Wao Summit Event Programme
Better Business Day
Unlock a full day of inspiring, actionable sessions exploring how business can be a powerful force for environmental and social regeneration. From the emerging world of biodiversity credits and place-based conservation in the mountains, to emotionally intelligent leadership and future-ready sustainability strategy, you'll gain insights and tools to lead with impact. Whether you're in business, tourism, finance, or governance, this is your invitation to build better—together.
Making Sense of Sustainability
Cut through the noise. This interactive session unpacks what sustainability and ESG really mean in business—and how to turn them into tools for strategic advantage.
Better Building Day
Better Building Day at the Wao Summit is the South Island’s premier event for builders, architects, and industry professionals, showcasing the latest in sustainable construction and design.
Climate Action - Reading the Critical Signals, Wānaka
As the state and markets retreat from covering climate risks, communities are left to shoulder the burden of resilience. This session explores how we can expand community commons, drawing on insights from the Critical Signals project to prepare for an era of rapid change and cascading disruptions.
Climate Action - Reading the Critical Signals, Queenstown
As the state and markets retreat from covering climate risks, communities are left to shoulder the burden of resilience. This session explores how we can expand community commons, drawing on insights from the Critical Signals project to prepare for an era of rapid change and cascading disruptions.
Better Communities Weekend
Explore what it means to create regenerative, connected, and resilient communities. This day features a self-guided walking tour, a hands-on climate workshop, a session on working with nature to manage water and reduce risk, among others. Wrap up the day with an inspiring community film night on regeneration and action. A powerful day for anyone who cares about the future we’re building, together.
Climate Club’s Ripple Workshop: Understanding Climate & Imagining Our Future
This workshop is about taking a step back and understanding the causes and consequences of climate change. It brings people together through an interactive format that encourages people to creatively arrive at solutions to the climate crisis together.
Zine for Change: Crafting Climate Action
Create a climate action zine using collage and creativity. Explore local issues, express your vision and leave inspired to spark change. All ages welcome.
The State of Our Climate
Join Dr. Greg Bodeker for a kōrero on the intersection of growth limits and the climate crisis. He will explore the impacts of a neoliberal capitalist economy and discuss alternative pathways for systemic, sustainable change.
Building Better Builders' Breakfast - Wānaka
Join us for the Launch of the "This is How We Build" Campaign. Enjoy a coffee and food and listen to some of the local builders talk about their moves to reduce waste in the industry and lower their footprint.
Rethinking Economics - Queenstown
Look beyond GDP and explore what an economy where people and nature thrive looks like, and more importantly, what steps are needed to put this into action.