Food & Fibre: Vision into Action in the Primary Sector

This event is part of our live-stream series. Get a ticket to attend in-person in Wānaka, or to watch online. Check out other live stream events here.

From the creators of the national vision for the primary sector, Te Taiao, to brands paying a premium for the resulting product. In this evening panel discussion hear from leaders along the journey of integrating their vision into action on farm.

Simon Stokes

In 2020, a vision for the New Zealand primary sector was created and over the last year a number of initiatives have kicked off to enable the vision, including Fit for a Better World and NZFAP Plus. Simon Stokes is co-lead of an Our Land and Water National Science Challenge project to understand how to progress land use and land management change and to achieve successful scaling opportunities, to improve the vitality of te Taiao. Simon will discuss how these Pilot case studies will aim to unfold and demonstrate from implementation, achieving change for Te Taiao. Incorporating multiple knowledges and research including mātauranga, science and local knowledge, and how action groups around Aotearoa New Zealand, such as WAI Wānaka, can be a vehicle for scaling practice change and creating enduring value.

James Brasington

Science and technology are shedding new light on our lakes and rivers, and the land use and practices that affect them. James Brasington of Waterways, is piloting a new tool that views and models the impact of urban growth alongside the Clutha/Mata-au River, specifically looking at sediment of the riverbed. James joins us to discuss this work and more and the application of it to encourage best practice across different land uses.

Andrew Dalziel

Andrew Dalziel of Big Wool joins us to discuss market-led and supported change of practice towards Te Taiao. Brands require validation of environmental practices to provide confidence to consumers of primary products. Andrew will talk to Big Save’s journey to Big Wool as an example of a brand willing to pay a premium for this validated product.

John Rodwell

The Primary Sector Council: Fit for a Better World announced their vision last year – Te Taiao. Taiao Ora, Tangata Ora is a collaborative initiative to build a food and fibre sector that is unique and valuable to Aotearoa New Zealand and the world. By putting Te Taiao at the centre of everything we do, we can achieve the primary sector vision. A governance group has been working to create a framework for realising this vision across Aotearoa New Zealand. John Rodwell joins us to discuss actions on the ground, such as monitoring tools, support for farmer groups, research into use of NZ timber, and innovation. John will speak to the urgency to move towards this vision, and the next steps to enable producers to do so.

WHO IS THIS FOR: rural/urban/peri-urban landowners, those interested in the primary sector.

SPEAKERS: 

• James Brasington, Director of the Waterways Centre for Freshwater Science and Management
• John Rodwell, Executive Director of Lindis Crossing Station, Kintore Farm Ltd, a Director of Landcare Research NZ Ltd
• Simon Stokes, co-leading a project for the Our Land and Water Science challenge on establishing Place Based Pilots looking at land use to enhance Te Taiao
• Andrew Dalziel, Big Wool
• Hon Damian O'Connor, Minister for Land Information of New Zealand

Local food and beverage will be available to purchase at this event. We invite you to arrive earlier and stay past the event time to get to know your fellow Wao community.

The Wao Summit is a six day annual event held in Wānaka. Its aim is to inspire, educate and enable our transition as a community and nation to a healthy, thriving, diverse, carbon zero community. 

This event is part of the Wao Summit 2021, check out the full programme here.

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Covid-19 Policy

In the case of Covid-19 alert level changes, this event will be activated online as a virtual session. All events that can be run in person will be. Visit our website for full details of our Covid-19 Policy www.wao.co.nz/covidpolicy