The countdown to the 2019 NZILA Firth Conference is underway as early bird tickets go on sale today. (May 15)

This year’s event will be held in Ōtautahi Christchurch 6-8 November and this year’s theme is DISRUPTION. This will be discussed in two parts - the disruption of nature and the disruption of people.

One of this year’s international speakers is Julie Bargmann - the founder and principal at D.I.R.T (Dump It Right There) studio in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The generosity of “young” landscape architect, Jeremy Parlane, has helped an Auckland couple realise their  dream of transforming a dairy farm into native forest for the public.

Renowned landscape architect Thomas Woltz was finishing his masters in architecture when he realised the power the landscape architect had to become an agent of change to improve large scale ecologies. He now holds a masters degree in landscape architecture as well.

Annabel Menzies-Joyce may be the qualified landscape architect in her house but it’s her husband who’s in charge of their native regeneration project. Retired psychiatrist Peter Joyce describes himself as chief gardener (he means only) at their property, Tai Tapu Sculpture Garden, 18 km south west of Christchurch.

Landscape architect Steve Dunn has been recognised for 40 years at Boffa Miskell. As the company's longest-serving employee and a member of the Wellington office, Steve provides a wealth of knowledge and expertise to projects of all scales – from residential sites to large scale commercial and public works.

For renowned landscape architect Di Lucas, being named in this year's New Year honours list was not something she had anticipated and she’s found it a bit overwhelming.

For NZILA President Brad Coombs 2018 has been notable for the key transport, housing and urban renewal projects which are keeping landscape architects across the country busy.

New York’s Transportation Alternatives’ mission is to reclaim the city’s streets from cars for people. The non-profit organisation advocates for safe public spaces where walking and biking or public transport are the main modes of travel, and there’s less reliance on private cars.

Former Lincoln University student Matthew Durning has won a prestigious Australian Landscape Architecture Award. His project, Brisbane’s Fish Lane, won the 2018 Landscape Architecture Award for Urban Design, presented by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA).

Peter Matthews is the principal landscape architect for Ōtākaro Limited, the company responsible for delivering Crown-led projects in Central Christchurch. Landscape Architecture Aotearoa asked him about his role there.