Hui Update: A summary of key take-aways from our in-person Partner Hui at Parliament in March

The Aotearoa Circle In-Person Hui is a chance to share news about our work, remind ourselves of our purpose and find fresh inspiration for the mahi ahead.  As one of our speakers commented when they saw the crowd of 120 “it’s like the band is back together.”  That’s a big band, and hopefully a loud one, because we need the messages about nature, natural capital and the need for systems-level change to be heard.

One of our key objectives at the Hui was to share updates on four of our eleven current workstreams.  These are our newer projects, some of which we were announcing or sharing key new details of for the first time.  They are:

Governing Natural Capital, the extension of our TNFD courses to New Zealand directors, starting with board members from our Leading Partners and working with Deloitte to deliver these in the appropriate way for those charged with governance of our major businesses. 

NZ Inc and the global sustainability landscape, a report commissioned by The Circle and prepared by Chapman Tripp which provides a snapshot of emerging trade and disclosure requirements in key export regions for New Zealand.  The report is designed to provide Circle partners and stakeholders an overview of an evolving international market expectations, with over 80% of New Zealand’s exports by value are going to countries with mandatory climate disclosures proposed or in force.

Natural Capital Regional Resilience, working with PwC to focus on one New Zealand region (see the video for the reveal of which one) to translate climate science into operational, commercial, financial, social and nature-related implications for the region and highlight the case for further action and support.

Biotechnology, working with PwC to produce a high-level impact screening and evaluation of the implications of introducing a selection of modern genetic technologies into Aotearoa.  This report will use a selection of case studies across production systems and consider different possible regulatory regimes. 

The video here will give you a quick summary of those four workstreams and an overview of the Hui.