Arrive, coffee & networking

Get yourself ready and settled in for the day

Welcome to the day & connection session

Gathering together 

Keynote speaker: L'Rey Renata

Beyond the Bin: Reimagining Waste through Atua, Whakapapa, and Interconnection”

In this keynote, L’Rey Renata (Ngāpuhi, Tainui, Ngai Te Rangi) will share reflections on the Te Ao Māori influenced waste framework she developed during her research — one grounded in values such as regeneration, reciprocity, and interconnection. While many in the sector may be familiar with this whakaaro, L’Rey offers a next layer of: What now?

This kōrero explores how mātauranga Māori and our relationships with Atua can guide a more meaningful response to waste — one that goes beyond systems and strategy, and instead centres mauri, whakapapa, and responsibility to the generations to come. It’s a gentle challenge to shift from managing waste to restoring balance — in ourselves, our communities, and our environments.

Zero Waste Aotearoa update

Hear from the Zero Waste Aotearoa team as they share key wins, challenges, and highlights from the past year’s campaigns and projects.

Morning tea

Have a bite, a chat and get refreshed for our next sessions.

Panel discussion: Plastics, toxics & health

Plastics and toxic chemicals are part of everyday life—showing up in packaging, products, and even the spaces we live and work in. But what’s less visible is how these materials affect our health and wellbeing.

This panel brings together experts in environmental health, advocacy, science, and frontline experience to explore what we know—and what we’re still learning—about the links between plastics, toxics, and long-term health.

What are the links between plastics, endocrine disruptors, and chronic health issues? How do waste exports and processing practices create hidden burdens? And how can zero waste movements take a more precautionary, people-first approach?

It’s a chance to go deeper than recycling and ask: how do we make sure our systems are working for people and the planet?

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Panelist:

• Gavin Lear, University of Auckland

• Melanie Kah, University of Auckland

• TBC

Workshop streams

Break into one of three workshop options—choose the one that speaks to you the most in that moment.

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Stream 1 | Zero waste future: economic systems as the root and the remedy

Facilitated by: Sally Hett, Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa (WEAll Aotearoa)

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Waste is a byproduct of an extractive profit driven economic system based on over production and over consumption. What you as waste experts and practitioners are doing everyday is economic systems change. WEAll Aotearoa will discuss why economic levers are key for systemic change to a circular, zero waste future. Together, we will reflect on the intersecting systems and how they either enable or restrict zero waste systems.

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Stream 2 | Construction waste diversion solutions

Facilitated by: Jon Morgan, Dylan Bull & Jean-Luc Ellis

Collaboration between WasteXpert, Levela Deconstruction, and Waste Less aims to provide the construction industry with a comprehensive system to manage waste diversion. These enterprises cover soft strips, deconstruction, resource tracking and reporting management tools, to onsite diversion systems to make diversion easy for builders. Through Local Board and AC contracts we have refined waste diversion to meet the builders requirements. We will explore our expertise and experience in refining our business model. Look out for spot prizes in our interactive presentation.

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Stream 3 | Resource Recovery Lab visit– Innovation in action

Step inside CIRCUIT’s Resource Recovery Lab and get a first-hand look at cutting-edge research, experimentation, and entrepreneurship for the circular economy

This guided visit will showcase current research projects focused on waste treatment, recycling technologies, and material valorisation—turning waste into value. 

Come meet the researchers working at the frontier of circular solutions—and see how science and community collaboration are shaping the future of resource recovery in Aotearoa.

Lunch

Sit back, relax and recharge for the afternoon.

Workshop streams

Break into one of three workshop options—choose the one that speaks to you the most in that moment.

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Stream 1 | Why zero waste is nothing new

Zero waste might sound like a modern idea—but the principles behind it have been around for generations. In this interactive session, we’ll explore the roots of zero waste thinking in Indigenous knowledge systems, traditional practices, and everyday resourcefulness.
Together, we’ll reflect on the values, habits, and community ways of being that have long supported care for people and planet—and why reconnecting with them is key to building a just, regenerative future.

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Stream 2 | Communications & storytelling in behaviour change

Facilitated by: Katherine Dewar & Katie Buller

Can you make change more effectively?

​When we want people to do things differently from how they may have always done them, the way we communicate matters - massively.  The stories we tell ourselves about how we live and what we do are part of what makes us human.

​In this practical workshop Katie and Kath will share inspiring examples of sustainability behaviour change communications.  They'll look at what makes these campaigns winners and the lessons they can give each of us for our own work. You'll then get you to try out new approaches for yourself, in small groups, to embed your learning for the future.

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Stream 3 | Stories for a Zero Waste Future: Short Films

Take a break, grab a seat and be inspired by a selection of short documentaries from Happens Films. These beautifully crafted stories spotlight people and projects reimagining how we live, work, and care for resources.

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Members stories

Time to get inspired by each other. We've lined up 4 zero waste network members to share highlights and learnings from their year that we all could be encouraged by.

Wrap up

Concluding our two conference days. 

Setting off for Day 3–tour day.