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Herriot Melhuish O’Neill Architects deepens its presence in Central Otago with a strategic move to Wānaka

Written by

06 April 2026

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2 min read

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Herriot Melhuish O’Neill Architects has extended its footprint into the Queenstown Lakes District, with director Matt Robinson relocating to Wānaka. Marking a considered move into one of New Zealand’s most dynamic architectural regions.

The shift reflects both lifestyle and opportunity. Drawn by the landscape and the region’s growing demand for high-end residential and commercial design, Robinson’s move positions the practice closer to a pipeline of projects already underway across Wānaka, Queenstown and Arrowtown. From contemporary homes in Jack’s Point to sensitive alterations within Arrowtown’s historic fabric, the work signals a practice attuned to both context and craft.


At the core of Herriot Melhuish O’Neill Architects is a connected, multi-studio model, spanning Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Tauranga, allowing the practice to bring collective expertise to projects regardless of location. This collaborative structure enables a consistent design language, while still responding with nuance to the specific conditions of each site.

Herriot Melhuish O’Neill Architects director Matt Robinson
Herriot Melhuish O’Neill Architects director Matt Robinson

Robinson’s own approach, bridging architecture and landscape, further reinforces this sensitivity. In Central Otago, where terrain, climate and outlook are integral to the experience of a building, design becomes a process of careful calibration: framing views, mediating light, and anchoring form within the land itself.

While now based in Wānaka, Robinson remains closely connected to the Auckland studio, reflecting a broader shift in how clients and practitioners operate between regions. As the Queenstown Lakes District continues to evolve, this fluidity positions HMOA to deliver work that is both locally grounded and nationally informed.

Explore more of Herriot Melhuish O’Neill Architects on ArchiPro, including recent projects across residential and commercial sectors, or discover other practices shaping architecture in the Queenstown Lakes District and beyond.