Our aim is to educate, inspire and enable New Zealand communities to accelerate towards a carbon-zero, regenerative future and beyond.

he wāhi tūhāhā. he āmua whaka ohooho

We are living in a decade of massive change spurred on by the reality of climate change, a shift in economic paradigms and measures taken to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. This is going to bring many challenges and but also opportunities.

To adapt to the new economic and environmental reality, we will have the change the way that we govern, work and behave. With this in mind, WAO was set up to help communities through this transition period. We look to inspire, educate and enable communities to look towards the opportunities created by this transition and help to shape a future that looks towards not just a sustainable future, but one where we give back more than we take.

OUR VISION

We want New Zealand to be fair, regenerative, diverse and interconnected with a strong ecological ceiling & social foundation.

OUR WHY

We have a responsibility to leave this place better than we found it for the next generation.

HOW WE WORK

We take a systems based approach to understand how communities work and which levers need to be pulled or pushed to enable this transition to a regenerative future. From examination of the values based decision making to examination of which levers need to be pushed or pulled.

To put parameters around what a regenerative future looks like, we are inspired by a number of frameworks which interpret how this complex system works including Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and John Fullerton’s Regenerative Economics and guided by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and our shared values as a nation.

One of the most effective levers we use is by working with key groups such as youth or the business community. These include the food and fibre, building and wellbeing sectors. We facilitate and connect those working in these ecosystems, help them to develop a vision and strategy, and work towards mapping out how to reach that vision.

Finally, our focus is on building partnerships and collaboration. Forming connections are essential to creating an effective system.

OUR STRUCTURE

Wao is a registered charitable trust based in Wānaka, New Zealand run by a group of passionate volunteers.

OUR MISSION

  • To increase the speed at which communities can become Carbon Zero 21st Century communities.

  • To mainstream sustainability to foster thriving, diverse & interconnected environments, communities and businesses.

  • To advocate and raise awareness of climate justice, bio-sphere & environmental rights.

  • To increase community cohesion through establishment of partnership and collaboration networks.