Banks Peninsula design review panels

Hugh is the principal at UrbanShift, an urban design and landscape architecture consultancy based in Christchurch.

He has extensive experience and understanding of urban design principles and best practice with thirty years of experience in private practice, local government, and government agencies.

Hugh was the principal urban designer at the Christchurch City Council after the Canterbury Earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 and played a leading role in recovery planning and the hugely successful Share an Idea public engagement campaign. Subsequently, he was the design lead for the Ōtākaro Avon River Red Zone where more than 5,400 houses were removed after the earthquakes.

He has been extensively involved in the rebuilding of Christchurch and Christchurch's internationally recognised programme of transitional projects. He has particular interests in spatial planning, disaster recovery and green infrastructure, and is passionate about creating cities and towns for people.

Jane Rennie is a qualified Urban Designer and Partner at Boffa Miskell, based in Christchurch.

She is a Registered Urban Designer with the Urban Designers Institute of Aotearoa (UDIA), a Christchurch City Council Certified Urban Design Expert, and a Full Member of the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI).

Jane has more than 30 years of experience in New Zealand and internationally. Her experience spans spatial and master planning, urban design guidance, design review, character assessment, development evaluation and policy development.

She regularly provides urban design advice on development proposals and has extensive experience presenting expert urban design evidence at hearings.

Jane brings a strong understanding of the unique character, heritage values, and urban design challenges of Akaroa. Jane was involved in the preparation of the Akaroa Character Study and subsequent public realm design guidance for Christchurch City Council.

Passionate about creating high-quality built environments, Jane combines a strong grounding in urban design principles with a practical understanding of local context to deliver positive and enduring outcomes.

She is also an experienced Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) practitioner.

Director Sheppard and Rout Architects Limited.

Graduated from the Auckland Architecture School in 1988. Jasper has worked in several Architecture firms over the years, including a three-year period in London working on Architectural projects associated with significant infrastructure works such as the Channel Tunnel and the Jubilee Line extension.

Jasper joined Sheppard & Rout in 1993 and has worked as Design and Project Architect on large complex projects, including the Christchurch International Airport expansion, the award-winning Burwood Hospital redevelopment and a number of university and educational facilities, including the new School of Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University.

He is also the Architect responsible for the multiple award-winning Stranges Office Building, Stranges Lane, BNZ Centre Spark Headquarters in Christchurch and Punangairi Visitors Centre, Punakaiki.

Jasper is particularly interested in how buildings are integrated into a context and help form the unique identity, memory, and cultural setting of a place in a sustainable way.  

A particular strength of his is in urban design and master planning as well as designing and managing large, complex, and unique projects. 

Ngāti Irakehu, Ngāti Huirapa, Ngāi Tahu

Keefe Robinson-Gore provides strategic mana whenua leadership and cultural governance across Canterbury’s architectural, heritage, and civic sectors. Appointed as the Ōnuku Rūnanga representative to the Akaroa Design Review Panel for the Christchurch City Council, he contributes cultural and strategic insight during design reviews.

His approach ensures contemporary development respects Akaroa's unique character overlay, heritage scale, and layered geography. He works to visibly embed enduring mana whenua connections within the built landscape of Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū (Banks Peninsula).

Keefe brings a long-standing interest and practical involvement in design and development to this role. This is demonstrated by his work with the project team on the bicultural design framework for Takapūneke. Keefe has developed a strong working understanding of design principles built through his extensive professional experience, community involvement, local planning discussions, and his specialised role as a cultural monitor.

Collaborating alongside fellow panel members, Keefe leverages his background in Māori media, communications, and marketing to champion culturally grounded design. This dedication to bicultural narrative extends across his regional governance portfolio. He serves on Te Whakaihuwaka, the iwi advisory group directing the vision for the Canterbury Museum Redevelopment Project.

His broader community governance roles include appointments to the Akaroa Museum Advisory Committee, the Takapūneke Co-Governance Group, and the strategic project team for Te Kōri a Te Kō—a hapū-led 200-year master plan for Akaroa Harbour.

Additionally, he acts as a Marketing Advisor and storyteller for the Pounamu Pathway, an immersive cultural tourism initiative developed with Wētā Workshop.

Lynda has been working in the heritage sector for 40 years, in heritage property management and as a museum director. She has a background in fine arts (photography), and a post-graduate qualification in Museum Studies.

Her interest in New Zealand history and the conservation of heritage buildings led her to further study these subjects.

Lynda has been living in Akaroa for 25 years during which time she has developed a deep understanding of the evolution of the town, its streetscapes and its individual buildings. 

Lynda was a member of the Akaroa Design and Appearance Advisory Committee, as a community representative, and she continues in that role as a member of the Akaroa Design Review Panel.

Rodney Laredo brings a lifelong passion for heritage conservation, restoration, and the built environment to the Design Review Panel. A respected freelance writer and photographer, he has spent many years contributing articles on architecture, heritage, conservation, and restoration for a wide range of publications in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Rodney is the author of six published books released in England, the United States, and New Zealand. His first book, Houses and Gardens of the English Countryside, was commissioned by an American publisher for the United States market and showcased both his writing and photography. His work has also featured in Air New Zealand’s inflight magazine, and he has been commissioned by The Press to write about Christchurch’s architectural character, including commentary on post-earthquake rebuilding and the importance of retaining and celebrating the city's historic architectural heritage.

