Melanie Nelson was invited to the 2024 OraTaiao AGM as our guest speaker to share her analysis of the proposed Treaty Principles Bill and The Regulatory Standards Bill. Both bills are anti-equity, anti-environment, and anti-Treaty, and both need opposing and exposing. Read her analysis here: https://melanienelson.substack.com More about Melanie: Melanie Nelson (Pākehā) is a consultant, coach, educator, and writer on cross-cultural issues, and a licensed Māori language translator and interpreter. She specialises in advising on the application of te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Treaty principles to conservation and environmental issues. Melanie is a graduate of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo Māori | Institute of Excellence in the Māori Language and holds a Masters in Māori Language Excellence – Te Tohu Paerua o te Reo Kairangi. Her podcast, Weaving our Worlds, seeks to foster mutual understanding between peoples in Aotearoa.

OraTaiao, in association with Aotearoa Healthcare Workers for Palestine, held a webinar kōrero on Palestine, health workers, climate, and interconnected liberation on Thursday 13th June, 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Speakers Dr Ruba Harfeil, Dr Donna Cormack, and Dr Arama Rata share from their diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Rob Campbell needs little introduction. He has over 40 years of experience in board governance in private, public and social organisations. The last government made him a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to governance then sacked him from his roles as Chair of Te Whatu Ora and Environmental Protection Authority. Rob continues to think that health and the environment are linked and badly governed. We were delighted to have him as our guest speaker to open the 2023 OraTaiao AGM, and to stay for a lengthy Q&A.

Why are people failing to address the climate crisis? Is it true that our brains aren’t wired to stop climate change?

Professor Quentin Atkinson is the Director of the Behavioural Insights Exchange at the Auckland University School of Psychology. In this OraTaiao webinar, he examines proposed psychological barriers to climate action and the policy recommendations which have been made to overcome them.

Quentin explains why they’re wrong – and potentially dangerous. So what does research tell us about human motivation, and what are the real barriers to climate action we have to overcome?

Our second webinar: a chance for the OraTaiao exec to share with the membership about who they are and what motivates them to be involved with OraTaiao. 

In the first in a series of webinars hosted by OraTaiao, Alex Dyer of Cycle Wellington Paihikara Ki Pōneke talks about the opportunities of rethinking and transforming how we move around in order to benefit health and the climate.