First career steps for two Graduate Landscape Architects
Hannah Merrett-Kaufman stands in front of a recent addition to Waitangi Park: a public artwork funded by the Wellington Sculpture Trust titled KIMI/You are Here. Photo credit: Stephen Olsen
Since we last caught up with Hannah Merrett-Kaufman, she'd forged ahead with her fifth year at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, knocking off her Master of Landscape Architecture degree with a thesis titled a 100-Year Vision of Belmont Park.
Hannah being Hannah, 2025 was jam-packed with 'extracurricular' activity and achievements. On the education front she tutored at Te Herenga Waka's Te Aro campus, remotely assisted a team in the USA with a competition, and, with research stream peer Tyler Florance, worked on an abstract submission presented to the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) by research advisor Associate Professor Vikki Chanse.
In addition she delivered a presentation based on her thesis research to the international Adaptation Futures conference held in Ōtautahi Christchurch in October 2025. "I’ve continued building relationships internationally as well as within New Zealand. It’s been interesting seeing how different people and practices approach landscape architecture across different contexts," says Hannah.
Hannah's studies were boosted by two scholarships, the Megan Wraight Memorial Scholarship for Landscape Architecture in 2022 and, in 2025, the Lydia Wevers Scholarship in New Zealand Studies supported by The Stout Trust.
As a conclusion to the Lydia Wevers Scholarship, Hannah spoke about her research in a dedicated public seminar in March this year, with parents Baz and Nick in proud attendance.
Hannah: "The scholarship made a huge difference to my thesis work by helping support field trips, research resources, and community workshops that otherwise would have been difficult to fund".
Her time with Wraight + Associates has gone from strength to strength, from the scholarship and an internship to officially joining the team as a Graduate Landscape Architect in March.
"I’m really enjoying working here and learning a huge amount from studio practice. Working in a studio has definitely been an adjustment, but a really rewarding one.
"University teaches you how to think critically and conceptually, whereas studio practice adds another layer around communication, collaboration, deadlines, and balancing design ambition with real-world constraints. I realise I'm just at the beginning of this journey and am excited to see projects move beyond drawings into real conversations and implementation".
Daniel Watt at his RMM desk in Auckland last August. Photo credit: Stephen Olsen
When LAA sought out Lincoln University BLA graduate Daniel Watt for a first-up chat, the transplanted Cantabrian formerly of Cashmere High School was fully ensconced in his first year of working in the Auckland office of RMM Landscape Architects.
Similarly to Hannah, Daniel’s entry into the profession followed on from time interning with RMM and after recognition of scholarly excellence through awards such as the NZILA Robin Gay Award (named after Robin Gay, a Life Member of the institute who passed away in 2008).
He too has been going from strength to strength, from bringing his technical and technology skills to RMM through to being trusted to take on client-facing roles.
Speaking to LAA this month Daniel said he keeps growing his “tool basket”, scope of work and knowledge under the guidance of studio lead Tim Jones and RMM colleagues.
“Time management was a big aspect of university work, but things like communicating with clients and managing direct relationships are things you have to develop naturally and that can’t really be taught in a classroom”.
The team at RMM has a strong complement of Graduate Landscape Architects, including Courtney Prebble from Daniel’s cohort at Lincoln’s School of Landscape Architecture.
It’s encouraging, Daniel says, to know that other members from his final year have found employment at firms such as DCM Urban Design, WSP and Boffa Miskell. Another graduate, Marcus Brant, made a decision to locate to Australia where he landed work as a Graduate Landscape Architect with Zone Landscape Architecture on the Gold Coast.
Daniel’s local acculturation to Auckland has mostly taken place with a cricket bat or ball in hand. A talented player he has achieved a “decent crack” in his introduction to the Premier level at the Cornwall Cricket Club, a club well known for its association with famous cricketer Martin Crowe (1962-2016). Then over winter he will be representing Auckland in the different discipline of Indoor cricket. His passion for travel has been assuaged on two separate opportunities since graduating to travel privately in Europe - where Switzerland has become a firm favourite, underpinned by his love of mountains.
“Put your hand up for everything”
In summary both Hannah and Daniel are hard at work, learning new aspects of landscape architecture practice every day and feeling fortunate.
Hannah pondered the question of what advice she would give to herself as a Year 1 student. Her answer:
Put your hand up for everything, you never know where it might lead you. Stay open to different paths because your goals at the start of university will probably change over time, and that’s okay. Also, stay resilient through setbacks. A project is never perfect; it’s more about learning, improving, and continuing to do the best work you can over and over again.