A committed advocate for heritage preservation, Rodney has served for more than a decade on the Restore Christchurch Cathedral committee and is a longstanding board member of the Akaroa Civic Trust. His expertise is regularly sought on heritage matters, including advising on appropriate heritage colour schemes for significant historic buildings in Akaroa.

Rodney has strong personal and professional connections to Akaroa and Banks Peninsula. He and his wife have longstanding family ties to the area, and in 2014 they purchased and restored Akaroa’s historic Herb Farm in Grehan Valley. Once New Zealand’s first herb farm and a renowned visitor attraction, the property had fallen into disrepair before being carefully restored under their stewardship.

Through his extensive experience in heritage advocacy, architectural writing, restoration projects, and community service, Rodney brings a valuable perspective to design review, with a particular interest in protecting and enhancing the unique character, history, and cultural heritage of the places we build and inhabit.

Dr Areta Wilkinson (Ngāti Irakehu) is the panel representative for Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke that hold mana whenua and mana moana over Whakaraupō and the surrounding area.  

Wilkinson is a freelance art and design consultant, her thirty-year creative practice engages with Māori philosophies and knowledge unique to Te Waipounamu the South Island of New Zealand. She was named an Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureate in 2022

Wilkinson’s interest to progress mātauranga Māori has led to contractual work with iwi agencies such as Matapopore and Aukaha charged with installing Ngāi Tahu identity in public built environments. She has appreciation for public realm art and design that transform spaces and celebrate stories, identities and perspectives of place and people. 

Her other community roles include the Māori Arts Advisory Committee for Te Matatiki Toi Ora, The Arts Centre, Oxford Arts Trust and Ngāi Tahu Fund Committee.

Bruce has lived in Lyttelton since 1994 and has been involved with local primary school governance as well as community initiatives in the arts and built environment. 

He has worked professionally as an archivist, an information designer and an educator. He currently leads the postgraduate programmes in creative practice at Ara Institute of Canterbury. 

He has published several books on sound art and has an interest in community arts development and how this can build community capability and resilience.

Since the earthquakes, he has commented on the rebuild in various published writings and public speaking. His interests include sound, time and memory; as well as psychogeographical research.

Bruce values Lyttelton as both a built landscape and as a historic municipality with intersecting and overlapping layers of community interest which are very distinct from other nearby localities.

Members of his family have lived in Lyttelton for over 150 years. He is committed to using his capabilities to support all the communities of interest that call Lyttelton home.

Bio coming soon.

Jamie Small is a creative director, writer and small business owner living by the shore of Whakaraupō. He has a deep professional and personal interest in design, and learned the basics of architectural principles by translating Italian architecture books into English.

Jamie moved to Ōtautahi Christchurch in 2016 to take a job as a journalist at The Press, and quickly became deeply entrenched in the history and post-quake reality of the area as the reporter assigned to the earthquake rebuild round. He now runs a publishing and design business.

In the early 2020s, he and his whānau built a house in Cass Bay, designed to be harmonious with the colours and forms found in the Port Hills.

Jamie is also a committee member of the Lyttelton Harbour Business Association and the Cass Bay Reserves Committee.

Jane Rennie is a qualified Urban Designer and Partner at Boffa Miskell, based in Christchurch.

She is a Registered Urban Designer with the Urban Designers Institute of Aotearoa (UDIA), a Christchurch City Council Certified Urban Design Expert, and a Full Member of the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI).

Jane has more than 30 years of experience in New Zealand and internationally. Her experience spans spatial and master planning, urban design guidance, design review, character assessment, development evaluation and policy development.

She regularly provides urban design advice on development proposals and has extensive experience presenting expert urban design evidence at hearings.

Jane brings a strong understanding of the unique character, heritage values, and urban design challenges of Lyttelton. She led the preparation of the Design Guidelines for the Te Ana development and contributed to the Christchurch Suburban Areas Character Assessment, which included a detailed analysis of Lyttelton’s residential character and opportunities for future growth and intensification while maintaining its distinctive identity.  

Passionate about creating high-quality built environments, Jane combines a strong grounding in urban design principles with a practical understanding of local context to deliver positive and enduring outcomes.

She is also an experienced Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) practitioner.

Director Sheppard and Rout Architects Limited.

Graduated from the Auckland Architecture School in 1988. Jasper has worked in several Architecture firms over the years, including a three-year period in London working on Architectural projects associated with significant infrastructure works such as the Channel Tunnel and the Jubilee Line extension.

Jasper joined Sheppard & Rout in 1993 and has worked as Design and Project Architect on large complex projects, including the Christchurch International Airport expansion, the award-winning Burwood Hospital redevelopment and a number of university and educational facilities, including the new School of Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University.

He is also the Architect responsible for the multiple award-winning Stranges Office Building, Stranges Lane, BNZ Centre Spark Headquarters in Christchurch and Punangairi Visitors Centre, Punakaiki.

Jasper is particularly interested in how buildings are integrated into a context and help form the unique identity, memory, and cultural setting of a place in a sustainable way.  

A particular strength of his is in urban design and master planning as well as designing and managing large, complex, and unique projects.