Latest News & Resources
Wao Green Drinks Recorded Session: Resilience Response with Nathan Surendran
Recorded Session: Global instability is no longer a distant threat, it’s already reshaping life here in Aotearoa. In this recorded Wao Green Drinks session, Nathan Surendran breaks down what’s coming and, more importantly, how communities like ours can respond with clarity, confidence, and practical action.
Understanding the Energy System We Built Our World On, and What Comes Next.
We’ve built our modern world on something we rarely stop to think about - energy. Cheap, abundant, and reliable energy has shaped how we live, move, build, and grow. But the conditions that created that world are changing.
Fuel, Food, Climate and the Fragility of Our System
Fuel, food, and climate are colliding in ways that are exposing just how fragile our current system is. This piece breaks down what’s happening, why it matters for Aotearoa New Zealand, and, most importantly, what we can do to build resilience in the face of growing uncertainty.
Wānaka organisations unite to strengthen community resilience amid global uncertainty.
A cross-sector group of community leaders, businesses, and local government representatives gathered at the Wānaka Community Hub last week to discuss how global instability
Wao Aotearoa launches Friday Bike Bus.
We have launched a new weekly Bike Bus in Albert Town as part of our wider Ride for Change programme — a six-month initiative designed to shift how students travel to school while reducing transport emissions across the Upper Clutha.
Local Youth at the Heart of Wao’s Bold 2026 Climate Strategy
Wao is doubling down on its intergenerational mission by expanding research into what resilient communities could look like 100 years from now.
Wao Podcast: Tim Jones on helping to transform businesses for the better.
You may have heard of B-corp businesses, or even investigated this for your business. That’s what this episode is all about. Tim Jones is working to guide businesses towards B Corp certification, a process that ensures companies balance profit with purpose.
Do We Have Our Eyes on the Ball? - Lessons in Collective Adaptation from the UN Adaptation Futures 2025 Conference
Monique Kelly reflects on the recent UN Adaptation Futures Conference held in Ōtautahi Christchurch, where global researchers, innovators, and community leaders gathered to share solutions for living well in a changing climate. Her reflections remind us that while the science is sobering.
Wao Podcast: From Royalty to the Southern Lakes.
Harry Lakin, Senior Mechanical Engineer at TMCo, previously managed engineering across Buckingham Palace and other royal estates. He shares insights on embodied carbon, long-term design, and lifting New Zealand’s building standards.
Your Climate Wake-Up Call: The Moment to Act Is Now
The window for action is closing fast but hope is far from lost. This year’s Wao Summit is bringing together some of Aotearoa’s brightest thinkers and boldest doers to ask one question that cuts through the noise: what will it take to truly wake up to the climate crisis and do something about it?
Wao Podcast: The three pillars to sustainable housing with Arthur Lee.
Arthur Lee is doing excellent work in the realm of sustainable housing, focusing on energy efficiency, the social impacts and affordability. His approach is not just about using renewable energy but reducing the energy demand altogether, which he believes is the best kind of energy saving.
Rewriting the Rules: Kate Meyer and the Planetary Accounting Network
As the planet pushes beyond its safe boundaries, New Zealander Kate Meyer is leading a movement to bring humanity back within them. Through the Planetary Accounting Network, she’s turning global science into practical tools that help businesses, designers, and communities measure and truly live within Earth’s limits.
Wao Podcast: High performance homes accessible to all with Matthew Cutler-Welsh.
If you’re contemplating building or renovating a home right now, this is a podcast episode for you.
Matthew Cutler-Welsh is a passionate advocate for sustainable building practices, working tirelessly to improve the health and efficiency of homes in New Zealand.
Wao Podcast: navigating New Zealand's food systems into the future with Jane Lloyd.
Jane Lloyd is a leading voice in food systems, bringing her expertise back to New Zealand to tackle pressing issues like food resilience and climate change. Her passion for creating sustainable solutions is evident as she advocates for a non-partisan approach to food system resilience, recognising its critical role in our economy and wellbeing.
Your Guide to Wao Summit in Queenstown
Wao Summit 2025 is bringing a week of inspiring events, workshops, tours, and kōrero to Queenstown. From landfill visits to breakfast sessions and walking tours, it’s your chance to connect with others, learn practical solutions, and see how our district is building a resilient future.
Partner Spotlight: Think Solar
At Wao, we believe better communities are built on connection, when locals open their doors, share their stories, and show what’s possible when we act together. That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with Think Solar as sponsor of our Community Walking Tours.
Partner Spotlight: Community Link
At Wao, we know that real change happens when communities come together and we’re incredibly grateful to have partners who embody that spirit. Community Link is one of those partners.
Food Demand in District Could Double – Even Triple – by 2050
Queenstown Lakes will need at least double - possibly triple - the food it consumes today by the mid-2050s, according to our new Food Resilience Report released this week.
Design and Build for Communities in 2125
In a time of rising material costs, shifting regulations, and a climate that is already changing, the way we design and construct buildings has never mattered more. Every choice shapes not only how our communities live, work, and thrive but also how our environment recovers and endures.
Building Businesses That Last to 2125
What does it take for a business to survive — and thrive — not just next quarter, but for the next century? That’s the question behind Wao Aotearoa’s Journey to 2125.