People Tangata
Garth is one of New Zealand’s foremost designers with over 30 years of Landscape Architecture and Urban Design experience. Former founding Director of the Isthmus Group (est 1988), Garth formed Reset Urban Design in 2008 as a specialist urban design and landscape architecture practise to concentrate on the design and delivery of strategic projects.
Garth is foremost a designer and he leads from the front. Individually he has a great sense of understanding of places and vision of what it could be, combined with an allround ability to initiative conceptual designs, develop and detail designs. For him overseeing the construction of a design into a functioning and uplifting place is one of the most satisfying dimensions to a role which he believes has a critical responsibility in improving the quality and sustainability of life for our people and the wider ecology.
Garth has over 30 years of leading experience in a wide range of design work. He has led multi disciplinary teams that have taken innovative conceptual designs through to successful implementation. These projects range from regional, town and city centre projects, public open space networks through large-scale infrastructure works and commercial developments. Garth’s work combines a strong social and environmental concern with a developed theoretical understanding. A leader of teams he has the ability to motivate and coordinate others with a broad range of understanding and visionary skills.
Garth graduated in Landscape Architecture from Lincoln University, completed a Masters in Urban Design from Oxford Brookes (UK) and is a fellow of the NZILA.
Linda comes from a landscape construction background, a founding partner of Reset Urban Design. She is a leader in her field of plant knowledge, is passionate about arts, landscape, and business.
Linda is based in the Wānaka Studio, thriving in the big landscape of Central Otago. She contributes to community projects through her support of the Karerearea project in Cardrona, Te Kākano nursery development, and the Lakes District Arts Trust as a current trustee.
Being a local Ignite Chamber of Commerce member adds to her diverse range of interests. When not in the studio, Linda can be found being inspired by the wilderness of surrounding mountain ranges and rivers.
Life is a journey not a destination, live it!
James is a qualified urban designer and NZILA Registered landscape architect with extensive experience working on a range of projects across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific. He is a senior leader who is experienced at managing teams, projects and programmes of work from design and project evolution through to completion. He is an excellent communicator who enjoys working with people to gain the best possible outcome and understands the subtleties of team dynamics.
He is an accomplished designer and brings a highly creative and strategic approach to complex projects. His passion for creating healthy, smart, sustainable, and vibrant places underpin his design thinking approach to resolving the complex issues that confront the cities of our future. His commitment to the design of a vibrant and dynamic public realm is informed and inspired by the ecologies of place, people and nature.
James has extensive professional experience across a variety of projects including urban public realm, large scale transportation infrastructure, streetscapes and town centres, medium and high-density residential developments, urban regeneration, master planning and campus development projects.
Janet Zhang is an Urban Designer whose extensive background in urban planning allows her to think strategically and work across a wide range of scales and contexts.
She holds a Master of Urban Design from the University of Auckland, a Master of Urban Planning from South China University of Technology, and a Bachelor of Engineering from South China University of Technology. Janet’s work focuses on providing conceptual ideas, collaborative approach and technical expertise on a variety of projects ranging from large scale master planning, residential and commercial developments, as well as a the finer details of design.
She places particular emphasis on achieving design excellence through employing interdisciplinary perspectives and utilising integrated design tools to ensure creative solutions.
Ellie is a landscape architect with nearly a decade of experience in master planning and strategic design. Her approach is rooted in collaboration, driven by the belief that the most successful outcomes are achieved through shared vision and collective expertise. Ellie has worked across a diverse range of projects—spanning residential developments, public spaces, and community infrastructure—delivering holistic design solutions that bring character, purpose, and long-term value to each place.
A graduate of Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (First-Class Honours), Ellie draws on experience from across Aotearoa, from the deep south to the far north. She offers a practical, grounded perspective, working closely with clients and stakeholders, with a strong understanding of funding processes and the importance of community engagement.
Ellie is passionate about transforming everyday environments into extraordinary places—spaces that inspire connection, spark joy, and enhance the fabric of local communities.
Nick is a Landscape Architect with considerable experience across an array of projects, such as schools, coastal boardwalks, luxury residential design, medium and high-density residential developments, large scale subdivisions, streetscapes through to major infrastructure and urban realm projects.
Nick has extensive experience in producing concept, developed, and detail design packages for resource consent, building consent and construction. He has successfully produced multiple landscape and visual assessments for resource consent approval. He also has experience working in a multi-disciplinary team within an alliance format, leading the design delivery of public realm and station plaza packages for the City Rail Link (CRL), NZ’s largest ever transport infrastructure project.
