kumutoto precinct of Wellington Waterfront. With a passion for the environment, and our connection to it, Dan has written articles and been published across the world, while continuing to ensure his work is local, a collaboration with the client, community and its context.
Kate Males: Principal
Kate is a registered member of Tuia Pito Ora - New Zealand institute of Landscape Architects and received her postgraduate and degree in landscape architecture from Leeds Beckett University in the UK. Kate has over 20 years’ experience as a Landscape Architect working on a range of projects from public waterfronts, urban parks, educational institutions and residential projects in the UK, USA, China and, for the past 18 years, New Zealand. With a focus on high quality sensitive public realm design, Kate has been project landscape architect and engineer to the contract on a wide range of high-profile projects, helping to deliver some of New Zealand’s most admired and award-winning landscapes. With a passion for highly functional landscapes which respond to their settings environmentally, historically and culturally, Kate has a high level of organisation skills that ensures timely and thorough delivery of projects for Clients.
James Marsh: Associate
James has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture with honours from Lincoln University. In 2017 James became a Registered member of Tuia Pito Ora - New Zealand institute of Landscape Architects. While James’ experience is predominantly in New Zealand he has also worked in Australia and the UK. James has experience in a range of projects including schools, parks and reserves, ecological restoration, urban regeneration, neighbourhoods and communities and residential. Driven by a robust multi-layered approach to all projects, James’ focus on culturally meaningful, ecologically sensitive and inspiring design is key to providing quality spaces, places and outcomes.
Carolina Daly: Associate
Carolina joined us in 2018 following her immigration to New Zealand from her home country Chile, with her family. With 4 years of experience working on high-density residential projects, she provides efficient and high quality design, documentation and contract administration with us on a wide range of private and public realm projects, learning fast about our culture and contributing from hers. Carolina has a strong interest in large-scale projects with special attention to detail and construction.
Michael Davis: Associate
Michael graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Masters in Philosophy from the Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning, and Victoria University in Wellington with a Bachelor of Design specialising in Landscape Architecture. He has spent the last five years working within research and academia in the fields of Landscape Architecture and Urbanism. Michael has a strong interest in the relationship between design and the social roles of public and communal spaces.
Krzysztof (Kris) Herman: Senior Landscape Architect
Kris holds a PhD in landscape architecture from Warsaw University of Life Sciences (2011). He was an assistant professor at WULS (2012-2021), Junior Fulbright Visiting Researcher at Harvard School of Design (2008-2009) and came to New Zealand as a Visiting Scholar at Victoria University of Wellington. His experience is predominantly in academia and research, he also worked as a contracted expert, consultant, member of competition design teams and adviser in policymaking. He led NGO initiatives, revitalizing public spaces together with communities and volunteered for International Federation of Landscape Architects. Kris’s focus is on urban spaces, temporary and tactical use, community participation and well-being.
Sam Hendrikse: Landscape Architect
Sam is a landscape architect with six years' experience and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture with honours from Unitec. While finishing his degree in 2016, he began work at an environmental and planning consultancy, using his passion for plants and practical knowledge gained as a landscaper to design developments with an ecological awareness. Sam moved to Wellington two years ago and has put down roots in Tawa where he's revegetating his land with native plants and fruit trees.
Danielle Urot: Technical Specialist
Danielle is an architect from the Philippines. She completed her degree from University of San Carlos in 2019. She has spent the last 3 years working in residential & commercial projects. As an architect, she contributes to functional and beautiful design in the built environment. Being an immigrant, she continually expands her knowledge in New Zealand culture as she immerses herself in the field of landscape architecture.
Francesca Di Leva: Landscape Architect
Fran has been with us since 2019 and received her Masters Degree in Landscape Architecture early 2021. Her thesis explored ways to encounter and engage uncertain and vulnerable landscapes in Aotearoa and present living landscapes beyond the transactional. With Frans background of landscaping and her interest into exploring tangle and intangible aspects of space, she brings a valuable voice working with the different scales and challenges brought by both private and public realm projects.
Claire de Jardine: Administrator
Claire has a Bachelor's Degree from Victoria University of Wellington and joined the Local team to assist with accounts, office administration and bid writing. Claire has previous experience working in a landscape architecture practice, and prior to that, in a variety of workplaces in New Zealand and the UK with varying roles.
Campbell Vezeau: Graduate Landscape Architect
Campbell has been with us since 2022 as an intern while finishing off his Master of Landscape Architecture thesis at Victoria University having completed a bachelor degree in Architectural Studies majoring in Landscape Architecture and a New Zealand Certificate of Arts from Whitecliff College of Art and Design in Auckland. He is a passionate skateboarder and is interested in how this user group relates to the cities they live in and how landscape architecture can create more inclusive spaces for diverse needs. Campbell also has a keen interest in fashion and both indoor exotic and outdoor native plants. .
Katie Jenkins: Graduate Landscape Architect
Katie has a Bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture and joined the Local team in 2022 while studying for her Masters at Te Herenga Waka, expected to complete in late 2023. Her passion is expressed in a wide range of scales that reflect a community's need to help connect users to the space while acknowledging the cultural significance of a site.
Lauren Kendon: Intern
Lauren joined the Local team at the end of 2023 while finishing her bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture. She is now studying for a master’s in landscape architecture at Victoria University of Wellington. Lauren is interested in exploring the connection between people and the environment through designing multi-layered landscapes that combine cultural significance, ecological restoration, and social interaction.
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