Sustainability for all: WAO 2021

The WAO Summit 2021 is officially underway – but it’s not too late to get tickets to the many events on offer this week.

The Summit is all about mainstreaming sustainability and encouraging diversity, bringing people from all industries together to create and foster social and environmental change at every level.  With over 40 different kōrero, workshops, films and tours - all designed to help us help the planet - there really is something for everyone!  We have highlighted a selection of events below, but visit https://wao.co.nz/gettickets to take a look at the full programme.

Want to know more about the changes afoot at all levels of society, and how you can be involved?  Join the discussion It's Your Future (Climate Action and How to Get Involved) on Wednesday.  Facilitated by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Lead Author Dr. Carly Green, the panel of experts will look at how the new generation is taking action, intergenerational climate action in Aotearoa and our climate commitments.

Fancy Friday night at the movies?  Documentary For The Blue shows how plastic pollution is damaging our environment.  The creators, who will also be part of a discussion after the film, have spent the last three years documenting their journey, spending time in places like Hawaii, Malaysia and at home here in New Zealand.  They speak to people who are leading the plastic free movement, whilst documenting how we can all be part of the solution.

An inspiring activity for the whole family is the Sustainable Communities Tour on Saturday – a chance to explore what’s being done in Wānaka to support energy efficiency, sustainable building techniques, local food resilience and the impacts of urban life on biodiversity.  This guided 26km circuit will visit 15 locations – including our own Community Hub - which make this town a thriving, sustainable community.  You will be placed in groups based on your preferred mode of travel - push bike, electric bike or electric vehicle*, starting and finishing at the Lake Wānaka Centre.

For those with interest in regenerative farming, there’s also the opportunity to take a full day tour of some of our local producers around the Upper Clutha basin with Food & Fibre Farm Tours.  See how farms are using technology to stay ahead of the change, regenerate our environment and produce nutritious food to support our lifestyles.  A native tree is planted for every ticket purchase by the team at WAI Wānaka!

We’d also like to remind those who have not yet completed WAO’s ‘Get SMART, Get Moving’ survey to do so this week.  The survey will help identify the barriers and opportunities for more sustainable modes of transport in the Southern Lakes.  The final few questions are focused on how residents of the Upper Clutha would use a subsidised community shuttle trial connecting outlying communities with Wānaka township, which LINK Upper Clutha is currently scoping. 

Community Networks and LINK, your one-stop community support and connection centre.

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