Latest News & Resources
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.
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.
Wao Film Night… More than just a sell out crowd.
What a night! Our latest Wao Film Night was a complete sell-out, not just one cinema, but two, with over 160 people filling the seats.
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.
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.
Ride for Change: Momentum Builds for Active Transport in the Southern Lakes.
Wao is proud to release the Ride for Change Report, showcasing the incredible impact of our recent campaign to promote active transport and low-emissions travel in the Southern Lakes region.
Wao Podcast: Regenerative farming: ecological integrity over profit.
Zeb Horrell on what happens when you combine the values of growing up on a Southland sheep farm with innovation, regenerative thinking and a focus on sustainability?
Wao Podcast: Positive medicine: four pillars of health which can transform your life.
Who ever knew that lifestyle changes can be simple and effective, and actually quite easy to do? Mark talks to Dr David Beaumont on transforming healthcare for your family - and humanity.
Wao Podcast: How to solve a housing crisis, hundreds of homes at a time.
Hint: It doesn't require foreign investment or huge government debt, and the houses are built better, to last longer, and will cost you less to build, buy and rent! Sam Stubbs tells us more in this episode.
Wao Podcast: Grassroots goodness: nourishing the community and empowering people with disabilities.
Janice Lee is an inspiration. This episode how social enterprise helps multiple layers of people, gives training and employment to people with disabilities, and solves social problems all at once.
Wao Podcast: The power of community collaboration: dark skies and fewer predators
Dr Leslie Van Gelder shares her insights on community resilience, conservation efforts, and the importance of hopefulness in challenging times.
Driving Systems Change in the Construction Industry
As 2024 concludes, we reflect on a year of systemic progress and look ahead to ambitious plans by the BBWG for 2025 that will continue to foster deep, structural change.
Leading the Charge for Systems Change in 2025.
Our mission is to shift systems—not just for today, but for the future we envision for the Southern Lakes region and beyond.