What we do
He wāhi tūhāhā.
He amua whakaohooho.
A unique place.
An inspiring future.
We are living in a decade of massive change spurred on by the reality of climate change and a shift in economic paradigms. This is going to bring many challenges but also opportunities.
To adapt to the new economic and environmental reality, we will have to change the way in which we govern, work and behave. With this in mind, Wao was set up to help communities through this transition period.
Wao delivers targeted, systems-focused programmes and events designed to inspire, educate, and enable communities to transition toward a regenerative, low-emission future.
Our work centres on partnership, collaboration, and the belief that thriving communities are inseparable from a thriving environment. At our heart, we are systems thinkers, focusing on the interconnections between people, place, and planet to identify the leverage points where change has the greatest impact.
The meaning behind Wao
The forest, with its intrinsic diversity, natural regeneration and climate regulating abilities.
Wao noun
\ waʊ \ wow \
1. Māori kupu/word for forest : The forest, with its intrinsic diversity, natural regeneration and climate regulating abilities. Wao is the Māori kupu/word for forest. The forest symbolises the space between the ecological ceiling and social foundation, which we need to transition from a siloed monoculture into a self-sustaining, diverse, ecosystem. This concept aligns with our mission to inspire, educate and enable communities to accelerate towards a low emissions, healthy, thriving future and beyond.
2. Acronym WAO - Working As One : The name reflects our core values of partnership and collaboration, as well as the focus on a regenerative approach to future thinking. Within the forest, we have the different parts of the system that all interlink and work together to create a whole. For Wao, that forest is the various ecosystems within our community; tourism, building, food and fibre, hospitality, grassroots, youth, business and community.
Wao delivers targeted, systems-focused programmes and events designed to inspire, educate, and enable communities to transition toward a regenerative, low-emission future.
Our vision
Aotearoa where communities flourish in balance with te taiao, living within a thriving, diverse, and regenerative ecosystem.
Our mission
Accelerate systems change and climate action by bringing together people, groups, and organisations with the power to influence beyond themselves and activating them to drive transformative action.
Activate clusters of influence from local community groups to national networks to address climate, ecosystems & biodiversity, and social resilience.
Catalyse systems change by focusing on leverage points where small, strategic actions create ripple effects.
We believe.
Thriving communities are inseparable
from a thriving environment.
How we work
We take a systems-based approach to the delivery of our programmes and events, to understand how communities work and which levers need to be pulled or pushed to enable the transition to a regenerative future. We are writing the roadmap to climate action.
To put parameters around what a regenerative future looks like, we are inspired by a number of frameworks which interpret how this complex system works including; Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and John Fullerton’s Regenerative Economics and guided by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and our shared values as a nation.
One of the most effective levers we use is working with key groups such as youth or the business community. We facilitate and connect those working in these ecosystems, help them to develop a vision and strategy, and work towards mapping out how to reach that vision.
Finally, our focus is on building partnerships and collaboration. Forming connections is essential to creating an effective system.
Our Impact
Since 2018, we have run eight annual Summits, focused on education and youth advocacy and set up six action groups.
2024-25 was a year that saw huge growth in Wao in response to increased awareness and desire to see action within the community
Read more about our impact in our 2025 Annual Impact Report
Our Structure
Wao is a registered charitable trust based in Wānaka, New Zealand. It is a for-purpose, not-for-profit organisation run by a dedicated group of passionate volunteers. Wao was founded by Arna Craig and Monique Kelly in 2018.
Our People
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Monique Kelly
Trustee & General Manager
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Arna Craig
Trustee & Communications Director
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Ian Horne
Chair Person
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Geoff Tomkins
Board of Trustee & Treasurer
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Dr. Carly Green
Advisor
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Julia Blackford
Board of Trustee
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Claire Akin-Smith
Board of Trustee
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Alexia Preston
Wao Board Member
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Sally Norman
Wao Events Manager
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Babu Blatt
Wao Programme Manager
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Aaron Thule
Wao Programme Manager
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Kelcey Radford
Wao Programme Manager
Interested in sponsoring Wao?
By sponsoring Wao you commit to building a more sustainable future for now and for future generations.
Want to get involved?
Want to get involved?
Action groups are a great place to connect with passionate individuals in your sector, identify issues, develop an action plan and drive change. We are always looking for volunteers and human support to deliver our programmes and events. We would love to hear from you if you are keen to get involved.