Futuna Lecture Series 2025; Francis Kéré

It is with great pleasure and excitement that the Futuna Chapel Trust announces that the Futuna Lecturer for the 2025 Futuna Lecture Series will be Burkina Faso architect Francis Kéré, laureate of the Pritzker Prize 2022 and Praemium Imperiale 2023.

The Futuna Lecture Series began in 2011 and has been one of the main annual events on the NZ Architectural calendar for the last 14 years.

This year, the Futuna Lecture Series will be sponsored by Dulux, APL, AGP, Big River, Roofing Industries Limited, Plytech Panels, the Warren Trust and the Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington NZIA branches.

In 1999, Futuna Chapel was recognised as a Category 1 Historic Place by Heritage New Zealand. This designation is reserved for places that have exceptional historical, architectural, or social significance to New Zealand's heritage.

After facing threats of demolition in the 1990s, the chapel was saved by the dedicated efforts of the Futuna Chapel Trust, a charitable organisation formed in 2003.

Today, it stands as a testament to the power of community and the importance of preserving New Zealand’s heritage. The exterior and interior of the Chapel are fully protected under the Wellington City Council Heritage Schedule.