September 2025 pānui

Written By Georgie Craw

Directors message

Kia ora, 

The time for a wellbeing economy is now. We are currently in a period of transition between old systems breaking down and new ones emerging. 

The way we have designed the economic system in New Zealand, which is dominant across the world, is an important cause of the multiple crises we face but I see a growing movement to redesign it.

People today are rewiring, rewilding, recloaking, regenerating, restoring and repairing.

One place I see this movement growing is Draw the Line: a global call to action to take the future back into our hands organising events across the world, including Aotearoa.

Momentum is also building for our Tomorrow Together campaign. Next week at Parliament we are launching a national conversation asking how we can ensure the choices we make today are guided by long-term thinking and a deep sense of responsibility and accountability to those who come after us.

If you’re keen to contribute towards this mission, we’re currently seeking a Chair and an additional Trustee to join the Board of WEAll Aotearoa. Read below for more information. 

In the meantime, we encourage you to get involved in Local Government elections this month. Perhaps attend a local government election debate and take with you a question from our Policy for Public Good report to help spotlight the many solutions that exist. 

Keep reading for news, updates, events and recommendations from the WEAll Aotearoa team. 

Ngā mihi nui

Gareth

PS

On a personal note, I’m about to head overseas to speak at the Partners for a New Economy conference in France and spend a month researching new economic approaches in Europe. Looking forward to sharing what I learn with you.

News and updates

Join the governance of WEAll Aotearoa 

We are seeking a Chair and an additional Trustee who can bring governance experience and specific skill sets to strengthen the mahi of WEAll Aotearoa. We encourage expressions of interest from candidates who have previous experience serving as a Chair. We are seeking a strategic thinking, astute leader who is able to support and uplift those around them, connect with stakeholders and the public and who is passionate about economic systems change. We also welcome applications from both experienced and emerging trustees who bring expertise in one or more of the following areas:

  • Governance of social enterprises, businesses, NGOs, or community organisations in Aotearoa or overseas.

  • Connections with key stakeholders including Māori, local government and business.

  • Connections across the political spectrum

  • Fundraising, philanthropy and finance

  • Knowledge of new economic ideas and concepts, and an interest in using your profile to share these ideas

See the position description and apply on Do Good Jobs and Appoint.

Gareth on Care Beyond Profits Podcast 

Gareth had the honour of being the very first guest on a brand new podcast, Care Beyond Profits with Azoora Ali. Listen to the full episode here. 

Gareth’s latest opinion piece 

Gareth had a piece published in The Spinoff, responding to recent changes in risk-based insurance pricing. He writes, “maybe it won’t be scientific research, protest marches or international court cases, after all, that moves us on from our extractive, polluting economic system. It could be those spreadsheet-wielding radicals in the insurance industry instead!” Read the full piece here. 

The team hit the road 

We have been busy connecting across Aotearoa. Sally and Georgie spoke at the Zero Waste Aotearoa National Hui 2025 and delivered a webinar as part of Repair Festival Week. Gareth and Sally spoke at the Purposeful Economy hui in Tauranga and delivered a workshop for Auckland and Ōtorohanga Councils. Sophie and Gareth spoke at the Sustainable Development Goals Summit in Palmerston North. Paul hosted an Uncommon Land book event in Christchurch and we had great kōrero at WEAll Chat events in Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga and Whakatane.

Tax Big Tech Report 

We're proud to be part of the Better taxes for a Better Future coalition. Last week, the coalition published research showing the largest multi-national tech companies are making billions of dollars in NZ, but are paying very little tax. Read the report here, and attend the webinar of Gareth and report author Nick Miller on 16 September.

Max Rashbrooke piece 

Max Rashbrooke wrote a thought-provoking piece about the strategic importance of meta-laws (such as the Regulatory Standards Bill) and our own, much more promising campaign Tomorrow Together which includes the proposition of a Future Generations Act. Read the full article here.

New Public Health Advisory Committee Report 

Last week, we welcomed the release of the Public Health Advisory Committee’s latest report and were pleased to see a strong alignment between their vision and ours. Including the need for better long-term decision-making, proper investment in our communities, and an 'economic system that is more equitable and redistributive by design.’ Read Sophie’s blog post here.

Events

16 Sept, 12:30.  Big Tech, Little Tax.

Hear Gareth Hughes and Nick Miller discuss the recent report on how tech giants are minimising the tax they pay in NZ. 

15-21 Sept, global week of action for Draw the Line

Attend the WEAll global event online or join an in-person weaving workshop on 20 September at the Pātaka Art and Museum in Porirua (hosted by 350 Aotearoa and Pacific Climate Warriors Council of Elders). 

23 September, 7pm. Wellbeing Economy 101 (online).

Curious about the wellbeing being economy and how to get there? Join the WEAll Aotearoa team for a free one-hour webinar that will explore an introduction to wellbeing economy, key ideas and strategies, practical examples, and how to get more involved.

8 October, 12:30. Leading for those not yet born. 

We are bringing Founder and Co-lead of the global Impact Coalition for Future Generations to Aotearoa and he is joining  Sophie Handford in discussion with Hāpai Public and the School of Government, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, about how we can embed intergenerational thinking into today’s policy and planning.

17 October, Caring Economies Symposium

Georgie will be speaking at the Caring Economies Symposium at Te Rau Karamu Marae in Te Whanganui-a-tara. Registration is free. The keynote is the international Emeritus Professor Joan Tronto, a leader in the politics of care. 

28 October, WEAll Aotearoa Book Club.

This book club we will be discussing the incredible book Slowing the Sun by Nadine Hura. 

30 October, 6pm. Book talk with author Catherine Knight.

Co-hosted by The British High Commission and WEAll Aotearoa, join us in person for a discussion with the author of Uncommon Land: From an ancestral post of enclosure towards a regenerative future.

12-13 November, Economic Development NZ Conference 2025.

Gareth will be speaking on building strong roots: empowering people, place, and purpose and co-facilitating a workshop on Community Wealth Building. We are a promotional partner for this great conference and if you use this unique discount code: WEALL_EDNZ25 you can save $50 off the conference registration price.

4 November, Supporters’ Call.

On this supporters’ call will focus on our Blueprint for Prosperity, our ambitious project to outline a realistic vision of a Wellbeing Economy for Aotearoa and the policies and plan to get there. What policy areas are people keen to get involved in? We’ll cover that and other ways to get involved. See you there! 

Recommendations

Georgie Craw
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