New Zealanders resonate with nature and the great outdoors. From holidays at the beach to swimming in rivers and walking in magical rainforests.
As a country, we are connected to nature. The nickname for New Zealanders and the symbol for our country is a bird, the kiwi. And, whenever you talk to people overseas, it’s always about our stunning landscapes and opportunities in nature.
I’ve been lucky enough in my career to have visited some remote parts of this awesome country and work with some of our amazing wildlife. That’s included a trip to Codfish Island to work with kākāpō, working with our rarest insect (a weevil) and going on expeditions to find plants not recorded since Captain Cook journeyed to our lands. These adventures have cemented my awe and love for our unique flora and fauna.
However, we need to be wary of falling for our own ‘100% pure’ hype. Everything is not okay. Far from it. Aotearoa New Zealand has the highest proportion of wildlife at risk of extinction compared to any other country on Earth, less than 10% of our wetlands remain, and close to half of our rivers have become unsafe to swim in during my lifetime. The species and environments I love are in trouble.
Impacts of climate change
I live in Tairāwhiti. Last year I witnessed the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle. The severe weather event, intensified by climate change, slammed into our region already under stress due to poor land use decisions such as the removal of riparian and forested areas. The results were devastating landslides causing power and water limitations to homes and businesses. Every business was asked to urgently assess their reliance on water and make plans to operate at a reduced supply for an extended time. 730 business support grants were distributed to businesses in the region to “help address immediate cash flow issues related to customer access, supply chain issues or inability to operate as usual due to cyclone damage”.
Why am I talking about this? Because the health of our economy and society is directly linked to nature. Services that nature provides such as climate regulation, water, food and timber are vital to us. If we don’t integrate nature into our thinking, we’ve got no chance of tackling climate change, living healthy lives or thriving economically.
The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2023 identifies biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse among the top four risks for the next decade. This has the potential to impact all businesses.
The good news is that businesses can play a transformational role in supporting nature to regenerate. By recognising and valuing nature, businesses can ensure long term sustainability, reduce risks, enhance their brand reputation and unlock new opportunities for innovation and growth. At the same time they will be protecting the planet for future generations.
Our research shows businesses want to take action. A massive 82% of Kiwi businesses want to ‘do the right thing’ for nature, but they need support and knowledge.
Nature and Business Symposium
That’s why we created Aotearoa New Zealand’s first Nature and Business Symposium. The event on 13-14 August will share the latest knowledge, provide best practice examples and connect like-minded people. It will focus on practical actions businesses can take now.
We'll be starting with a series of half-day field trips to explore successful community, iwi and landowner-led projects across Greater Auckland. You will see first-hand the role of business in regenerating nature.
On day two we move indoors for a full day of presentations, panels, workshops and networking. We’ve got an impressive line-up of speakers talking on subjects including indigenous knowledge and values, shifting from ambition to meaningful action, the transformative role of collaborative action, and nature journey integrity and governance principles.
You will walk away with an understanding of how to take meaningful action for nature in your business now.
Learn more about the Nature and Business Symposium. Book your early bird tickets now and save $200 +GST on the full price.
I’d love to see you there!