Climate Action Week - Marlborough 2025

Climate Action Week - Marlborough, Monday 24th February - Friday 28th February 2025

Resilience in Action: Building Regenerative Communities through Climate Innovation and Nature-Based Solutions

Our Mission

Climate Action Marlborough is dedicated to driving climate action and impact in the Marlborough region by fostering collaboration, promoting education, and inspiring actionable change within the business community. We aim to create a resilient and thriving future for our community through innovative climate solutions and regenerating practices.

Our Vision

Our vision is a Marlborough where businesses lead the way in climate stewardship, contributing to a healthy environment, a vibrant economy, and a high quality of life. We envision a future where positive environmental practices are integral to business operations, where environmental consciousness is a core value, and where the community is united in the effort to combat climate change and protect our natural resources.

Climate Action Week launched in February 2023 to bring the Marlborough business community together to create awareness, enhance education and take action through the exploration of topics including carbon, water, waste, bio-diversity, innovation, land use and many other topics to support our transition to a low carbon emissions but highly thriving and productive community.

We have brought together over 600 businesses from Marlborough, Nelson Tasman and Canterbury to listen, learn, share, discover and grow into this space collectively, knowing that the learning journey is all relatively new for many of us. These businesses have represented forestry, viticulture, horticulture, agriculture, farming, finance, accounting, insurance, associations, nutrition, food, fashion, aquaculture, fisheries and aviation. 

From listed companies to sole traders and every one in between.

Monday 24th February 2025

FINANCING OUR TRANSITION TO A CLIMATE POSITIVE ECONOMY

Hosted at Lansdowne Pavillion, Lansdowne St

8:30 - 9am - Arrival and connection

9:00am - 9:15am - Catherine van der Meulen, Climate Action Marlborough welcome

9:15am - 10:15am - MP Stuart Smith - Climate Adaptation Inquiry

Presentation, discussion and Questions & Answers

10:15am - 11am - Morning tea (supplied by Kaiaka Catering with a focus on Plant-Rich meaningful meals)

11am - 12:30pm - Collaboration session - Thinking Big, Acting local - Rethinking our approach to financing the future, facilitated by Liz Webb from Practics

12:30pm - 1pm - Catherine van der Meulen - "Prioritising funding for Nature Based Solutions" - key learnings from NL2120

1pm - 2pm - Lunch (supplied by Kaiaka Catering with a focus on Plant-Rich meaningful meals)

2pm - 3:30pm - Round table discussions

1. & Bloom - Sydney Straver "Nature positive investment"

2. CarbonTrail - Tom Hallam and Warren McNabb (Angel Investors Marlborough)

“Make sustainability your superpower, in NZ and beyond”
The story behind CarbonTrail’s growth, enabled by the Angel Investment Marlborough team, as well as how the push for better reporting worldwide is opening up new opportunities for forward thinking businesses here in Aotearoa.

3. ASB Bank "Creating Resilient economies" - Chloe Kwak and Jennifer Bourne

4. Angel Investors Marlborough "Funding the future through innovative solutions" - Brian Dawson

5. Sparrow Global - "Understanding access to Horizon EU funding" Joanna Costello

6. Marlborough District Council "Marlborough Economic Wellbeing Strategy - evolution, impacts, learnings and opportunities to create deeper impact in our business community" - Dorien Vermaas

3:30 - 4:15pm - Sebastian Chapman, Seedling - "Collective financing"

Seedling is committed to supporting the the next generation of farmers to get into the next generation of farming, knowing that we we have the solutions to our climate and biodiversity problems, it's now a finance problem to get these solutions in place.

4:15pm - 5:30 pm - Partner matchmaking - Supported by Yealands by connecting diverse people from across our business community to bring values aligned people together to create deeper and faster impact.

Tuesday 25th February 2025

RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR IMPACT

Hosted at Yealands Estate Winery (Cnr Seaview and Reserve Roads New Zealand Seddon)

Start time: 8:30am arrival for a 9am start

Come and spend time connecting with our beautiful business community before the day kicks off.

9am - 9:15am - Catherine van der Meulen, Climate Action Marlborough founder opening remarks and plan for the day

9:15am - 10am - Lindsay Wood, Resilienz "Catching up from falling behind on getting ahead: playing leapfrog with our understanding of the energy transition"

10am - 10:45am - Morning Tea (Curated by Sander and the team at Kaiaka Catering) 

We are committed to weaving the principles of Plant Rich Meaningful Meals into Climate Action Week Marlborough

10:45am - 12:15pm - Electrify Marlborough Collaboration Session, hosted and supported by Rewiring Aotearoa's Jaydan Salzke, supported by Toyota Blenheim

"The Marlborough business community needs to lead the region’s energy transition away from fossil fuel machines and upgrade to efficient electric alternatives. For households, businesses and the region, this will result in cost and emissions savings as well as increase resilience. How might we Electrify Marlborough?"

