Wanaka-based volunteer-led organisation Wao has established three working groups, held three reset summits with more than 3,000 attendees in total, and initiated a range of projects, according to its first annual report.

Formerly called One Wanaka, Wao aims to educate, inspire and enable New Zealand communities to accelerate towards a carbon-zero, regenerative future.

The organisation launched three years ago.

“Coming to the end of our third year, we are ecstatic with the impact and energy we have experienced in such a short time, but not surprised with such an engaged community like ours,” Wao chairperson Monique Kelly said. 

Wao’s annual summit in 2020 had the largest number of participants so far - 1200 - despite the disruptions of Covid-19.

Chairperson Monique Kelly PHOTO: Supplied

In 2018 the summit attracted 911 people and in 2019 1,163 took part.

Monique said the event had changed from a local community event to one which attracted participants from around the region, and Wao has big plans for its 2021 summit, coming up in October.

“In October the 2021 Wao Summit will focus on bringing together sector leaders and facilitating the cross pollination of ideas, particularly within the tourism, engineering, primary and snow industries,” she said. 

“We hope to increase attendance outside of the region, which will mean broadening and developing our talks, workshops and events.”

Ultimately Wao would like to grow its summit events to a national and international level. 

The lineup and tickets are not yet available for Wao’s 2021 summit but updates will be shared on the Wao website.

Wao had also formed three working groups, seven projects and 16 partnerships, all of which help to progress the organisation's long-term aims.

“We look forward now to 2021 as a year to start consolidating and working on some of the ideas that came out of 2020 and the acceleration of our transition to a low carbon, regenerative community,” Monique said.