Amanda established her own interior design practice in 1998. Today, she is an interior designer, dedicated mother and plant-medicine practitioner.

Development and learning has become an integral part of Amanda’s life and work. She recently completed her sixth year of studying holistic plant medicine, and the regenerative practitioner study through the Regenesis Group earlier this year and is currently working with the NZ Future Living Building Challenge.

“The expanding of knowledge helps me to better understand the intricate relationship we have with the world, and the responsibilities that come with it. The creation and evolvement of Regenesis Design is my vehicle to create purposeful, high ordered, quality spaces for my clients by integrating varied skills into a holistic design process.”

Amanda is a passionate volunteer in regenerative development projects such as land and waterway restoration and Zero Waste initiatives locally and in the wider community.

Oliver studied Jazz Guitar in Switzerland and played in bands, composed music and produced several albums and soundtracks. In 1992, he started working for the Vitra Design Museum in Germany and eventually was promoted to Head of the Educational Department. He directed the initial three years of the Boisbuchet Workshops in France, a unique programme still growing today. The close collaboration with leading designers, architects and artists led him to directing documentary films on those subjects.

In 2000, Oliver was invited to New Zealand to assist with establishing a design workshop program in Christchurch. This is where he met his wife Amanda Hookham – Kraft, a successful interior designer already then, and together they established the design label Purple South. The company commissioned local as well as international designers to design furniture and accessories inspired by the land and wairua (spirit) of Aotearoa. The range was exhibited at international tradeshows and sold in NZ, USA and Australia.

As the first of three daughters arrived, Purple South was laid on ice and Oliver started lecturing design at Unitec. In 2013 he was awarded a Masters in Design with honours for his collaboration with Maori fisheries on prototyping an indigenous eco-label. This work and his love for Maori culture led to an invitation as life long Kaupapa Whanau Member of Nga Aho, the international network of Maori design professionals.

Design, film and music remain a huge passion and the principals cross-pollinate the holistic methodology at Regenesis Design where Oliver’s role is research, concept development and documentation.