Latest News & Resources
Shaping a Future Where Everyone Thrives
The opening night of the Wao Summit on 28th October is where our mission comes alive. Jpin us at Rippon Hall, surrounded by community, kai, and kōrero, as we gather to ask the essential question: what does a thriving Aotearoa look like in 2125 — and how do we start shaping it now?
Wao Podcast: Jodie Jarvis on Climate Emotions... and Summit Speaker 2025
Jodie Jarvis is doing important work in the field of climate emotion. At the University of Otago, alongside her PhD supervisor, Dr. Susan Wardell, Jodie has been pioneering workshops that delve into the emotional responses to climate change.
First Timer’s Guide to the Wao Summit
Welcome to your first Wao Summit! Whether you’re here to explore sustainability, learn how to improve your business, or engage with community resilience, this guide will help you navigate key events and make the most of your experience. This blog is a day-by-day, class-by-class breakdown, highlighting must-attend sessions for first-time attendees
Wao Podcast: If you're going to solve the climate crisis, you have to bring everyone along.
Greg Bodeker is a climate scientist with over 130 papers published in atmospheric and climate science. Greg advocates for progressive policies that reduce inequality, ensuring that the least fortunate are not left behind in the fight against climate change.
First Timer’s Guide to the Wao Summit 2024
Welcome to your first Wao Summit! Whether you’re here to explore sustainability, learn how to improve your business, or engage with community resilience, this guide will help you navigate key events and make the most of your experience. This blog is a day-by-day, class-by-class breakdown, highlighting must-attend sessions for first-time attendees
Celebrate Nature: A Family Festival of Fun, Music, and Conservation
Picture this: the majestic views of Lake Hāwea, the crisp mountain air, and a vibrant festival atmosphere alive with music, laughter, and the hum of excitement. The Festival of Nature is not just an event, but an experience that brings together the community for a day of learning, creativity, and inspiration.
2050: Who Will We Be and How Will We Feed Ourselves?
Conversations around our changing future can be slanted with a negative bent these days, and the complexity of the issues can seem overwhelming. More climate-related disasters along with an increasing population can put stresses on food, energy and infrastructure. But Wao Aotearoa director Monique Kelly likes to bring an imaginative lens when it comes to envisioning what the future might look like.
Running a Waste-Free Wao Summit: Sustainable Practices in Action
Our waste-free and emissions-conscious approach to running Wao Summit is an example of how small, mindful changes can make a big impact. By thinking sustainably in everything from catering to decor, we hope to inspire others to take these practices into their own lives and businesses. Together, we can make a difference—one waste-free event at a time.
Our Shifting World; A Focus On Migration
Our global population is on the rise. According to the UN, we could hit nearly 10.4 billion by the mid-2080s. And, as the population rises, so too does the number of people moving from where they were born.
Addressing emotional impacts of climate uncertainty.
For the first time this year, Wao Summit will be hosting a Climate Cafe specifically tailored to ease climate anxiety and openly discuss the emotional impacts for climate uncertainty.
On a mission to build food resilience.
Our region would need one Hercules aircraft to land every 21 minutes full of food to provision those in the district in case of a major event cutting road access. That is a worrying thought.