What we do

He wāhi tūhāhā.
He amua whakaohooho.

A unique place.
An inspiring future.

We are living in a decade of massive change spurred on by the reality of climate change and a shift in economic paradigms. This is going to bring many challenges but also opportunities.

To adapt to the new economic and environmental reality, we will have to change the way in which we govern, work and behave. With this in mind, Wao was set up to help communities through this transition period.

We run programmes and events set 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.

The meaning behind Wao

The forest, with its intrinsic diversity, natural regeneration and climate regulating abilities.

Wao noun

\ waʊ \ wow \

1. Māori kupu/word for forest : The forest, with its intrinsic diversity, natural regeneration and climate regulating abilities. Wao is the Māori kupu/word for forest. The forest symbolises the space between the ecological ceiling and social foundation, which we need to transition from a siloed monoculture into a self-sustaining, diverse, ecosystem. This concept aligns with our mission to inspire, educate and enable communities to accelerate towards a low emissions, healthy, thriving future and beyond.

2. Acronym WAO - Working As One : The name reflects our core values of partnership and collaboration, as well as the focus on a regenerative approach to future thinking. Within the forest, we have the different parts of the system that all interlink and work together to create a whole. For Wao, that forest is the various ecosystems within our community; tourism, building, food and fibre, hospitality, grassroots, youth, business and community.

Our events inspire, educate and enable our transition as a community and nation to a healthy, thriving, diverse, low emission community.

Our vision

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

Our mission

To increase the speed at which communities can become low emissions 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.

How we work

We take a systems-based approach to the delivery of our programmes and events, to understand how communities work and which levers need to be pulled or pushed to enable the transition to a regenerative future. We are writing the roadmap to climate action.

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 working with key groups such as youth or the business community. 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 is essential to creating an effective system.

Our Impact

Since 2018, we have run seven annual Summits, focused on education and youth advocacy and set up four action groups.

2023-24 was a year that saw huge growth in Wao in response to increased awareness and desire to see action within the community

Read more about our impact in our 2024 Annual Impact Report

2024 Impact Report

Our Structure

Wao is a registered charitable trust based in Wānaka, New Zealand. It is a for-purpose, not-for-profit organisation run by a dedicated group of passionate volunteers. Wao was founded by Arna Craig and Monique Kelly in 2018.

Our People