Wao Summit Event Programme
Te Taiao Day
Wānaka has long been renowned as a place of learning.
Day One of Wao Summit 2026 invites us to reconnect with the meaning of place by stepping back to see the bigger picture.
Featuring an exceptional line up of leading academics, researchers and thought leaders, the day explores the interconnected systems that shape our world through the lenses of climate, health, systems thinking, nature, resources and democracy. Challenging assumptions and expanding perspectives, this is the event you never knew you needed, offering the knowledge, context and inspiration to better understand an increasingly complex world and our place within it.
DAY PROGRAMME
Tuesday 27 October 2026
9:30AM: Morning Tea & Coffee
10:00AM: Welcome with Monique Kelly
10:15AM: The Environmental Costs of our Choices
10:30AM: Systems not Silos
11:15AM: The Planet is Running a Fever
12:00PM: Te Taiao Lunch
1:00PM: Beyond Climate
1:45PM: Investing in Nature
2:30PM: Afternoon Tea
3:00PM: Critical Minerals: At What Cost?
3:45PM: The Afterlife of Plastics
5:30PM: Once Were Farmers Photography Exhibition & Green Drinks
6:30PM: Evening Kōrero - The Election Conversation (separate Kōrero ticket required. Te Taiao Passholders receive a $5 discount - purchase as a ticket add-on via Humantix after selecting your day pass to receive the discount )
Schedule subject to change, any updates will be communicated here and to ticket holders.
SESSION DETAILS - CLICK ON A SESSION FOR FULL DETAILS
Better Business Day
Better Business Day brings together visionary leaders, practical thinkers and purpose-driven businesses to explore what leadership looks like in a rapidly changing world. Through workshops, inspiring conversations and real-world examples, discover how hope, innovation and purpose can help create resilient businesses, stronger communities and a thriving future for generations to come.
Read more about the Better Business Day in this blog post by Kelcey Radford, Better Business and Events Programme Manager at Wao.
DAY PROGRAMME
Wednesday 28 October 2026
7:00AM: Morning Flow (optional)
8:30AM: The Networking Breakfast
9:00AM: Designing Hopeful Futures
11:00AM: Morning Tea
11:30PM: Built to Adapt
12:30PM: Better Business Lunch
1:30PM: Innovation vs. Consent: Who Is Technology Really For?
2:15PM: Planetary Insights: Beyond Carbon
2:45PM: Afternoon Tea
3:15PM: Business as a Force for Good
5:30pm: Evening Green Drinks & Kōrero - The Age of Complexity: Navigating an Interconnected World(separate Kōrero ticket required. Better Business Day Passholders receive a $5 discount - purchase as a ticket add-on via Humantix after selecting your day pass to receive the discount)
Schedule subject to change, any updates will be communicated here and to ticket holders.
SESSION DETAILS - CLICK ON A SESSION FOR FULL DETAILS
Better Building Day
Hosted this year at Rippon Hall, the Better Building Day brings together architects, builders, designers, local government, developers and changemakers to explore how we can build better. From healthier materials, circular design, nature positive development and values led leadership, our speakers and experts will set out the future direction of the industry. The day will end with a tour of some of Wānaka's inspiring local projects that are redefining what it means to build well. A day for the entire building industry to gather and shape future development.
Read more about the day in this blog post by Olivia Bonifant, Better Building Programme Manager at Wao.
Professional development: NZIA-registered Better Building Day pass holders are eligible for 50 CPD points. Unlimited Festival Pass holders are eligible for 100 CPD points. Check out the FAQ page for more information. LBP points can also be claimed by pass holders..
DAY PROGRAMME
Thursday 29 October 2026
7:30AM - 8.45AM: Better Building Brekkie & Trade Show
9:00AM - 12.00PM: Speaker Presentations
Morning Tea
Regeneration: A Positive Action We Can All Take In This Time
Designing with Māori and Pacific Values
12:00pm - 1.00PM: Better Building Networking Lunch
1:00pm - 5.00pm: Better Building Tour
5:30pm - 8.00PM: Green Drinks & Evening Kōrero - The Future of Energy (separate Kōrero ticket required. Better Building Passholders receive a $5 discount - purchase as a ticket add-on via Humantix after selecting your day pass to receive the discount)
Schedule subject to change, any updates will be communicated here and to ticket holders.
PASS OPTIONS
SESSION DETAILS - CLICK ON A SESSION FOR FULL DETAILS
Food Resilience Day: Tour
How do we build a food system that can nourish people and the planet for generations to come? Explore food resilience through the lenses of whenua, community, tourism, education, growing, energy and circularity.
Our tour starts by bus from Frankton into Queenstown and aboard the historic steamship TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm, visiting inspiring local initiatives, meeting the people driving change and discovering practical ideas for creating thriving, locally connected food systems.
