Unlike many conferences, which can feel like they’re all talk, we heard from businesses, government, communities and mana whenua who were putting theory into action. Their initiatives ranged from on-the-ground restoration to embedding regenerative farming practices into their daily operations. A recurring theme shared by all the speakers was the need for intergenerational thinking, integrity and interconnectedness.
Embedding nature action into your business continues to be the focus this year. The 2025 Symposium will build on the powerful themes that resonated with attendees in 2024. These include:
- Key drivers for businesses to take action for nature
- Leading examples of businesses taking nature positive actions
- Te ao Māori and mātauranga insights
- Measuring nature – metrics, data and the latest innovation
- Working together to close the nature finance gap
- Creating the business case for nature
- Accelerating action through meaningful partnership
Indigenous knowledge and values for business nature action
Te Horipo Karatiana, a Director of Miraka, set the scene with his keynote address. He talked about the transformative power of harnessing indigenous knowledge and values to take action for nature.
Miraka is a Māori-owned, award-winning dairy company. It was founded on te ao Māori, the Māori worldview that highlights the interconnected relationship between nature and people.
Māori businesses, like Miraka, are influenced by principles such as kaitiakitanga (guardianship), manaakitanga (hospitality, generosity, care and giving) and whakapapa (genealogy and intergenerational connections). When led by this philosophy, actions and decisions stand apart from profit-driven, ‘business-as-usual’ models.
“This alliance of the willing is just going to get bigger. It’s taking over. If you don’t do something different now, you’re ‘gone burger’ in the world that’s coming.”
Miraka views mauri as a measure of success. Mauri is the life essence in all living things that has been passed down from ancestors. It all starts in the soil.
“If the soil is well, the animals are well and what is grown on it is well. This means the people are well.”
This holistic approach calls for businesses to think intergenerationally, considering both the immediate and long-term impacts of their actions.
Integrity and innovation are also important.
“Do what you say. If you can’t do what you say, you shouldn’t do it.”
Miraka’s factory at Mokai, near Taupō, is the first dairy processor in the world to use renewable geothermal energy. It uses a closed-loop recycling system to reduce waste and keep resources in use. For example, green waste from the glasshouses and dairy operations is fed to a worm farm, which produces compost. The compost produced is then used to grow native plants for riparian (stream) planting on supplier farms.
Key takeaways
- Adapt or risk irrelevance. The global shift toward sustainability is accelerating. Don’t be the ‘gone burger’, warned Te Horipo.
- Repurpose and innovate waste. Miraka’s circular system demonstrates how green waste can be reused to benefit the soil, environment and communities.
- Learn and respect indigenous values. Māori business values call for businesses to act as responsible guardians. Building genuine relationships with indigenous communities and seeking their guidance ensures these values are honoured and applied authentically.
Shifting from ambition to meaningful nature action
This panel discussion brought together a diverse group of organisations. From small entities like ŌKU New Zealand and Kōkako Organic Coffee Roasters, which were founded on sustainable values, to larger corporations such as Westpac and L’Oréal, that are transitioning to more sustainable practices.
Belinda van Eyndhoven from Westpac New Zealand kicked off the session by introducing the crucial financial reason for protecting nature. “Nature-related risk is financial risk”, Belinda explained.
The state of our natural capital is in rapid decline, with its loss costing $2.7 trillion each year from a collapse of essential ecosystem services, including pollination, marine fisheries and timber provision in native forests. That cost is equivalent to every person in the world forking out $340 every year.
There are significant opportunities for businesses to get ahead of the curve. For example, 80% of New Zealand’s exports go to markets where mandatory sustainability reporting is either in force or proposed.
To be future-ready, Belinda shared four key drivers:
- Disclosure requirements: EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDDD) and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
- Voluntary disclosures: Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)
- Trade measures: Climate Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAM)
Westpac partners with NZ Landcare Trust to fund conservation projects. Through the Westpac Watercare Project, six grants of $10,000 are awarded annually, with Westpac providing the funding and NZ Landcare Trust managing distribution.
L’Oréal is a company that is scaling investment in nature. About 60% of its ingredients come from nature, said the company’s Sustainability Manager Olivia Whitaker.
“We use 16,000 raw materials in our ingredients and packaging from nearly 350 species of plants.”
Protecting and regenerating nature is essential for the business to survive, she said. To support this, L’Oréal launched a £50 million (NZ$108 million) global impact fund for nature regeneration. In Aotearoa New Zealand the business collaborates with community-based projects, like the Puhinui Regeneration Project. This funding supports the regeneration of the Puhinui ecosystem while providing nature-based jobs for local youth grounded in Māori knowledge.
ŌKU New Zealand has focused on regenerating nature since it launched in 2010. Operating under a mātauranga Māori framework, the Waikato-based business creates products that honour the traditional healing properties of native plants. It makes herbal teas, elixirs and skincare products.
