1. What’s your connection with The Symphony Centre development?

As Head of Strategic Engagement at RCP I am driving the multi-faceted stakeholder engagement needed for this project.

The Symphony Centre is a private development embedded in public interest which means there are a few layers of stakeholders at play - council, COO’s, investors, local communities - that all have a vested interest in the direction and success of the project. My role is to bring these people together to ensure that we are all singing from the same song sheet. In other words I’m the ‘connector’.

2. Tell us about your background.

I have 20+ years’ experience as an international and local executive, leading organisational development and strategy at both governance and C-suite levels. I bring to the table experience and expertise working across cultures, engaging and managing multiple stakeholders, including community groups and governments in New Zealand and abroad.

I'm a New Zealand-born Tongan, so I’m passionate about cultural competency in the commercial sector - incorporating te ao Māori and Pasifika values and skilfully acting as a ‘technical bridge’ to bring diverse groups together. I want to ensure the values of our communities are understood and respected, so I have been guiding all parties so that everyone can contribute meaningfully to project outcomes.

Outside of the corporate sector, I used to be a professional opera singer and still perform on occasion. I am and always will be heavily invested in the arts – sitting on three different trust boards and mentoring up-and-coming talent. My relationship with the arts certainly bleeds into my current work at RCP with the work being done by the team to engage The Symphony Centre with the arts community. 

3. Collective engagement across the development is paramount for shared outcomes in Aotea Arts Quarter, can you tell us more about this?

Aotea Arts Quarter is an iconic part of Auckland’s city centre and has a rich history as home of the arts. I’ve spent countless evenings in the precinct’s venues as a performer with NZ Opera - this was once my home away from home. It used to be such a thriving and vibrant part of the inner city. I am forever embedded in the arts and its community, so this endeavour in bringing this area back to life is both personal and professional.

We’re (almost) throwing out the rule book when it comes to stakeholder engagement for The Symphony Centre development. For this project to have long-term success we want to foster a sense of shared ownership among Aotea Arts Quarter’s various stakeholders, including local government, community groups, artists, businesses, and residents.

Effective collaboration among these groups helps align objectives, share resources, and address concerns, ensuring that the development meets the diverse needs of the community. Collective engagement ensures that the development process is not just a top-down initiative but a community-driven effort that benefits from the input, support, and collaboration of all involved. This will truly ensure that the spirit of Aotea Arts Quarter remains as we reimagine the neighbourhood.

4. What’s The Symphony Centre relationship with the arts, and how will it continue to support the sector?

Our mission is to continue to see this area as recognised as home of the arts and to bring The Symphony Centre into that narrative.

We could have done that retrospectively - focus on developing the built environment, then once it’s finished and standing, look at bringing the arts into the space. But we’re doing things differently for this project. Our partnerships with Arts Foundation Te Temu Toi and Auckland Arts Festival not only helps us strengthen our relationship with the arts sector by recognising them but by doing so right from the start brings them along the journey so that the people at the heart and history of this neighbourhood share our vision.

Art has this wonderful and innate ability to bring people together and collectively experience joy, curiosity, creativity and truly make your heart sing. This is the thread that ties together Aotea Centre, Town Hall, The Civic, and soon The Symphony Centre. 

5. How do you see the public interacting with the built environment once The Symphony Centre is complete?

This is going to be THE PLACE. It is going to once again be the Heart of the City.

I truly think The Lanes, the civic space that connects Bledisloe House to The Symphony Centre, will be the heartbeat. Te Waihorotiu Station will release 50,000+ daily commuters directly into The Lanes - a pulsing civic space with new restaurants, wine bars, retail, and entertainment. The Lanes is going to be a destination in and of itself, it’s going to be a place where people meet, whether that’s coffee for a business meeting, a lunch with friends, or a nightcap after a show. 

6. What makes The Symphony Centre development project compelling to Tāmaki Makaurau?

This is a city defining project. The Symphony Centre has the potential to elevate Auckland’s status as a cultural and economic powerhouse and help it reach its goal of becoming one of the most liveable cities in the world.

• Architectural Excellence - The Symphony Centre is an expression of world-class architecture, a work of art in itself. Then there’s Bledisloe House, a bastion of mid-century design that will artfully be brought back to life and continue to stand as a symbol of Auckland’s evolution.

• Economic Impact - this precinct will bring business back to Aotea Arts Quarter. We are going to have a diverse mix of commercial tenants, from big corporations, to creative studios, SME firms to boutique retail.

• Cultural Enrichment - it is going to be the new cultural hub of Auckland, a place where creativity, commerce and living collide for a more vibrant and dynamic city.

7. What is your vision for the future of Tāmaki Makaurau?

This is my home, I love this city. I love its heritage, I love its diversity, I love its beauty, its energy and its potential. I don’t want to see any of that changed, I want to see it enhanced.

While Auckland’s in its era of urban regeneration, particularly in the city where development is slowly giving the city centre a renewed sense of vitality, my vision for the future of Auckland is that its diverse multiculturalism is celebrated. Let’s continue to tell our stories, let’s mobilize access for community groups to more services, more opportunities and let's ensure that what we do today has a positive impact for generations to come.

8. Describe The Symphony Centre development in 5 words.

Bold. Connected. Expressive. Beautiful. Alive.