Read more about the day in this blog post by Babu Blatt, Food Resilience Programme Manager at Wao.
We encourage Wānaka participants to carpool to Frankton.
DAY PROGRAMME
Friday 30 October 2026
8:15AM: Transport by coach and boat: Frankton to Queenstown Wharf, then onwards to Walter Peak onboard the TSS Earnslaw. Workshops held in the Walter Peak Woolshed.
9:45AM: Welcome by RealNZ: Discover how tourism and stewardship come together at Walter Peak to create lasting value for people, place and future generations.
10:00AM: Changing the Narrative: What does it mean to feed ourselves from the whenua? Explore food resilience through mātauranga, seed saving, traditional growing practices, community knowledge and adaptation.
10:20AM: The Power of Partnership: Food resilience is built through partnerships. Discover how collaboration is strengthening food security and unlocking local solutions to feed our communities.
10:40AM: Morning Tea provided by Walter Peak
11:00AM: Agents of Change: Discover what enables communities and organisations to lead transformation across New Zealand's food and fibre production system, drawing on insights from the Agents of Change research.
11:15AM: Soil, Animal and Human Health: Discover how soil biology and integrated livestock can restore farm ecosystems, strengthen food quality and support the health of animals, people and planet.
11:30AM: Walter Peak kitchen garden visit, with Gardens Team Leader Finley Watkins
Transport by boat and coach: Walter Peak - Queenstown Wharf - Queenstown Primary School. Lunch will be served on the boat.
1:00PM: Future Food Citizens: What we teach children today shapes tomorrow's food system. Discover how hands-on food education is growing resilient, healthy and connected communities.
1:45PM: Harvesting Energy: Food and energy are deeply connected. Learn how on farm solar, agrivoltaics and biological energy systems can strengthen resilience and productivity.
Transport by coach: Queenstown Primary School to Harvest Community Garden
2:15PM: Cultivating Community: Growing food grows communities. Discover how commercial gardens, community initiatives and local food networks are strengthening resilience, connection and belonging.
Transport by coach: Harvest Community Garden (Gordon rd) to Waste to Wilderness - via Arthur's Point Orchard
3:30PM: Closing the Loop: What does a truly circular food system look like? Discover how nutrient cycling and composting can regenerate both soils and communities.
Transport by coach: Waste to Wilderness, back to Frankton.
4:30PM: Tour ends
Schedule subject to change, any updates will be communicated here and to ticket holders.
PASS OPTIONS
TOUR SESSIONS - CLICK ON A SESSION FOR FULL DETAILS
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.
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.
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.
Better Building Day - Luggate & Wānaka
Wao Summit offers a full day programme for building industry professionals that focuses on innovative approaches to sustainable construction and design. Attendees will gain insights into the latest developments and technologies for better building, network with leaders in the field, and learn how to integrate these practices into their projects, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future. The south island event for the building sector.
Better Business Day - Wānaka
The WAO Summit offers business owners a unique opportunity to revolutionise their approach to business by learning how to operate with greater purpose and sustainability. Attendees will explore cutting-edge sustainable practices that not only enhance profitability but also contribute positively to the environment and society.
Future Food Systems - Glendhu Bay, Wānaka
An update on the local Queenstown Lakes Food Resilience project, along with a forum to share, learn, and collaborate on food resilience efforts nationwide. This will be followed by a facilitated brainstorming session to explore how we can create a national network for a resilient, people-focused, and environmentally sustainable food system.
Glendhu Worm Farm - Glendhu Bay, Wānaka
Food Resilience in action: the Glendhu Worm Farm
Food Models Redefined - Glendhu Bay, Wānaka
Sesin Two: Speakers will discuss how they are exploring ways to create better food system.
From The Soil Up - Glendhu Bay, Wānaka
Session 1 From the Soil Up: Celebrating our local food heroes—ranging from urban and community gardeners to regenerative dairy farmers. This session is focused on those building the soil.
Food resilience at the grassroots level: hear from two local initiatives, the Hawea Food Forest and Grow Wānaka.
Regenerative Agriculture - A Form Of Constructive Activism: Mark Anderson shares his journey realigning his Waiwera dairy farm to work alongside nature.
Food Resilience Day - Glendhu Bay, Wānaka
If you are passionate about Food Resilience, the WAO Summit 2024 is an unmissable event. This full day session brings together leading experts, innovators, and community leaders to explore what the next version of our food system could look like. You'll have the opportunity to learn about grassroots growing, regenerative agriculture practices, and innovative approaches to increasing food resilience. The facilitated session asks the big question - how we can create a national network to advance together towards a resilient, ecosystem focused food system.