Tāne’s Tree Trustees Rob McGowan and Ian Brennan, Cassie’s Farm Waikato 
credit : @AlistairGuthrie.com

Kia ora koutou,

I am thrilled to unveil O Tātou Ngāhere ‒ Our Forest, a campaign aimed to ensure more native forests are integrated into our whenua for the benefit of all. Produced in partnership with Tāne’s Tree Trust, the project features a short documentary and a suite of research-backed contributions from a diverse and talented mix of people whose cumulative experience and knowledge around native trees, forests and associated matters is incredible.  

‘I’m a forest starter. 
I’m helping to create a forest that can be managed as a sustainable resource forever.’ 
- Ian Brennan, Farmer.

Website

We've also developed a new website refocusing our signature Advantages framework. A huge amount of research and editorial has been convened by the secretariat and by climate science communicator and contributor John Lang. Six new Advantage champions lead the conversation across their specific areas of expertise and they are: Josephine Cutfield (Trust), Andrew Eagles (Built Environment), Hettie Morrison (Renewables), Alice Ritchie (Nature-based Solutions) and coming soon Dr. Nigel Jollands (Smart Systems) and John Lang (Innovation). 

Moreover, our work has been enriched by the guiding principles of kaitiakitanga under the leadership of Professor Merata Kawharu. Kaitiakitanga was always on our radar, but it has taken reflection on our part, outreach, and numerous kōrero for kaitiakitanga to take its rightful, central place in our work. 

What does it take for Aotearoa New Zealand to lead in addressing big challenges like climate change or threats to freshwater and ecosystem health? Where do you even start in trying to answer such a question?

Webisodes

The next phase of the campaign involves a series of webisodes ‒ short on-line panel discussions on key themes which have stood out in the written contributions.  Hosted by journalist and broadcaster Vincent Heeringa they kick off weekly on Tuesdays at 6:30pm beginning April 13th. The webisodes are freely delivered over Zoom and on Facebook - and once again we are partnering with Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF) to delivery this much needed discussion to as wide an audience as possible.

Register here for webisode # 1 - The Pure Advantages of Native Forests: why our forests matter so much for us and for the world.

Thank you for your interest in Pure Advantage and O Tātou Ngāhere. There are too many people to thank here but I invite you to look at our campaign credits page to see the many supporters and contributors aboard this waka. I’ve learned over the last seven years that Pure Advantage is founded on solid principles for a better, cleaner, greener, more prosperous and inclusive future, and that our ecosystem of contributors and trustees alike is made up of people who care. So for that we are grateful, thank you. 

Ngā mihi maioha

Simon Millar
Executive Director

Nature has called upon us to think different and tell a new story

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