The Necessities of a Good Life
21 and 22 October 2026, Forum North, Whangārei
Conference Kaupapa
How do we build a future where everyone has what they need to thrive? The 2026 Climate Action Conference explores the intersection of climate action and community wellbeing, specifically through the lens of kai, energy independence, and resilience.
The conference is free to attend. We figure the conference will cost about $120 per person. If you want to koha to help cover the costs please make a deposit into the Climate Change Tai Tokerau Northland Trust Kiwibank Account: 38-9026-0799376-00. Please include your name so we can issue a tax exemption receipt.
Conference programme
Note: The conference programme under development.
The conference schedule is below. Follow the links for more detail for day one and day two.
Day One Wednesday 21st October
DAY ONE PRESENTATIONS
Presentations are happening in the Forum North Te Kotahitanga Exhibition Hall.
For more details and speaker bios see here.
DAY ONE MORNING PRESENTATIONS
| 9.00 | Conference opening and whakatau |
| 9.15 | Conference kaupapa, Carol Peters, Peter Bruce-Iri, and Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn |
| 9.30 | Our kai sovereignty strategy, Lizzie Shupak-Mandeno |
| 10.00 | He Kai Kei Aku Ringa: Food is Medicine, Dr Lily George |
| 10.30 | Morning tea and kōrero |
| 11.00 | Farm to Plate, Nick Keene of Schnappa Rock |
| 11.30 | Regenerative farms and orchards, Stephen Newman |
| 12.00 | Climate Action Film Contest Awards |
Lunch 12.30 to 1.30.
DAY ONE WORKSHOPS
The afternoon programme includes workshops designed to generate action. Only two workshop slots are scheduled. The workshops will be followed by a plenary session during which actions generated in the workshops can be shared.
Workshops are happening in the Forum North Te Kotahitanga Exhibition Hall, Cafler Suite and Bounty Room.
| 1.30 to 2.30 | Workshop one Exhibition Hall workshop: Kai Sovereignty Strategy, Lizzie Shupak Mandeno |
| 2.30 to 3.00 | Afternoon tea |
| 3.00 to 4.00 | Workshop two Exhibition Hall workshop: Kai Sovereignty Strategy (continued) Cafler Suite 1: Renewed Energies: Systems Thinking in a Time of Transition, John Baldridge Cafler Suite 2: Inner Development Goals, Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn Bounty Room: Making climate music |
| 4.00 to 4.30 | Plenary (in the Great Exhibition Hall) |
Day Two, Thursday 22nd October
For more details and speaker bios see here.
DAY TWO MORNING PRESENTATIONS
| 9.00 | Aotearoa’s energy future, Matt Newman, Rewiring Aotearoa |
| 9.20 | Kaitiakitanga and renewable energy in Te Tai Tokerau, Aston Plunket |
| 9.30 | Resilience and adaptation panel |
| 10.00 | The NRC Climate Resilience Communities Fund Showcase |
| 10.30 | Morning tea and kōrero |
| 11.00 | Youth Panel |
| 11.30 | General Election Candidate Panel |
Lunch 12.30 to 1.30.
DAY TWO WORKSHOPS
| 1.30 to 2.30 | Workshop three: Exhibition Hall workshop: Citizen Assemblies, Rakesh Pinao Cafler Suite 1: Creating a wild kai recipe book, Dr. Carol Peters Cafler Suite 2: Spiritual Solutions for Healing the Climate , Peter Bruce-Iri Bounty Room: Making climate music (continued) |
| 2.30 to 3.00 | Afternoon tea and kōrero |
| 3.00 | Plenary and forward planning |
| 4.00 | Conference close |
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Email events@northlandclimatechange.org with any questions.