12:15pm - 1:15pm - Yealands Energy story supported by Marlborough Lines Limited

Andree Piddington - The Yealands solar story - from the early days to working with the new solar plant and virtual power network, 

Ray Brown - Marlborough’s Electricity Supply, Fossil Fuel Decarbonisation and Electrification

Nikolasi Fonua -  Energy Marlborough Ltd’s solar story and technical overview of the Seaview Solar Farm

1:15pm - 2pm - Lunch curated by Kaiaka Catering with a commitment to Plant Rich Meaningful Meals

2pm - 3pm - Immersion Experience at Yealands the Seaview Solar Farm exploring the Marlborough Lines Ltd new solar array (Closed toe shoes and high vis required for access)

3pm - 4:30pm - Round table discussions hosted by:

1. Harrison's Solar - Jono Underwood

The importance of both smart and high quality solar photovoltaic products to ensure both short and long term benefits are achieved.

2. Yealands Estate Wines - Andree Piddington

3. Climate Karanga Marlborough - Tom Powell, Energy Resilience - how businesses can handle power and fuel supply outages

4. Novology - Yachal Upson - The Energy Mirror: Reflecting on Power, Purpose and Potential in the Renewable Transition

5. BraveTrace - Tim Street

​“Renewable Power Purchases”
BraveTrace's purpose is to accelerate the renewable transition. While energy powers everything we do, how we use it and how we procure it matter. Our established system equips you to confidently claim the energy you are using is matched with verified renewable sources. In doing this, you are showing your commitment to sustainability, your support for renewable energy generation, and a greener future for Aotearoa.

6. Jaydan Salzke, Rewiring Aotearoa

Whakahiko te ao - electrifying everything.

We can all take part in building an electrified future for New Zealand where every Kiwi saves money on energy bills, reduces their carbon emissions and has the resilience to keep their lights on.

4:30pm - 5:30pm - Partner matchmaking - Supported by Yealands by connecting diverse people from across our business community to bring values aligned people together to create deeper and faster impact

Wednesday 26th February 2025 - hosted at Rangitane Centre, Grovetown

1 Fell Street, Grovetown, Blenheim

NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS 

Start time: 8:30am - 9am - Connectivity

9am - 9:15am - Catherine van der Meulen, Climate Action Marlborough Welcome and plan for the day

9:15am - 9:30am - International Keynote Speaker: Jonathan Foley, Executive Director - Project Drawdown

Global food production — from meat to grains — accounts for a third of all greenhouse gas emissions, says sustainability scientist Jonathan Foley. He presents a portfolio of data-backed solutions to build a better food system world-wide, starting with four key steps to cut emissions.

9:30 - 10:15am - International speaker: Patricia Cruz, The Nature Conservancy, Colombia - Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Colombia: Challenges, opportunities  and community driven approaches

10:15am - 10:45am - Morning tea curated by Sander and the team at Kaiaka Catering with a focus on Plant rich meaningful meals

10:45 - 12:15pm - Collaboration session: Sustainability and exports are most important to NZTE: this Collaboration Session will explore How might New Zealand exporters lead the world on sustainability and in doing so minimise risk and maximise value - for people, planet and the economy, supported by NZTE and Hosted by: Liz Webb, Practics

12:15pm - 1:45pm - Round Table Discussions 

1. Variegate - Michelle Barry "Land use diversification marketplace"

2. Envirofarms - Tracy Taylor "The effects of farming activities on the environment (water, soil and ecosystems) discussing ways that farmers, growers and landowners can mitigate those effects." 

3. New Zealand Fire and Emergency - Steve Triggs and Lewis Jones "Low flammability plants"

4. Marlborough District Council - Jamie Sigmund, Water our greatest ally "Hazards, Risks and Adaptation and what this means for Marlborough - Sea level rise, floods and groundwater" 

5. NZ2125 - Catherine van der Meulen- "A portfolio of Nature Based solutions to mitigate risk to your organisation - key learnings from NL2120"

6. Glen Orkney Farm (Awatere Valley) - Simon Harvey "Nature inclusive farming"

1:45pm - 2:30pm - Lunch boxes to travel to Pyramid Farms (carpooling)

Address: 217 Avondale Rd, Waihopai Valley

2:30pm - 4:30pm - Immersion Experience: Pyramid Farms with Southern Valley Viticulture, Richard Hunter and Chris Dawkins, Farm Circuit exploring Forestry, Natives, Sheep and Beef and 3 vineyards planted in 2016, 2020 and 2024, each with diverse landscapes and systems

4:30pm - 5:15pm - Return to Blenheim

Thursday 27th February 2025

CIRCULARITY 

Hosted at Hortus Village Recreational Centre (3043 State Highway 1, Blenheim)

Start time: 8:30am - 9:00 - connection 

9:00am - 9:15am - Catherine van der Meulen, Climate Action Marlborough welcome and plan for the day

9:15am- 10:00am - Keynote Speaker - Des Casey, Author "Nature's Future, Our Future"

