Rachel de Lambert is awarded the 2026 Garvey Cup by the New Zealand Institute of Architects | Te Kāhui Whaihanga

Boffa Miskell partner and Fellow of Tuia Pito Ora | New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects is acknowledged for elevating design outcomes and enriching the discourse and practice of architecture in Aotearoa.

Rachel de Lambert was awarded the Garvey Cup at the 2026 Auckland Architecture Awards night in honour of her commitment to supporting architecture and its place in the public realm. The judges' citation said:

"Rachel has made a sustained and meaningful contribution to architectural practice, discourse and community in Aotearoa through her leadership in landscape architecture, urban design and design governance. A highly respected collaborator, she has worked closely with architects across decades on landscape design, masterplanning, environmental planning and landscape assessment; consistently strengthening the integration of built and natural environments.

" . . . she has championed design excellence and advocated for architecture that is responsive to the environmental and cultural context of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.

"Her influence extends nationally through her role as a principal author of 'Te Tangi a te Manu: Aotearoa New Zealand Landscape Assessment Guidelines', a foundational document guiding best practice. Through these combined contributions, Rachel has demonstrated an enduring commitment to elevating design outcomes and enriching the discourse and practice of architecture in Aotearoa."

The award is named after Wendy (Fletcher) Garvey: a highly influential, long-serving architectural librarian at the University of Auckland. She served as the librarian-in-charge of the School of Architecture (and Planning) Library for 40 years, from 1976 until her retirement in 2015 when she became the first recipient of what was then known as the Auckland Branch Cup.

In her acceptance speech, Rachel said she was honoured to receive the award bearing Wendy Garvey’s name:

" . . . it's been good to be reminded of Wendy Garvey. I am a fan of books and seeing the list of past recipients is also humbling as there are some real heroes of mine there.

"I think that what we do as designers of the built environment is incredibly important. Done well, the environment and people benefit greatly from collaboration between architects and landscape architects.

" . . . I have really enjoyed the collaborative interface with architects across my 38-something years at Boffa Miskell in Tamaki Makaurau and across Aotearoa. Thank you for the opportunities to join your teams and to work together as colleagues and friends . . . we stand on the shoulders of many, and I would also like to acknowledge the support and involvement of my Boffa Miskell colleagues in my work."