Rotorua Workshop Report
We had 16 attend our all-day workshop at the Rotorua Arts Centre on 10 Feb – a good number for discussion, and a range of ages from the 20s to 81. Jeanette presented with help from Pat , and with invaluable local organising help from Jenny Lux.
We covered ways of having a conversation about climate change: identifying shared values, understanding the other person’s point of view, making it relevant to them and motivating with hope rather than fear and guilt and too many facts. One theme that kept coming up was the balancing of pessimism and optimism, dealing with feelings of helplessness and building a supportive group. We practised this with role plays. Comments like “The Declaration made me feel excited” were very encouraging.
We also covered where emissions come from, which matter most, simple things that communities can do to reduce them, and whether to measure tonnes of carbon or adopt targets like travelling fewer km or producing less waste. (We recommend the latter.)
People identified communities in Rotorua that they were part of, but the idea of trying to stimulate a climate action plan in their school, workplace, union, or street is still a step too far for many people. They commented they want to take more personal action and get their own household in order before they tackle a wider community. We learned that if that is where people are, that is where we need to be too. We are confident it will grow from there.
We are looking forward to the next one in Tauranga on 24 March.
Featured News
See all news >
Framing Messages around the Climate Emergency | Webinar Recording
14 September 2023
Our September webinar featured guest Michael Hanne. The vast majority of people in industri...
Read more >

Shelter in our changing climate: challenges and pathways | Webinar Recording
04 August 2023
In August our guest was Scott Willis, a director of Climate Navigator, a sustainability and...
Read more >
Winter Newsletter 2023
16 July 2023
Tēnā koutou katoa! Ngā mihi mahanaOur webinar programme continues – see below
Read more >

Food security, land use, soil – and much more | Webinar Recording
08 July 2023
In our July 5th webinar, our guest was Craig Anderson, researcher at NZ’s Institute for Plan...
Read more >
Doughnuts & Degrowth: Imagining a New Future
30 June 2023
From Doughnuts to Degrowth: the economics of kai
Read more >

Discussing Degrowth: An Approach to Degrowth for NZ | Webinar Recording
27 June 2023
This webinar was jointly sponsored by Our Climate Declaration and Degrowth Aotearoa NZ.
Read more >

New environment group aims to shift dial on climate | Newsroom
19 June 2023
Credit Pixabay for thumbnail (CC0)
Read more >

City Forests to heal the planet and its people | Webinar Recording
16 June 2023
In our webinar on Wednesday 14 June at 7pm, attendees had the opportunity to hear Molly Melh...
Read more >
AGM Zoom June 8th 2023 with guest speakers Joanna Santa Barbara and Meila Picard on developing a modelling tool to calculate emissions
09 June 2023
We celebrated six years of climate work at our AGM.
Read more >
Our Climate Declaration financial statement summary for year ending 31st March 2023
06 June 2023
Read more >