Wao Aotearoa is a collective movement for climate action, systems change and regeneration.
We convene change makers, connect ideas, and create blueprints for action that can be adapted and scaled across New Zealand. We accelerate systems change and climate action in bringing together people, groups, and organisations together to drive transformative action.
Summit 2026.
27th October - 1nd November
Our flagship annual, week‑long festival of kōrero, tours, workshops, and community events across Wānaka and Queenstown. It’s designed to ignite systems change through multi-sector learning and collaboration.
Our
Programmes.
Better Building
Better Business
Better Events
Better Transport
Better Communities
Food Resilience
Upcoming events.
The Wao Podcast.
In-depth conversations with Wao speakers, experts, and change makers. Kindly produced by our partners yBC.tv
Southern Lakes Food Resilience Report.
The Queenstown Lakes district will need at least double, and possibly triple, today’s food supply by 2050. Our landmark Food Resilience Report reveals the scale of the challenge and a roadmap for building a thriving, home-grown food system.
When a pebble is dropped, a ripple is spread.
Wao delivers targeted, systems-focused programmes and events designed to inspire, educate, and enable communities to transition toward a regenerative, low-emission future. We convene changemakers, connect ideas, and create blueprints for action that can be adapted and scaled across Aotearoa.
Our work centres on partnership, collaboration, and the belief that thriving communities are inseparable from a thriving environment.