Otago Ōtākou
Check out these "90 second" potraits of great changemakers we connected with during our time in this region. We'll be adding to these in the months ahead so watch this space.
Bill Currie
Bill is a Dunedin based Industrial Designer and founding partner in Powerhouse Wind. Former designer at Fisher and Paykel he has had a lifelong fascination with wind energy and sustainable design. Bill hopes to see domestic wind power available to everyone so that they can take more control over the power they use and contribute to the National grid.
For more information about Bill Currie and Powerhouse Wind check out www.powerhousewind.co.nz
Francisca Griffin
Francisca is a passionate Naturopath and community activist based in Port Chalmers. Born in Canada she immigrated to New Zealand in her 20's and was a member of the influential Dunedin based band "Look Blue Go Purple". Fran is a firm believer in people's ability to be fantastic.
People can find out more about Francisca and her practice by visiting www.beinghealthy.co.nz
Otago was a game of two halves for the ReGeneration Roadtrip team. We got to spend a couple of nights in Wanaka with Simon Williams from Wanaka Wastebusters and the crew from Mt Aspiring College and Wakatipu High School. Check out Simon's blog for information and images from the Youth Jam. Massive!
Then we had a solid week in Dunedin, hometown to many of the Roadtrip crew. Otago was a good reminder of how big each region of New Zealand is and how short a time one week is. The week lauched off with a fantastic 8x8 presentation evening including talks from Dunedin City Councillor Jinty MacTavish, Jamie Burford who is the queer support worker at Otago, Neill Ballantyne from the Global Poverty Project and Sarah Hexamer who is the regional coordinator for Neighbourhood Support New Zealand.
We visited six awesome High Schools in and around Dunedin as well as the fantastic team at the Kokiri Training Centre in South Dunedin. Another highlight for the week was the ReGeneration World Cafe session we had the Centre for Innovation at Otago University. Two hours of rich conversation and good connections with the Uni crew.
Friday afternoon and evening saw over forty young leaders from Dunedin get together to some key issues for young people in the city. This was an awesome night organised by Lizzie Rudd and Neill Ballantyne from the Dunedin City Council Youth Action Committee. We heard some great music from local band 'Sleeping Patterns' and then rolled into three great workshops about some of the challenges and opportunities facing Dunedin.
It was a massive week that included a keynote address by Inspiring Stories CEO Guy Ryan at Otago University, a meeting with DCC staff, a youth worker training workshop at Volunteer Otago and even a night out 10-pin bowling for the crew.
We finished up the week with a ReGeneration 'Free Hugs' stall at the wonderful Otago Farmers Market. We had some great visitors during the day including a couple of Members of Parliament and managed to give away over 300 free hugs. Thanks Otago!
Solar Panels at the Long View Trust - Wanaka