Order your copy of his book online here and you can pick it up at the event

10:00am - 11:30am - Collaboration session - Designing circular solutions for waste in the Top of the South, hosted by New Zealand King Salmon, facilitated by Vaughan Broderick - Centre for Entrepreneurship at University of Canterbury

11:30am - 12:00pm - Morning tea curated by Sander and the team at Kaiaka Catering with a focus on Plant Rich and meaningful meals

12pm - 1:30pm - Round table discussions

1. Circular Wine - Seth Laurenson, Bragato Research Institute

2. Circular Waste through collaboration - Gustavo Lopez, Hortus and Alexandra McKeown, WM

3. Circular construction (through energy and waste) - Katja and Mark Thompson, Fairfield Construction

4. Circular Wood - Steve Brennan, The Green Circle

5. Circular Aquaculture - Aine O'Neill, NZ King Salmon

6. Circular design for low impact - Lindsay Wood - Clearcut and Resilienz

1:30pm - 2pm - Lunch curated by Sander and the team at Kaiaka Catering

2:00pm - 2:30pm  - Immersion Experience - Hortus Village Commercial Food composter - giving 100 kg's of food waste a day another life, Gustavo Lopez and Alexandra McKeown 

2:30pm - 5pm - Immersion Experience supported by One forty One Kaituna Sawmill

Part 1: Marlborough Pre-cut at 30 Stuart St, Blenheim
With a technical demonstration of frame and truss manufacturing and facility waste management initiatives

Mark Thompson (Fairfield Construction) with a builder's perspective on sustainable construction practices, real-world applications and benefits of sustainable timber and integration of waste reduction strategies in construction.

Part 2: Innovation in Viticulture

Caythorpe Vineyard and Simon Bishell at  601 Middle Renwick Road, Blenheim

Pioneer status as NZ's first 100% MCA treated vineyard,  the decision-making process behind MCA adoption, broader sustainability initiatives and future vision and connection between sustainable viticulture and timber solutions

5:00pm - Return to Blenheim

Friday 28th February 2025

CLIMATE POSITIVE FUTURES: the BIG shifts we need to take to take action 

Hosted at Hortus Village Recreational Centre (3043 State Highway 1, Blenheim)

Start time - 8:30am - 9am - Connection

9:00am - 9:15am - Welcome, Catherine van der Meulen (Climate Action Marlborough)

9:15am - 10:15am - Keynote Speaker: Edwin Massey - "Working back from 2050 - what actions do we need to take now"

10:15am - 10:45am - Morning Tea curated by Sander and the team at Kaiaka Catering with a focus on Plant Rich and meaningful meals

10:45am - 12:15pm - Collaboration session facilitated by Vaughan Broderick, Centre for Entrepreneurship, University of Canterbury focused on exploring

"The Marlborough business community needs support to shift business as usual practices to driving deep systemic change because it will create resilient communities and climate positivity."

- How might we use the Inner Development Goals to shift human behaviours to take action?

12:15pm - Lunch boxes curated by Sander and the team at Kaiaka Catering

12:45pm - 2:15pm - Immersion Experience: Sustainability in Action at OneFortyOne Kaituna Sawmill (Mahers Road, Kaituna)

Highlighting their new MCA Treatment Plant, domestic Framing Facility and Energy Efficiency Initiatives

With a focus on Strategic onshoring of treatment processes,  LOSP treatment, Boron Treatment

Environmental Benefits:   Reduced transport emissions (include specific metrics, Optimised load aggregation and  Enhanced customer service through mixed-product capability

Presenters: Tracy Goss, General Manager and Sam Lees, Sales Manager

2:30pm - 4:00pm - Round Table discussions

1. Deborah Early, PhD; Researcher, Designer, Innovator. Founder of The Art of Awareness studio - "Action starts with Awareness" - The links between loneliness, climate change and bio-diversity

2. Stacey Fellows, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) - Efficiencies and Decarbonisation

3. Eliza Turnbull, Kindred "Progress and Identity: Creating a culture of impact" 

Exploring the intricate links between culture, sustainable impact, and our shared future, this session delves into how we can redefine and balance progress and identity. Together, we will examine ways to evolve the cultural identity of our region to meet the future needs of our community and our planet, fostering a meaningful and lasting impact.

4. Heather Donachie, Export Logistics - "Inner Development Goals to create Impact on the Sustainable Development Goals"

5. Barbara Nebel, Think-Step "Focus on impact when deciding on your actions to decarbonise"

4pm - 5:30pm - Partner Matchmaking supported by Yealands Estate Wines

Meaningful food experiences: We are committed to Plant Rich meals at Climate Action Marlborough and use locally sourced produce and caterers with a zero waste philosophy.

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Who's behind Climate Action Marlborough?

Supported by a passionate collective of committed leaders

We are super grateful for the support from our partners

- One Forty One Kaituna Saw Mill

- ASB

- New Zealand King Salmon

- Toyota Blenheim (Hybrid and EV cars during Climate Action Week)