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. The headline film Think Like a Forest sparked powerful reflections, and the panel kōrero that followed dove straight into the heart of what’s needed most: bold, urgent policy change to meet the scale of the climate challenge.

We also had the privilege of premiering WAI Wānaka’s latest short film, Water is Life — a deep dive into the stages, pressures, and impacts of the Upper Clutha water cycle and what we can all do to make a difference. A huge thank you to WAI Wānaka for joining us, to David Norton and Simon Miller from Pure Advantage for their generous insights during the panel, and to José Cranfield from Wai Wānaka for moderating the kōrero so thoughtfully.

If you missed out, you can watch Think Like a Forest on the Pure Advantage website or on TVNZ. Even better, you can host your own community screening, just reach out to Pure Advantage to make it happen.

And the journey doesn’t stop there. We’re bringing Think Like a Forest back to Wao Summit 2025 — complete with a live panel featuring Simon, David, and Sam — alongside another powerful climate documentary: ACTionism. Two films, two urgent conversations, one platform for change.

Photo Credit: Deanna Gerlach