Under construction – more details to follow.
Presentations
9.00 Keynote: Renewables equity and inclusive innovation
How do we make the transition to net zero fair for everyone in our communities? Could starting small and enabling communities to cooperate deliver a better outcome?
Glenn Sutherland
Glenn Sutherland spent most of his career as a senior leader at Gentrack, a New Zealand company providing leading utilities across the world with innovative cleantech solutions. Since trying to retire Glenn is now involved with delivering social impact outcomes with Nau Mai Ra, a New Zealand based energy retailer specialising in supporting our underserved whanau. Glenn is passionate about alleviating energy poverty. He lives in Maunu with his whanau.
9.40 Panel: Engaging in climate Kōroro
Panel moderator, Craig Neilson
We have the technology we need to heal the climate available now and in the pipeline. But before we can make a major impact we need more people thinking about the climate crises and being ready for action. Conversations and engagement are vitally important as a prerequisite for action.
10.10 The role of people power in systems change for future generations
Sophie Hanford (by video link)
Sophie Handford is a prominent climate activist and community leader best known as a national coordinator for the School Strike 4 Climate (SS4C) movement. She played a pivotal role in mobilizing tens of thousands of young people across the country to participate in climate strikes, advocating for urgent government and societal action to address the climate crisis. Sophie’s leadership and advocacy have focused on empowering youth voices, emphasizing intergenerational collaboration, and pushing for systemic changes to achieve a sustainable and equitable future. In addition to her climate activism, she is committed to local community engagement, serving as a councillor for the Kāpiti Coast District Council, where she continues to champion climate resilience and sustainability initiatives. Her work reflects a passionate dedication to building a climate-conscious, inclusive, and empowered society.
10.40 Morning tea and Kōrero
11.10 Shorts: Glenn Edney Kelp nursery update
Glenn Edney
Glenn spoke at our 2023 conference and is here to give an update on progres with the kelp nursery at Tūtūkākā.
Glenn is an ocean ecologist and current PhD candidate. You will never find him far from the sea. He is a trustee of the Te Wairua ō te Moana Ocean Spirit Trust and author of The Ocean is Alive.
11.20 Shorts: The Ruka MArine Turbine
Millan Ruka
Imagine if we had renewable energy technology developed here powered by the incessant flows of our rivers and sea. Millan Ruka (NZOM) is developing this technology.
Millan Ruka established the Environmental River Patrol to document and report pollution to local councils in Northland. He has a strong understanding of how the Resource Management Act processes are implemented ‘on the ground’ and the perspectives of freshwater users. Millan is also involved in advocacy and governance for his hapū in Poroti and Mangakahia.
11.30 Shorts: Inner Development Goals
Peter Bruce-Iri, Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn and Carol Peters
Whangārei now has an Inner Development Goal (IDGs) Hub. The people who set up the SDGs realised that we are not going to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals without doing the inner work first. This short introduction precedes the afternoon workshop.
11.40 Youth panel
Panel moderator, Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn
Our young people will be impacted by the meta-crisis more than most. The young people on the panel are actively involved in climate action. The panel facilitator will pose questions to the panelists.
Susannah Hovell
Whangārei Girls High School
Stella Moreton
Whangārei Girls High School
Nia Morgan Tipene
Te Kāpehu Whētu
12.10 Lunch
Afternoon workshops 1.10 to 2.10
Exhibition Hall: Energy independence
Glenn Sutherland.
Following the morning presentation, Glenn asks “Could Northland lead the way in community-based renewable energy and alleviating energy poverty?”
Cafler Suite One: Artificial Intelligence and climate
Sean Stanley
This workshop will have some hands on exploration of AI so please bring a device, or work with someone on a shared laptop. Please also ensure that you have access to an AI agent, such as ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Co-Pilot or Google’s Gemini.
Use AI to make newsletters, analyse new government legislation, and how to make your own shortcuts. The workshop will be valuable for those wanting to better monitor their projects and initiatives, or provide helpful resources for their Discord/Telegram/Facebook groups.
At just 21 years old Sean Stanley used his software skills to set up the Whangārei Food Co-op, a community initiative aimed at providing affordable and healthy food options to local residents. Under his leadership, the co-op focused on reducing food insecurity and promoting community well-being by connecting producers with consumers. Sean continues to use his tech development skills to support community development projects and start-up opportunities.
Cafler Suite two: Roots so Deep Movie (part Four)
Guided by director and wrangler of scientists Peter Byck, Roots So Deep (you can see the devil down there) is a four-part documentary series that explores the world of adaptive cattle farmers and their conventional farming neighbors. Alongside this journey, a team of pioneering scientists conduct groundbreaking research, investigating the costs and benefits of grazing practices in harmony with nature versus those in conflict with it.
We will show the last part of the documentary in this time slot.
Bounty Room: Climate choir
Lee Morunga
Join the climate choir to learn to sing a few songs together. There are two sessions each day, and the choir will sing during the plenary session.
Local resident Lee Morunga returns after 20 years in Europe, America and Australia touring as a musician. Now back in her home town, she hopes to share her experiences and love for music in our community.
2.10 to 2.40 Afternoon tea
Afternoon workshops 2.40 to 3.40
Exhibition Hall: Inner Development GOALS
Dr. Carol Peters, Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn, Peter Bruce-Iri
The Inner Development Goals (IDGs) are introduced in the morning session. This workshop poses questions for reflection about them.
- What activities would you be interested in to promote the goals?
- How do these goals show up in your life?
- Can you identify anyone that exemplifies any of the 23 skills and what difference does it make?
Cafler Suite One: Next Steps Workshop
Rakesh Pinao
In this session Rakesh will be your guide as you explore what next. You’ll harness the wisdom of the day and tap into your aspirations for future. First in quiet self reflection, then in small discussion and finally by connecting it all together into a shared neural network of action.
As a science graduate and meteorologist he has studied the science of our climate system, as a project manager he has traversed the challenges of making change, and as a citizen he has ridden the journey of hope and disappointment of global efforts to place people and planet at the centre of our decision-making. Rakesh works on regional climate change adaptation at the Northland Regional Council working primarily to establish and maintain climate partnerships with district councils, iwi/hapu groups, and national agencies.
Cafler Suite two: Voting with your dollars
Debbie and Ngahau Davis
Ngahau grew up in the rural community of Moerewa in the mid north, Deb hails from Wairoa (Hawkes Bay) and grew up in the small community of Morere just south of Gisborne. They both have worked for the last three decades in the small community of Moerewa and have worked on many different kaupapa across Te Taitokerau.
Their experiences cover rural Māori community development – building social enterprise projects, challenging social justice issues and many other collaborations locally, regionally and across the motu.
They both bring a unique lens in working in the collaborative space that is based in tikanga and whakawhanaungatanga – how they have practiced their mahi for the many years alongside a team of dedicated and talented people from their community.
They are very much believers in strengthening the local builds strong regions and sustainable growth – one of their favorite whakatauaki is
“He kai kei aku ringa”
“There is food in our hands”
Our abilities and resources are abundant
Bounty Room: Climate Choir
(See above)
Climate Action Tai Tokerau 