Catalyst for Collective Action - SC Hui 2023
Recently, we brought together 125 people engaged in climate action from around the motu and a few internationals at our 6th Strengthening Communities Hui in Ōtepoti Dunedin.
This annual hui celebrates our partnership and shared kaupapa with Zero Waste Network Aotearoa and Community Energy Network, and brings together our members and allies to share, connect and catalyse for collective action.
Ōtepoti Dunedin put on a show with beautiful weather and our hosts at Aukaha went above and beyond to help things run smoothly. The team at St Margaret's College, where we held most of our activities and our main accommodation, were super helpful and welcoming too.
With a focus on just transition and a zero-carbon future through collective action, we got together for 3 days to connect and exchange experiences. The first day started with a mihi and our keynote presentation by Professor Janet Stephenson, a research professor at the Centre for Sustainability, an interdisciplinary research centre at the University of Otago. Her keynote approached the challenges of transitioning to a sustainable future and the influence of culture in seemingly intractable problems. The rest of the day, was mostly dedicated to our own network. We had a few presentations and discussion groups around different topics, such as Te Tiriti allyship, biodiversity and food systems, a kōrero around advocacy and government relationships, and a great panel with Georgie Ferrari, from Sustainability Trust, Liam Prince, from The Rubbish Trip and Kaicycle, and Carla from EcoMatters, on navigating the climate transition and choosing the right pathways and solutions for positive climate action.
“So many passionate amazing people we can call upon for advice, inspiration. A chance to realise in person the size of the collective! Empowering.”
The second day was our three networks collective day. Adam Currie, from 350 Aotearoa, gave us inspiration on how we can build power, and ideas to build local and national momentum on climate action. Collectively the organisations involved in the hui used our time together to develop strategy and projects for collective action. Together, there is power. It was particularly exciting to see our members working together to propose a way forward for some key climate-related issues. Liana Stupples did some awesome facilitation and MC’ing, and there were great opportunities to discuss collective action plans soon.
We were also pleased to welcome our extended whānau there too, with Repair Cafe Aotearoa NZ and Aotearoa Composters Network presenting to our members and expanding their mahi.
Shout-out to our photographer Connagh from Kaiwhakaahua Studio for capturing our hui's vibe and energy.
Ngā mihi to all our brilliant speakers, our supportive sponsors, our dedicated volunteers, interns, staff and board members, and our passionate and engaged network members for helping make this our best hui yet. Huge mihi to all of you for your commitment to climate action and to empowering community resilience.
Check out the article about the hui by Gina Dempster for the Otago Daily Times* Special thanks to Sustainability Trust for a few borrowed comments.
