Finding Whakapapa at the Local Board Table — with Bobby Shen

In this episode of The Third Space, we sit down with Bobby Shen — architect and former Mt Roskill local board member — to talk about what it means to serve the community while navigating life as a Kiwi Asian. From speaking Cantonese on the playground to shaping Auckland’s urban landscape, Bobby shares how learning te reo Māori and embracing tikanga have deepened his understanding of identity and belonging.

We talk about the surprising connections between Māori values like mana and whanaungatanga and Chinese cultural roots, and how those shared principles can guide the way we lead and live. It’s a conversation about building bridges, leading with authenticity, and finding a place where our cultures meet in Aotearoa.