Expert briefings on the realities shaping our future.
The Reality of Everything Symposium brought together leading experts to examine the polycrisis and its implications for Aotearoa New Zealand. Watch the expert briefings and stay connected as new events and initiatives are announced.
Day
Speakers
Expert talks
Participatory sessions
Reality
An Interruption to Normal Programming
We face multiple, interconnected crises: climate change, energy descent, economic instability, food and water insecurity, public health pressures, and democratic strain. Without a shared understanding of this reality, meaningful action is impossible.
The Reality of Everything Symposium was a one-day, in-person event bringing together leading experts to lay out what is actually happening and to help build the foundations for informed, collective action.
Watch the expert briefing videos and share widely to support an informed national conversation about our future.
Watch expert talks
The polycrisis
Dr Mike Joy
Victoria University of Wellington
How climate change will shape our future
Prof. James Renwick
Victoria University of Wellington
White supremacy and the polycrisis
Dr Mahina-a-rangi Baker
Te Wānanga o Raukawa
Energy realities
Distinguished Prof. Robert McLachlan
Massey University
Unleashing public finance
Dr Ganesh R. Ahirao & Morgan Edwards
Independent economist / University of otago
Trade in an unstable future
Hillmarè Schulze
BERL
An uninsurable future?
Prof. Jonathan Boston
Victoria University of Wellington
National food security
Dr Catherine Knight
Massey University/Author
Public health in a degrading biosphere
Prof. Alistair Woodward
University of Auckland
Be part of the change
Please help us raise awareness of the urgent need for action by urging our political leaders to watch the expert briefings. Download the template letter here.
Programme
9:00 – 9:30 am
Arrival/registration
9:30 – 9:45 am
Welcome – why we are here
Kaitoro/MC Professor Huhana Smith
(Massey University)
9:45 – 10:00 am
Deliberative democracy 101
Dr Cathrine Dyer (Victoria University of Wellington)
and Dr Anne Bardsley (Auckland University)
01
10:00 – 10:45 am
Expert Talks Session 01
Series of lightning talks from our experts
10:00 – 10:15 am
Confronting the polycrisis
Dr Mike Joy
(Victoria University of Wellington)
10:15 – 10:30 am
How climate change will shape our future
Professor James Renwick
(Victoria University of Wellington)
10:30 – 10:45 am
White supremacy and the polycrisis
Dr Mahina-a-rangi Baker
(Te Wānanga o Raukawa)
10:45 – 11:15 am
Morning tea break
02
11:15 – 12:45 am
Expert Talks Session 02
Series of lightning talks from our experts
11:15 – 11:30 am
Energy realities
Distinguished Professor Robert McLachan
(Massey University)
11:30 – 11:45 am
Unleashing public finance
Dr Ganesh Ahirao and Morgan Edwards (University of Otago)
11:45 – 12:00 pm
Trade in an unstable future
Hillmare Schulze
(BERL)
12:00 – 12:15 pm
An uninsurable future?
Emeritus Professor Jonathan Boston
(Victoria University of Wellington)
12:15 – 12:30 pm
National food security
Dr Catherine Knight
(Massey University)
12:30 – 12:45 pm
Public health in a degrading biosphere
Professor Alistair Woodward
(Auckland University)
12:45 – 1:00 pm
Reflections on the morning
Dr Huhana Smith
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Lunch and networking
2:00 – 3:40 pm
Deliberative democracy in practice
A participatory session applying deliberative democracy tools and processes, led by Dr Anne Bardsley and Dr Cathrine Dyer
3:40 – 4:55 pm
Translating reality into action
A participatory session to discuss how to translate these realities into collective action, facilitated by Gareth Hughes and Sally Hett
(Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa)
4:55 – 5:00 pm
Closing
Dr Huhana Smith
5:30 – 8:30 pm
Drinks, dinner and conviviality at a local eatery (self-funded)
Our partners & sponsors
