Meet the team
TO Breath new life into Te Aro Courtenay
We formed the Te Aro Hā working group in early 2025 to come up with ideas for reinvigorating the Te Aro Courtenay area. There was a lot of talk about the area, and despite the challenges it faced, we knew it was possible to effect change with some focused energy and a clear framework for improvement works.
Dame Kerry Prendergast DNZM, CNZM
Kerry was the Mayor of Wellington from 2001-2010 and, during that time, was a former Vice-President of Local Government New Zealand. She holds an MBA from, and is a distinguished Alumni of, Victoria University of Wellington.
Kerry chairs Wellington Free Ambulance, the Tourism Industry Association, Wellington Opera, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, and Capital Kiwi. She is a Director of Oceania Healthcare, Fish Serve and a Trustee of the Wellington International Arts Foundation, and the New Zealand Community Trust. Kerry has filled many other roles over the last ten years, including chairing the New Zealand Film Commission, NZ Tourism, the EPA, and the Victoria University Foundation.
In January 2019 Kerry became a Dame Companion (DNZM) for services to governance and the community, after being awarded a CNZM in 2011 for her services to local government. In July 2016 Kerry was also awarded a Lifetime Excellence Award for Outstanding Contribution to Local Government.
Dave McGuinness
Willis Bond
I’ve been part of the Willis Bond team for 20 years and during that time I’ve been lucky enough to work on projects that have helped positively transform Wellington, including Chews Lane Precinct, Clyde Quay Wharf, the Cuba Precinct and Tākina. What links those projects is taking tired or underused spaces and turning them into places where people want to live, work and spend time. When I look at Te Aro Courtenay, I see the same kind of potential. The vision we’ve developed alongside local businesses, mana whenua and the wider community is about leaning into what already makes this neighbourhood special and building on it so people want to be here again. I’m excited to bring my experience of turning ambitious ideas into real places and help make that transformation happen.
Stephen McDougall
Studio Pacific Architecture
I’m a founding director of Studio Pacific Architecture, a Wellington practice I co-founded in 1992, and for more than 30 years I’ve worked across architecture, urban design, interiors and masterplanning. I walk through Te Aro Courtenay every day between home and work, and I love the unique mix of businesses that changes as you move through the precinct, ranging from family-owned operations to big franchise names. It has great potential that can be resurfaced with focus and attention. I want to bring thoughtful design to the project to make the precinct more welcoming and enjoyable day and night. Simple improvements like painting facades, fixing canopies and lighting them so it feels bright, safe (and dry!) when you walk down the street will make a big difference. I’m enjoying giving some energy back into this part of the city.
John-McIntyre
Athfield Architects
I’m a Principal at Athfield Architects and an architect and urban designer with more than 25 years’ experience in Aotearoa and internationally. What excites me about Te Aro Courtenay is the richness of the neighbourhood: its deep history for mana whenua and early settlers, and the stories of the people who have shaped it and continue to do so today. I see a real opportunity to celebrate those stories while building on the idea of the four Courtenay Quarters, each with its own distinct personality and character. Together, they can form a diverse and vibrant neighbourhood with something for everyone, whether you live or work here, are meeting someone for lunch, heading to a show or discovering a gallery. I’m excited to bring my experience in urban design and adaptive reuse to help unlock that potential and create a precinct that feels unmistakably Wellington.
Dan McGuinness
LT McGuinness
I’m a director and general manager of LT McGuinness, our 75 year old family construction company, headquartered in Wellington with a team of over 400 across Aotearoa. What makes Te Aro Courtenay special to me is its eclectic mix of businesses and the layers of history you can see in its streets and buildings. Through Te Aro Hā, I hope to bring LT McGuinness’ construction experience to the table, helping building owners make improvements simpler and working together for the good of the wider neighbourhood. In five years, I’d love to see a safe and vibrant precinct where people want to spend time day and night, with more cafés, businesses and activity bringing the streets to life. LT McGuinness shortly relocating to the precinct, we aim to demonstrate investment in the area and create a space for Wellington and our industry to collaborate.
