This will be an evening of cultural exploration, future probing and feasting with an eye towards the joyful and regenerative future we can create together.

Allow yourself to be led through a history of commons (rights of access to land and associated resources), their enclosure, and the potential to shape a more equitable, regenerative economy through the rediscovery of the ethos of the commons. Dr Catherine Knight is the author of An Uncommon Land and several other award-winning books exploring the relationship between people, the environment, past and future. The evening will be facilitated by Goodsense Founder and Director, Kath Dewar, who will help us share ideas and lead a discussion on how we might bring "Commoning Culture" to life on a larger scale here in Nelson Tasman.

A light meal of soup and bread will be served.

Dr Catherine Knight is an award‑winning environmental historian and author of several acclaimed books including New Zealand's Rivers: An environmental history, Beyond Manapouri: 50 years of environmental politics in New Zealand and Ravaged Beauty: An environmental history of the Manawatu. She has a strong interest in post-growth and wellbeing economy and writes on these topics on Newsroom, The Spinoff and on Substack. Catherine works in public policy and is an Honorary Research Associate at Massey University.

Her newest work, An Uncommon Land, weaves together ancestral family stories and wider social and environmental history to trace the process of enclosure and the rise of private property, and offers a compelling vision for a regenerative, re‑commoned future. Copies of 'An Uncommon Land' will be available for purchase and author signing.

Dr Catherine Knight will also present in Motueka on Monday evening on "Weaving Worlds through the Spirit of the Commons: Perspectives from te ao Māori and European worlds" with Aneika Young. More info following this link.

This event is part of the 2025 Climate Action Festival. See the full program here.

Contact the host of Can Commons Culture Make A Comeback?