Pip Cheshire, a prominent New Zealand architect who helped reshape the urban fabric of Auckland, died Feb. 11, 2026, following a brief illness. He was 75.
Born in Christchurch on July 28, 1950, Cheshire grew up in the seaside suburb of Sumner. Despite being born without the lower half of his right leg, he became an active surfer and attended Christ's College before earning a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Canterbury in 1974. He shifted his focus to architecture two years later, enrolling at the University of Auckland to begin his professional training.
Cheshire’s career included the founding of the firm Jasmax and later his own practice, Cheshire Architects. He oversaw major commercial and public projects, including the urban renewal of Auckland’s Britomart precinct. In 2013, the New Zealand Institute of Architects awarded him its highest honor, the Gold Medal. During his subsequent term as the institute’s president from 2014 to 2016, he led the development of Te Kawenata o Rata, a formal covenant designed to strengthen the relationship between the institute and Māori design professionals.
In the 2024 New Year Honours, the government appointed Cheshire a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. The award recognized his services to architecture and his commitment to the improvement of the nation's built environment.