Chris Speed
Dunning Thornton Consultants
I’m a director and structural engineer at Dunning Thornton, with 20 years’ experience working on complex projects in New Zealand and Australia. Wellington’s seismic environment can create real challenges for building owners, and through Te Aro Hā I’m keen to bring my engineering experience to the table, helping owners understand their options and find practical ways forward for their properties. I’ve always enjoyed the creative energy of Te Aro Courtenay and would love to see that built on with more markets, events and activity bringing people into the area. In five years, I’d like to see a precinct that feels busy, creative and confident again, where great buildings and great public spaces support a thriving part of the city.
Jason Muir
Urban Dream Brokerage
I’m a public art producer and creative broker working through Maverick Creative and Urban Dream Brokerage, connecting artists, communities, property owners and civic partners to bring vacant and public spaces to life. I got involved in Te Aro Hā because Te Aro Courtenay has always been at the heart of Wellington’s creative and social life, with its unique mix of arts, hospitality, heritage and inner-city living giving it huge potential to become a distinctly Wellington live arts and entertainment district. I love translating between creative ideas and the people and places that can make them happen, and in five years I’d love to see a precinct that feels alive day and night - safer, welcoming, connected to its whenua and communities, and full of unexpected art, performance, food, play and stories. Speaking of unexpected, my favourite local institution is KC Cafe: legendary flavours hiding behind a brilliantly unassuming exterior.
Andrew Burns
McIndoe Urban
I’m a Director at McIndoe Urban and an urban designer specialising in town and city-centre regeneration, strategy and masterplanning. I’ve worked on regeneration projects around the world and seen what’s possible when people come together around a clear plan and a shared ambition for change. What excites me about Te Aro Courtenay is that it’s compact but packs a real punch in terms of personality and possibility. We don’t need to wait for major projects to make a difference, there are smaller, practical changes we can make now that build momentum and create the platform for further investment over time. I’d love to see Te Aro–Courtenay constantly evolving, with each improvement adding another reason for people to come, stay and enjoy this distinctive part of Wellington.
Cam Sanders
Everyone™ NZ
I’m a brand storyteller and Managing Director of Everyone™, a Wellington brand strategy and design agency that has been helping organisations uncover and communicate what makes them distinctive for more than 30 years. I became involved with Te Aro Hā because I wanted to help make a meaningful difference to Wellington. Te Aro Courtenay is one of the city’s most unique places, alive with creativity, colour, culture and personality, with huge potential to celebrate its rich history while shaping an exciting future.
My role is to help articulate that story, creating an identity and narrative that inspires businesses, residents, visitors and the wider community to be part of the precinct’s revitalisation. Success will be seeing that community come together to create a vibrant, connected destination Wellington can be proud of. And as a Catch Sushi regular for more than 20 years, I already know how special this neighbourhood can be.
Miranda Richardson
Willis Bond
I’m a born-and-bred Wellingtonian, and Te Aro Courtenay has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. In the first part of my career, I worked in theatre, and spent a lot of time at BATS. I also worked on major events like the Return of the King premiere, so I know just how epic this part of the city can be when it’s humming. What I love most about the precinct is the people who choose to make their lives and businesses here. Through Te Aro Hā, I’ve met so many passionate people who want to be part of creating an exciting, vibrant neighbourhood again. There’s a huge amount of positivity and ambition already here, and I’m excited to help focus that energy, bring people together and turn it into action that moves Te Aro Courtenay forward.
Wade Pulford
LT McGuinness
I’m a Project Manager at LT McGuinness, bringing clients, consultants, subcontractors and project teams together to turn ideas into well-delivered places. I became involved in Te Aro Hā because Te Aro–Courtenay is such an important part of Wellington, with a unique mix of history, culture, entertainment, hospitality and people, and huge potential for its next chapter. I hope to bring a practical project-delivery perspective to the team, helping turn big ideas into achievable outcomes and bringing people together to solve problems along the way. Success for me would be a precinct that feels alive and connected throughout the day and night. I’ve got too many favourite local spots to name, but a beer at Mishmosh or Lulu’s, a bite at Dragonfly or Lucky 8 -and memories of Courtenay Place during the Rugby Sevens - are hard to beat.
“Together, we’re bringing Wellington’s property, design, business and creative expertise to breathe new life into Te Aro Courtenay, creating a district that is inclusive, ambitious and unmistakably Wellington.”