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.
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?
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.
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.
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?