Future Whenua Summit
Upper Hutt, Wellington
Resilience and Regeneration
March 19th - 21st
FWS2027
As always, we’re interested in bringing different worlds into conversation. Science alongside lived experience. Farmers alongside policymakers. Rural and urban. Big-picture thinking alongside skills you can take home and use on Monday morning.
March 19 -21
Join us for the 7th edition of the Future whenua Summit!
Future Whenua Summit is an annual gathering for people interested in creating a more resilient, ecological and flourishing future for Aotearoa. Since beginning on a Southland sheep farm in 2021, we’ve taken the Summit around the country, grounding each event in its host region and bringing together farmers, growers, researchers, community leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs and grassroots solution-makers.
This year we are holding the Summit at Mangaroa Farms, just outside Upper Hutt and within reach of the capital. It’s a working farm, market garden, restoration project, educational space and community hub, which makes it an excellent place to explore the relationship between our cities and the landscapes that sustain them.
Across the weekend we’ll have expert talks, workshops, practical demonstrations and plenty of time for connection and good conversation.
Themes Include:
Food resilience strategies & skills,
Regenerative farming,
Ecological landscaping, agroforestry a
Agri-wilding
Smallholdings & productive backyards
Biodiversity & restoration,
Local enterprise
Natural building
Government & well-considered policies that could enable a more liveable future
Practical ways of connecting and strengthening our communities.
We’re absolutely stoked to be hosting Future Whenua Summit at Mangaroa Farms in 2027.
It’s a fantastic property for us because it brings to life so many of the ideas explored by Future Whenua. Across the farm, regenerative agriculture, local food production, ecological restoration, education and community are being woven together as part of a bigger experiment in how we might live, produce and care for the whenua more wisely.
In Partnership with Mangaroa Farms
Staying During the Summit
There will be limited space available in farm Airbnb’s, alongside simple camping and campervan options (see registration form for details).
Wellington, Upper Hutt and the surrounding valleys also offer plenty of accommodation within driving distance.
We encourage attendees to immerse themselves for the full weekend.
General Weekend Flow
Friday we will begin around midday with a Farm Tour of Mangaroa Farms, moving through different parts of the property and hearing directly from people involved in the work. We’ll then gather for opening kōrero and our traditional Friday night potluck.
Saturday is the main learning day, with a diverse programme of talks, workshops, and discussions. We will be based behind the Mangaroa farm shop, market garden and permaculture orchard. Saturday evening we’ll head to a special part of the farm for a long-table dinner, a fire, live music and yarns into the night.
Sunday talks and workshops continue, creating room to dig deeper into some of the weekend’s ideas, build relationships and consider what we can actually take back into our farms, gardens, workplaces and communities. We’ll wrap up after lunchtime with a reflection session and session before taking our new learnings and relationships home with us.
Schedule coming in the new year
The Gift Economy
We operate FWS in the spirit of the gift economy. It is our pleasure to host this event and don't want cost to be a barrier to attendance (comparable Ag events range from $200 to $800).
We use a ‘pay what you can’ model, encouraging equity.
We thank you for your attendance and contributions.