Timeframes tend to take a bit longer with a mātauranga framework. Relationships are intergenerational and prioritise connection. ŌKU co-founder Helen Paul-Smith advised being generous with your time to get everyone on board from the start.
ŌKU collaborates with local landowners, creating economic benefits by purchasing native plants directly from their whenua (land). Plants are harvested by hand following tikanga principles, free from pesticides and nurtured as if they were part of the family.
“Having mātauranga Māori practices at the heart of our business made the B Corp certification easier. We already had strong sustainability processes in place; it was more a matter of writing up the policies."
Certified B Corporations meet some of the highest standards of environmental and social performance, transparency and accountability. For purpose-driven companies, it’s considered the gold standard. The certification signals a commitment to creating positive impacts for people and the planet while remaining profitable.
Kōkako Organic Coffee Roasters is another small business built on meaningful action for nature. Mike Murphy was the Managing Director of business for more than 17 years.
“We need to embed nature into our business; they’re not exclusive things,” Mike explained.
Like ŌKU, Kōkako’s values-driven approach also made the B Corp certification process smoother.
The Rotoehu Ecological Trust (RET) is a key partner to the business. Since 2013, RET has helped increase kōkako numbers in the Pongakawa Forest by 450%. Partnerships don’t always have to be monetary. Kōkako staff and café owners visit annually to clear traps and lay bait. These working bees, while costly and a lot of effort, have strengthened employee collaboration, engaged more people in conservation and deepened the bond with the Trust, said Mike.
Key takeaways
- Nature risk is financial risk. Degrading ecosystems can impact financial performance. Future-proof your business by integrating nature-positive actions.
- Know your market's expectations. If you’re an exporter, be aware of regulations and voluntary initiatives that expect companies to understand and address their impact on nature.
- Understand your reliance on nature. Assess how your operations impact and depend on nature to help prioritise your actions.
- From ambition to action. Align your nature strategy with tangible, on-the-ground projects. If your business relies heavily on water, support water restoration efforts. If it depends on trees, contribute to reforestation initiatives.
SBN can connect you with credible projects and opportunities to invest in meaningful nature action. Visit our invest page to explore opportunities.
Integrity, communication and governance principles of nature action
Manaakitanga is about nurturing and uplifting others. It is also being mindful of how our actions impact people, communities and future generations. Practising manaakitanga means making choices that create positive outcomes and uplifting the mana (power) of people, communities and the natural world. It aligns with the integrity and governance behind nature-positive actions. Through responsible sourcing, ethical storytelling and regenerative practices, the following businesses showed meaningful change begins with care and respect.
Lucy Bennetto from Bennetto Natural Foods Co. started making chocolate at home using Fairtrade ingredients. Scaling up while prioritising people and the environment was challenging, but her commitment to conservation, quality, and impact hasn’t wavered, she said.
“Sometimes my board is looking at me saying ‘Lucy this isn’t making you any money, you’re giving 100% of your profits to Forest and Bird.’ But I’m not giving that up, it’s part of the impact piece I love. Too bad, Board people!”
Like others, Lucy found the B Corp certification process straightforward, as sustainable practices were already in place. The policies just needed formalising. Lucy emphasised the importance of globally recognised certifications to back up environmental claims and build customer trust.
Chris Morrison from All Good Organics and Karma Drinks shared a similar outlook. Since day one, Karma Drinks has put people and planet first, sourcing organic and Fairtrade ingredients. The business prioritises organic and Fairtrade ingredients. The business is certified organic by the Soil Association. Kola bean sourcing depends on a healthy environment. Chris said being organic and not using pesticides enhanced biodiversity and resulted in better soil quality.
Karma Drinks pays growers a fair price and maintains an ethical supply chain. It also runs the Karma Drinks Foundation in Sierra Leone which pays for the education of women through school and university. Chris said the B Corp certification process took a year and the time invested was worth it. The business achieved the highest score in Aotearoa New Zealand and was ranked in the top 5% in the world. With limited funds for marketing, Karma Drinks focuses on storytelling and certifications as key drivers of its brand.
Like many businesses, the Lyttelton Port Company cannot operate without taking from the environment. It aims to ensure its impact on nature is more positive than negative, a principle strongly reinforced by mana whenua, said the company’s Environmental Business Partner Kirsty Brennan.
“Nature operates at a much larger scale than business operations and our collaborative approach is going to generate more efficiencies in resources and greater long-term benefits.”
Lyttelton Port Company became the first business in Aotearoa New Zealand to implement the Taskforce for Nature Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). It did this through a community-driven approach and engagement with mana whenua. TNFD is a voluntary framework for businesses to understand their nature-related impacts, dependencies, risks and opportunities. Recommendations from the framework support a business to integrate nature into its strategy.
