Ethnic identity and architecture

Abstract

This report is a study of identities, examining ethnic identity, architectural identity, and self identity. There are two main objectives- 1. to ascertain how important an architectural identity is to a group of people within a New Zealand context. 2. to explore my own background to further inform myself of my own identity as a New Zealander. I chose to look at my Cook Island heritage in an attempt to address the two main objectives. Inquiring into the attitudes of a sample of Cook Islanders in New Zealand toward identity and simultaneously taking the opportunity to learn about Cook Island culture and ultimately New Zealand culture. The results of the research were quite surprising. On one hand it appears that architecture is unimportant and not an aspect of identity for those Cook Islanders surveyed. But on the other hand it is quite clear that these same Cook Islanders (for various reasons) consider an architectural identity very important in New Zealand. On a personal level this research has reinforced my previous views of my own identity as a New Zealander and has in some ways been a release.