Albert Refiti

Albert L Refiti teaches critical studies research on spatial design and architectural environments in the Pacific, focusing on material culture and ethnography on the subject at Auckland University of Technology School of Art and Design.

He advanced the discipline by creating a method of spatial exposition to examine the notion of vā (space) and wā (time) as central mechanisms to understand Pacific societies and their buildings, artefacts and social system. He founded Vā Moana Research Cluster with Tina Engels-Schwarzpaul in 2012, a successful platform setting the agenda for international research that engages Indigenous Pacific and Western thought to study Pacific notions of space. 

Dr Refiti is currently leading two Marsden-funded research projects: 'Artefacts of Relations - Building in the Pacific' (2022-2025), 'Vā Moana: space and relationality in Pacific thought and identity '(2019-2023), and MBIE-funded research 'Te Hotonga Hapori' at AUT.