TNFD recommends assessing changes in nature by comparing present conditions to a 2020 baseline. However, Lyttelton Port set its baseline differently. It compared the environmental state of Lyttelton in 1875, before the Harbour Board was established, against 2024. It acknowledged that any baseline, even from the 1900s, would reflect significant environmental degradation.
Dave Maslen from The NZ Merino Company said 100% of the business was based on trust. One of its brands, ZQ, was the first ethical wool programme in the world when it was launched in 2006. It set the highest standards for animal welfare, environmental integrity and social responsibility. Dave said consumers were increasingly making purchasing decisions based on values and were willing to pay more when they aligned..
“Businesses can have a huge impact just through their selection of who they source their raw materials from.”
Key takeaways:
Certifications are tools to verify claims, build trust and combat greenwashing. They come with benefits and challenges.
Benefits:
- Validate meaningful actions and help share credible stories
- Boost consumer confidence and trust
- Provide businesses with insights into their operations and supply chains
- Future-proof your organisation. Nature-related disclosures are currently voluntary, but could become mandatory
Challenges:
- Costly and time-consuming
- Consumers may not recognise or understand certification symbols
- May overlook local and indigenous perspectives
The transformative role of collaborative action
Kotahitanga means working together as one. Unity through collaboration drives transformative change and outcomes. This panel on this topic emphasised that respecting the process and investing time in building relationships, connections and a shared kaupapa are essential for sustainable partnerships.
A standout example was the 35-year collaboration between Wairewa Rūnanga and Orion Group. A farmer returned Māori land to the rūnanga, who aspired to heal and restore the whenua and biodiversity. To achieve this, it needed capital and forestry expertise. After three years of negotiation, an agreement was reached with Orion Group
Orion Group’s Pip Newland said her first mistake was making the initial meeting one hour - she quickly learnt the process was going to take more time. Ana Gray from Wairewa Rūnanga agreed.
“It’s not easy working with mana whenua, I’ll be honest. We needed time. A lot of business contracts done in six months took us three years with our whānau. We call them whānau but I think in business terms it’s called ‘shareholders’.”
Orion built trust by allowing the rūnanga the time it needed. As an intergenerational agreement, the stakes were high, requiring flexibility and alignment with tūpuna (ancestor) vision.
Ash Bickley, from Love Wānaka, said Covid-19 highlighted the tourism industry’s reliance on nature.
“Tourism has long benefited from marketing our special environment in New Zealand without delving into some of the challenges.”
The pandemic offered a chance to pause and reassess. Love Wānaka adopted an intergenerational focus, asking ‘how can we be good tupuna and create the foundations of a thriving future after we are gone?’ The answer was collaborative action.
Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown now provide platforms for visitors and businesses to support climate, conservation and biodiversity efforts. They generate funds from visitors and industry partners, using regional tourism operators, partner businesses and in-destination marketing. A portion is allocated to a local endowment fund, ensuring greater funding potential for future generations.
The goal is to “channel the investment and amplify the impact of our small business community by bringing them together and aligning the values” said Ash. Collaboration takes patience, especially when aligning values. Building connections and understanding shared principles were essential for meaningful outcomes, she said.
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei (NWO) highlighted that there were multiple ways to work in partnership. AUT offers NWO research, technical expertise and scientific volunteers. Another partner, Eastern Bays Songbird Project, offers field insights, pest trapping and access to tools and resources.
“It isn’t just funding. You need the right intentions for your organisation and yourself. What we stand for is making sure the taiao is there for the next generations,” Pourewa Māra Manager, Etienne Neho said.
"Climate change is one of Z Energy’s most material risks, which has informed its transition planning", said Abbie Bull, Head of Sustainability and Community at Z. She stressed the need for a holistic approach to sustainability, recognising that nature and climate are inherently connected. This integrated thinking inspired Z’s $1 million biodiversity fund.
Knowing that as a transport energy company the fuel it sells to its customers releases greenhouse gas emissions, Z was mindful of questions about its motivations to act on nature. Investing in nature, she noted, benefits the climate and our local communities. Z now supports three organisations, including SBN, contributing funding to initiatives like the Regenerate Nature Programme and Puhinui Regeneration Project. These efforts combine local action with systems-level change to drive long-term impact.
Key takeaways:
- Meaningful partnership takes time. Effective collaborations can take longer than standard business timelines. Take the time to get to know your partners. Build relationships by visiting community partners and on-the-ground projects
- Contributions don’t need to be financial only. Businesses can offer skills, time or resources to support nature-positive initiatives.
- Sustainability is holistic. Bringing nature to the forefront of business strategies delivers community and environmental benefits.
- Use the SBN Partnerships Guide. Developed from the 2024 symposium workshops, this guide offers practical advice for building meaningful collaborations between businesses and community groups.
You can watch the 2024 presentations and panel discussions in our video playlist here.
Ready to be part of the action at the 2025 Nature & Business Symposium on 6 August? Tickets are available now.