Presentations are happening in the Forum North Te Kotahitanga Exhibition Hall and Cafler Suite.
9.00 Conference opening
9.15 Conference opening and Keynote
Rereata Makiha
Matua Rereata Makiha (Ngāti Whakaheke, Te Aupōuri, Te Arawa) was born and raised in the Hokianga. He is a renowned Māori astrologer and a leading authority on the Maramataka, The was the Senior New Zealander of the year in 2022.
Presentations are happening in the Forum North Te Kotahitanga Exhibition Hall and Cafler Suite.
9.00 Conference opening
9.15 Conference opening and Keynote
Rereata Makiha
Matua Rereata Makiha (Ngāti Whakaheke, Te Aupōuri, Te Arawa) was born and raised in the Hokianga. He is a renowned Māori astrologer and a leading authority on the Maramataka, The was the Senior New Zealander of the year in 2022.
10.30 Morning tea
11.00 Circular economy
Sara Smeath and Chris Saunders
Sara and Chris are on a mission to reduce the 12.5 million tonnes of waste going into our landfills. Their company CiRCLR, is a matchmaking platform that connects businesses with waste streams to businesses that use them. CIRClR has recently been named as one of the ten blockchain startups to watch in 2023. Sara comes with over ten years of experience building global circular economies in the fashion industry. Chris is a designer and software developer with a passion for engineering solutions.
11.30 Quantifying improvements in animal health and production in environmental terms – the untold story
Nigel Meads, All Tech
A carbon footprint is a function of inefficiencies and lost opportunity. As farmers seek to improve animal health, reproduction and productivity parameters as part of a continuous improvement programme, the carbon footprint improves by itself. Finding ways to quantify the environmental gains along with animal gains creates a lot of positive messaging for the industry. Nigel Meads currently manages the New Zealand part of a privately funded multi-national research and extension programme seeking to find better ways to manage food production challenges. Nigel completed a Master’s degree in Agricultural Science, majoring in animal nutrition from Massey University in 1997, and has been involved with Northland farms for over 10 years.
12.00 Te Tai Tokerau Climate Action Film Contest
Anna Harding
Lexi Leybourn
Olivia Garejla
Anna, Lexi, and Olivia (Creative Northland) will be presenting the winners of the 2023 Climate Action Tai Tokerau Film Contest.
12.15 Lunch
Exhibition Hall
1.15 Ocean regeneration
Glenn Edney
Hamish Clueard
These two old sea dogs will be updating us on the progress of the kelp project at Tutukākā and the wairepo chinampas on Hamish’s whanau land at Church Bay. Hamish has a lifelong connection with the Tutukākā Coast and has had careers in the fishing and construction industries. Glenn is an ocean ecologist and current PhD candidate. Both are trustees of the Te Wairua ō te Moana Ocean Spirit Trust.
1.50 NAture-BAsed Solutions for Community Resilience
Aya Morris
Aya has recently completed a Fulbright NZ Research Scholarship to Columbia Climate School in New York working with the Resilient Coastal Communities Project Team. This work also completed her Master of Sustainable Development Goals. Aya works for the Department of Internal Affairs. Aya will discuss the restoration and preservation of natural environments such as wetlands, dunes, and waterways to improve community resilience, benefit biodiversity and contribute to carbon capture.
2.25
John Hamilton (CNZM)
John’s career includes 35-years with the RNZAF including a four-year role as Chief of the Air Force and serving as equerry to the late Queen. He is now Operations Director for Ocean Flyer. Ocean Flyer has an MOU with NorthPort and Northland Inc. They plan to establish a base for operations at Northport for their electric planes. This initiative supports mitigation and adaptation by providing another link for our vulnerable transport infrastructure.
3.00 Afternoon tea
3.30 Kai and climate
Dr. Carol Peters
Charles Buenconsejo
Dr carol Peters, QSM is a Whangarei District Councillor, well known social and environmental activist and the founder of Whakaora Kai: Food Rescue Northland.
Originally from Cebu, Philippines, Charles Buenconsejo is a multi-disciplinary artist, photographer, and land cultivator now based in Whangarei. Since his migration to Aotearoa in 2016, Charles has weaved the principles of food sovereignty and agroecology with his art practice. Together with his wife, Grace, he co-founded Soil of Cultures, a collective of artists and cultural workers advocating for food sovereignty and supporting local food movement initiatives through collective action and art-making.
Carol and Charles are presenting an initiative to support the flourishing of backyard gardening.
4.05 Plenary session
Cafler Suite
1.15 EVs and Charging Infrastructure
Joe Camuso
Joe is our EVangelist. He was awarded the EECA 2019 EV Champion of the Year. He figures out ways to reduce the amount of fossil fuels we burn (and import) and how to extend the charging infrastructure. Joe is the Natural Hazards Manager at the Northland Regional Council.
1.50 Cool Cities
Scott McKenzie
Scott was raised in Mangakahia.
He is a registered architect and has worked on award winning projects across Aotearoa and in London. As of 2022 he is also a Whangārei District Councillor. Scott will be highlighting some of the ways of cooling urban heat islands and asking how Whangārei might become a cooler city in the summer.
2.25 Living Lighter on the earth
Nicola Turner
Nicola is the best-selling author and founder and creator of Mainstream Green. She engages organisations, councils and individuals in the conversation of ‘mindful consumption’ – being more conscious of how we consume and the impact we have. In practical and achievable ways, she helps kick-start and inspire sustainability journeys – it’s better for our own wellbeing and the wellbeing
of our planet and climate.
3.00 Afternoon tea
3.30 Youth Panel
Cèzanne Hamilton
Cèzanne is a passionate environmentalist. She studied environmental science and geography and has a background in environmental monitoring work. She now specialises in waste minimisation education and spends her time educating the youth in Whangārei about how we can better look after Papatūānuku.
