New Zealand Political Studies Association (NZPSA) Annual Conference

Environmental politics in Aotearoa have always been contentious, but in recent years have risen to the forefront of mainstream policy debates. From bans on new oil and gas exploration to pricing agricultural emissions and cleaning sacred waterways, many of today’s challenges hold social and economic significance that extend far beyond the silo of environmental management. In this roundtable authors of a forthcoming new text on Environmental Politics and Policy in Aotearoa New Zealand will present the key points from their chapters, in order to stimulate discussion distinct elements of environmental politics in New Zealand. We will explore New Zealand’s unique institutional, cultural and resource context, by first focusing on the key importance of Te Tiriti before turning to the unique characteristics of the natural environment in Aotearoa. The unique setting here informs and is, in turn, informed by the global context of environmental politics, policymaking and social movement activism.

Participants: 

Julie Macarthur, Maria Bargh
Aotearoa in global context

David Hall
The state of the environment in New Zealand

Janine Hayward
Environmental history in Aotearoa

Valentina Dinica
Theorising Environmental Policy

Rod Oram
New Zealand’s Green Economy

Environmental politics in Aotearoa have always been contentious, but in recent years have risen to the forefront of mainstream policy debates. From bans on new oil and gas exploration to pricing agricultural emissions and cleaning sacred waterways, many of today’s challenges hold social and economic significance that extend far beyond the silo of environmental management. In this roundtable authors of a forthcoming new text on Environmental Politics and Policy in Aotearoa New Zealand will present the key points from their chapters, in order to stimulate discussion distinct elements of environmental politics in New Zealand. We will explore New Zealand’s unique institutional, cultural and resource context, by first focusing on the key importance of Te Tiriti before turning to the unique characteristics of the natural environment in Aotearoa. The unique setting here informs and is, in turn, informed by the global context of environmental politics, policymaking and social movement activism.

Participants:

Nicola Wheen
Contemporary institutions and policymaking in New Zealand

Dory Reeves
Urban policy and planning in New Zealand

Priya Kurian
Social movements and the environment

Geoffrey Ford
Green parties in New Zealand

Catherine Delahunty
Mining

This roundtable brings together speakers from the Christchurch Muslim community to discuss issues of concern in the aftermath of the March 15 tragedy. The discussion will consider the various challenges as they rebuild their community as well as the positive efforts of many community groups to seize a range of opportunities for the future.

Participants:

Gamal Fouda (Imam, Al Noor Mosque)

Anthony Green (former media spokesperson, Muslim Association of Canterbury)
 
Tyla Harrison-Hunt (Ōtautahi Māori Muslim)
 
Jumayah Jones (Muslim Association of Canterbury)
 
Ruqayya Sulaiman-Hill (Canterbury Muslim Community Trust)
 
Mazharuddin Syed Ahmed (ARA Institute of Canterbury)
 
Moderator: Naimah Talib (University of Canterbury)

What is the state of the discipline for New Zealand Politics? This roundtable discussion brings together participants from most New Zealand campuses to compare experiences on the New Zealand politics papers on offer, and review the post-graduate research underway into New Zealand politics. The roundtable will provide a picture of the extent to which New Zealand politics is being taught and researched across our institutions, and where gaps are developing in that curriculum. It is also an ooportunity to strengthen networks and points of connection between the campuses on issues relevant to New Zealand politics teaching and research.

Participants:
Janine Hayward (University of Otago)
Claire Timperley (Victoria University of Wellington)
Lara Greaves (University of Auckland)
Patrick Barrett (University of Waikato)
Kate Nicholls (Auckland University of Technology)
Sylvia Nissen (Lincoln University)