He is a highly creative designer who enjoys problem-solving, collaborative design and is passionate about creating lasting environments that improve both ecological and human conditions. He believes as designers we have the unique position of creating, intertwining and presenting collective ideas to resolve issues and produce positive output. We can alter perceptions of place and space. The notion of design, the innovation, the freedom, problem solving, and opportunity to instigate change is why he became a landscape architect.
Enthralled by the idea of utilizing plants as a form of infrastructure, landscape architect Joshua Chia envisions the potential to shape landscape design principles in New Zealand. With a diverse background that spans from the lush gardens of Malaysia and Singapore to the ecological restoration of a 5km stream in Hamilton, Joshua's passion for landscape architecture transcends geographical boundaries and climatic conditions. His proficiency in crafting resilient, sustainable, and ecologically vibrant spaces arises from his relentless pursuit of innovative approaches to harmonize human existence with the natural world.
Recognizing the significance of mental health and mindfulness, Joshua embraces the challenge of conceiving spaces that fosters reconnection with nature, whether they are intimate private courtyards or upscale commercial developments. He provides clients with high-quality landscape and planning designs, complemented by meticulously detailed construction drawings and landscape evidence, allowing them to fully engage with his concepts from the outset. His evolving communication skills have played a pivotal role in nurturing robust team dynamics, rendering him an invaluable asset in any creative and collaborative environment.
Joshua firmly believes that design is a fusion of values and collaboration to craft spaces that yield a positive impact on the communities and ecosystems of Aotearoa.
Martha is a Chartered Landscape Architect from the UK, with over 10 years professional experience. Martha studied in the UK and the Netherlands. When opportunity arises, she still travels extensively, taking inspiration from international landscapes wherever she goes.
She has a background in Art and Design and brings a unique creative approach to her work, closing the gap between form and functionality. She has worked on multidisciplinary projects across numerous landscape design sectors including Sustainable Water Management, Education, Healthcare, Residential, Recreational, and Public Realm.
Martha is passionate about incorporating sustainability and biodiversity into her work and particularly enjoys designing liveable spaces with a community focus.
Publications Hautaka
Harry Turbott: NZs First Landscape Architect
Falconer, Garth (2020), Blue Acre Press, Oratia Publishing, New Zealand.
Environmental design and landscape architecture are growing fields in New Zealand as people become more aware of the possibilities and benefits of sustainable development.
Harry Turbott (1930- 2016) played a crucial role in introducing these concepts to New Zealand.
His work is celebrated for the first time in Harry Turbott: New Zealand’s First Landscape Architect, which recognises Turbott’s pioneering achievements in a beautifully illustrated book showcasing and immortalising Turbott’s life, works and legacy.
Living in Paradox - A History of Urban Design
Falconer, Garth (2015). Blue Acres Press, New Zealand.
Living in Paradox explores the dynamic and intriguing story of this young, vigorous and intriguingly complex country. It is an optimistic, far-reaching book which documents the rich history of earlier visions, analyses many of the various trials and pitfalls of the past, and paints an engaging picture of the way things could be in New Zealand’s towns and cities. As New Zealanders’ are a highly urbanised population this book provides a very relevant and much needed discussion.
"Living in Paradox is a brilliant tracing of the complexities of living in paradise on the edge" - Sir Bob Harvey
Auckland: New City Spaces
Various Contributors. (2013). Balasoglou Books, New Zealand.
This is the first book ever published on new Auckland Urban Spaces; and perhaps the first in New Zealand. It's 96 pages feature descriptions, plans and photographs of 16 major urban spaces in Auckland City - all which have made a positive contribution to the development of a new urban fabric for the City.
"This is an important book which all those interested in Auckland, urban spaces and urban planning should include in their collection" - Time Out Bookstore
Chinese Landscape Architecture
Magazine Volume 29 (2013), Landscape Architecture in New Zealand Edition.
Reset Urban Design projects featured: Oceanview Road Pocket Park, Waiuku River Lane, Taurarua Judges Bay, Hamilton CityHeart.
Street Furniture
Van Uffelen, Chris. (2010). Braun Publishing AG, Switzerland.
Street furniture is the clandestine star of urban spaces. Rarely recognized at first glance, benches and street lights, fountains and bus stops considerably shape the nature of streets, public squares, and entire cities. In addition to the practical aspects of street furniture, high-quality designs have become the recent focus of attention.
