August pānui - latest publications and upcoming events
Kia ora e te hāpori,
We're excited to share with you some new projects we have launched in the last few weeks and to open registrations for our Economy for Public Good conference.
Check out our new weall.org.nz website
It's been a very busy time for the WEAll Aotearoa team working towards a Wellbeing Economy - an economy in service of life. Over July we have been reflecting on the economic system shift that started forty years ago this month when Rogernomics brought neoliberalism to New Zealand.
Looking back across the last forty years, the idea that wealth would trickle down has not created opportunities for large numbers of New Zealanders while creating environmental damage that will limit the opportunities of future generations. This should be a concern across the political spectrum, even Former National Party Prime Minister Jim Bolger believes neoliberalism has failed New Zealand.
This anniversary is a reminder our economic system is a product of design and can be redesigned. We can lay down new economic tracks with human and planetary needs at the centre.
You can see this new approach in our Community Wealth Building white paper and it will be highlighted at the Economy for Public Good conference where together we'll discuss big ideas for Aotearoa in 2040, hear from practitioners about the new economy in action, and co-create interactive training and breakout sessions.
Thank you so much for being part of this growing movement to progress past GDP, and create an economy where people and nature thrive.
Ngā mihi,
WEAll Aotearoa team
The economy was designed, it can be redesigned.
Following the success of last year's sold-out conference at AUT, we are excited to open registrations for the Economy for Public Good conference in Te Whanganui-ā-Tara Wellington.
Join over 200 attendees for a day of insightful discussions and meaningful connections. The theme for this year's conference is 'the current system was designed, and it can be redesigned.'
The conference will feature a variety of sessions, including WEAll global co-founder Dr Katherine Trebeck as international keynote speaker, thought leaders discussing big ideas for Aotearoa 2040, practitioners sharing the new economy in action, and in-depth interactive training and breakout sessions. If you'd like to build relationships and share ideas with people inspired to redesign the economy to one that puts our human and planetary needs at the centre, this one-day hui is for you.
Recent events and publications
Neoliberalism - leave it in the 80s video
To mark the 1984 election anniversary we launched a new social media video campaign with our Neoliberalism - leave it in the '80s video. We are thrilled with the response and the video saw over 70,000 views in it's first week.
Thank you to our partners ActionStation, B Lab Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, Greenpeace Aotearoa, The Public Service Association and Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga for supporting this video.
Please reshare the video from our social media channels, whichever platform you prefer.
Community Wealth Building white paper
Last week Local Government New Zealand hosted the launch of Localism done well: the power of Community Wealth Building for Aotearoa, a white paper we co-authored with The Urban Advisory.
The white paper aims to raise awareness of Community Wealth Building in Aotearoa and to encourage cities, regions, individuals, and organisations to work together to apply these principles and strategies. Community Wealth Building is about economic system change.
We were privileged to have international perspectives from Neil McInroy, Global Lead for Community Wealth Building at The Democracy Collaborative and Preston City Council leader Matthew Brown sharing examples of cooperatives, living wage policies, community banks, energy schemes, public procurement strategies, small business hubs and more.
Helmut Modlik, Tumu Whakarae CEO of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira Incorporated shared a tangata whenua perspective and their work towards economic independence and the role of community housing trusts.
Check out our new website
We know you’re on the website now, but do check out the pages; we’ve got events, news, resources and ways you can get involved, as well as our priority issues.
What additional features and content would you find useful? Please share your feedback with us.
Upcoming events
Join us to hear some of the latest international thinking about the transition to a Wellbeing Economy. WEAll Aotearoa have supported some active members to attend overseas events and this webinar is an opportunity to share the learnings with our wider Aotearoa network. At this webinar, you'll hear about:
The Economy for Common Good conference, Adrienne Gallie (Netherlands)
WEAll Global gathering about reforms to initiate a global wellbeing economy, Jennifer Wilkins (Costa Rica)
Rethinking Growth Conference, Makerita Makapelu (Ireland)
Building Wellbeing in Policy and Action conference, Gareth Hughes (Australia)
‘Change the system, not the climate’ is commonly heard, but what does it actually mean? It's now West Auckland's chance to explore this question with the incredible film Outgrow the System.
Outgrow the System meets those working at the global forefront towards a new economic system including Doughnut Economics, Participatory Economics, Degrowth approaches and the global Wellbeing Economy movement.
Join the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa (WEAll) for an engaging afternoon featuring a screening of "Outgrow the System" at Lopdell House, Titirangi, Saturday 24 August at 3pm.
To ground the film's big global ideas locally we have a local panel to discuss featuring:
MC Greg Presland (Chair Waitakere Local Board),
Katherine (Kath) Dewar Dewar (GoodSense Sense Ethical Marketing Excellence)
Jewlz Petley, (Ngāpuhi Te Rarawa)
Gareth Hughes, Director Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa NZ Economy Alliance Aotearoa
This time it's really happening! After a false start, we're pleased to be convening a WEAll Aotearoa Book Club led by our supporter Adrienne Gallie on 13 July, 7pm. Our first session will focus on whanaungatanga, discussing the Book Club structure, how we want to learn together, as well as a book; Mission Economy, written by Mariana Mazzucato. Mariana is an advisor to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Pope Francis, Chris Hipkins MP has read it, it's an influential idea!
Don't feel you have to read the book to come along, Won't have time to read the book? Don't worry, check out this Guardian book review, or listen to this podcast. On the call, Adrienne will also give a summary presentation of the key ideas so you can still participate in the discussions. Mission Economy is at many libraries, and if you get in quick, Sally and Gareth both have copies to lend out.
We've got two supporters' calls coming up. Join and find out how you can get more involved in our supporter-led projects on ecosystem mapping, case study writing, Wellbeing of Future Generations Act and our upcoming conference.
Thank you for your support of WEAll Aotearoa.
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