These high school students are members of their school’s student-led environmental committee. They will share their views on how the climate crisis is shaping their world.
4.05 Plenary session (EXhibition Hall)
4.05 Student Voice (students only)
Cèzanne Hamilton
This workshop follows the Youth Panel and provides an opportunity for students, especially those involved in environmental groups to get together and share ideas.
10.30 Morning tea
11.00 Circular economy
Sara Smeath and Chris Saunders
Sara and Chris are on a mission to reduce the 12.5 million tonnes of waste going into our landfills. Their company CiRCLR, is a matchmaking platform that connects businesses with waste streams to businesses that use them. CIRClR has recently been named as one of the ten blockchain startups to watch in 2023. Sara comes with over ten years of experience building global circular economies in the fashion industry. Chris is a designer and software developer with a passion for engineering solutions.
11.30 Quantifying improvements in animal health and production in environmental terms – the untold story
Nigel Meads, All Tech
A carbon footprint is a function of inefficiencies and lost opportunity. As farmers seek to improve animal health, reproduction and productivity parameters as part of a continuous improvement programme, the carbon footprint improves by itself. Finding ways to quantify the environmental gains along with animal gains creates a lot of positive messaging for the industry. Nigel Meads currently manages the New Zealand part of a privately funded multi-national research and extension programme seeking to find better ways to manage food production challenges. Nigel completed a Master’s degree in Agricultural Science, majoring in animal nutrition from Massey University in 1997, and has been involved with Northland farms for over 10 years.
12.00 Te Tai Tokerau Climate Action Film Contest
Anna Harding
Lexi Leybourn
Olivia Garejla
Anna, Lexi, and Olivia (Creative Northland) will be presenting the winners of the 2023 Climate Action Tai Tokerau Film Contest.
12.15 Lunch
Exhibition Hall
1.15 Ocean regeneration
Glenn Edney
Hamish Clueard
These two old sea dogs will be updating us on the progress of the kelp project at Tutukākā and the wairepo chinampas on Hamish’s whanau land at Church Bay. Hamish has a lifelong connection with the Tutukākā Coast and has had careers in the fishing and construction industries. Glenn is an ocean ecologist and current PhD candidate. Both are trustees of the Te Wairua ō te Moana Ocean Spirit Trust.
1.50 NAture-BAsed Solutions for Community Resilience
Aya Morris
Aya has recently completed a Fulbright NZ Research Scholarship to Columbia Climate School in New York working with the Resilient Coastal Communities Project Team. This work also completed her Master of Sustainable Development Goals. Aya works for the Department of Internal Affairs. Aya will discuss the restoration and preservation of natural environments such as wetlands, dunes, and waterways to improve community resilience, benefit biodiversity and contribute to carbon capture.
2.25
John Hamilton (CNZM)
John’s career includes 35-years with the RNZAF including a four-year role as Chief of the Air Force and serving as equerry to the late Queen. He is now Operations Director for Ocean Flyer. Ocean Flyer has an MOU with NorthPort and Northland Inc. They plan to establish a base for operations at Northport for their electric planes. This initiative supports mitigation and adaptation by providing another link for our vulnerable transport infrastructure.
3.00 Afternoon tea
3.30 Kai and climate
Dr. Carol Peters
Charles Buenconsejo
Dr carol Peters, QSM is a Whangarei District Councillor, well known social and environmental activist and the founder of Whakaora Kai: Food Rescue Northland.
Originally from Cebu, Philippines, Charles Buenconsejo is a multi-disciplinary artist, photographer, and land cultivator now based in Whangarei. Since his migration to Aotearoa in 2016, Charles has weaved the principles of food sovereignty and agroecology with his art practice. Together with his wife, Grace, he co-founded Soil of Cultures, a collective of artists and cultural workers advocating for food sovereignty and supporting local food movement initiatives through collective action and art-making.
Carol and Charles are presenting an initiative to support the flourishing of backyard gardening.
4.05 Plenary session
Cafler Suite
1.15 EVs and Charging Infrastructure
Joe Camuso
Joe is our EVangelist. He was awarded the EECA 2019 EV Champion of the Year. He figures out ways to reduce the amount of fossil fuels we burn (and import) and how to extend the charging infrastructure. Joe is the Natural Hazards Manager at the Northland Regional Council.
1.50 Cool Cities
Scott McKenzie
Scott was raised in Mangakahia.
He is a registered architect and has worked on award winning projects across Aotearoa and in London. As of 2022 he is also a Whangārei District Councillor. Scott will be highlighting some of the ways of cooling urban heat islands and asking how Whangārei might become a cooler city in the summer.
2.25 Living Lighter on the earth
Nicola Turner
Nicola is the best-selling author and founder and creator of Mainstream Green. She engages organisations, councils and individuals in the conversation of ‘mindful consumption’ – being more conscious of how we consume and the impact we have. In practical and achievable ways, she helps kick-start and inspire sustainability journeys – it’s better for our own wellbeing and the wellbeing
of our planet and climate.
3.00 Afternoon tea
3.30 Youth Panel
Cèzanne Hamilton
Cèzanne is a passionate environmentalist. She studied environmental science and geography and has a background in environmental monitoring work. She now specialises in waste minimisation education and spends her time educating the youth in Whangārei about how we can better look after Papatūānuku.
These high school students are members of their school’s student-led environmental committee. They will share their views on how the climate crisis is shaping their world.
4.05 Plenary session (EXhibition Hall)
4.05 Student Voice (students only)
Cèzanne Hamilton
This workshop follows the Youth Panel and provides an opportunity for students, especially those involved in environmental groups to get together and share ideas.
Climate Action Tai Tokerau 