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Emerge Institute
Tīkapa Moana / Hauraki Gulf Oceans Lab
Restoring the Life Force of the Gulf
Learn more about our recent Oceans Lab
Get a snapshot through this 2 minute video
"Ko tātou Te Moana, Te Moana ko tātou. We are the ocean, The ocean is us."
Our Oceans Lab explored how we might improve the health of the Hauraki Gulf if we came from a paradigm and place of interconnectedness with Nature and viewed the Ocean herself as a stakeholder in our efforts.
Tīkapa Moana / Hauraki Gulf is ailing
The Gulf, a precious part of our country
The Tīkapa Moana / Hauraki Gulf is a stunning coastal feature of the North Island of New Zealand. It has an area of 12,000km2 and lies between the Auckland Region, the Hauraki Plains, the Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island. The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park is New Zealand's largest marine park and home to over 20 species of marine mammals including the bottlenose dolphin. It is of significant cultural, environmental, ecological, economic and spiritual significance.
Environment in decline
Over the last century our land use changes, fishing methods and industry have had a devastating impact on Tīkapa Moana / The Hauraki Gulf. Pollution is on the rise with heavy metals, sewage and many forms of waste entering the gulf, harmful fishing practices are leading to declining fish stocks, biodiversity is falling and there is marked decline in mauri (life force).
Overview of the Oceans Lab
The challenge:
The Gulf, and it's precious eco-system has been ailing
The Tīkapa Moana / Hauraki Gulf is a stunning coastal feature of the North Island of New Zealand. It has an area of 12,000km2 and lies between the Auckland Region, the Hauraki Plains, the Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island. The Hauraki Gulf is home to over 20 species of marine mammals including the bottlenose dolphin. It is of significant cultural, environmental, ecological, economic and spiritual significance. Over the last century our land use changes, fishing methods and industry have had a devastating impact on Tīkapa Moana / The Hauraki Gulf. Pollution is on the rise with heavy metals, sewage and many forms of waste entering the gulf, harmful fishing practices are leading to declining fish stocks, biodiversity is falling and there is marked decline in mauri (life force).
Our solution:
A Spirit Lab to restore the life force and health of the Gulf
We invited applications to join our Oceans Lab and selected 21 diverse innovators working across sectors who were actively working to improve our oceans to join the Lab. The initial four days were spent on the beautiful Rotoroa island, in the Gulf itself connecting with the land, water, each other and ourselves whilst exploring new paradigms and ways to innovate and restore the health of the Gulf. Our method brought in a deep systems thinking lens and challenged participants to examine themselves, and supported them in shifting their perspectives and behaviour to better enable them to serve the Gulf. This 4 day residential was followed by two workshops to assist with embedding, deepening and applying learnings from the Lab to projects that participants are working on or have started.
Impact:
More effective innovators and projects
Impact of the project can be seen on two levels. Firstly, direct impact can be seen on participants themselves who have deeply grown their own confidence and capability to collaborate, work with multiple stakeholders including nature, connect with mauri, be more resilient, compassionate and self-confident.
- 90% of participants feel a much deeper connection with the mauri (life force) of the Hauraki Gulf, their peers and themselves.
- 95% of participants feel significantly more confident and equipped to implement innovative ideas that are in harmony with Nature.
- 95% of participants feel strongly supported by a network of peers working toward shared vision.
Secondly, we're witnessing shifts in the participants efforts to directly impact the Gulf. Participants have come together to work on new projects and scale existing efforts, which include:- Scaling a holistic water monitoring programme
- Launching a new initiative to bring sustainability into construction projects
- Driving a long term project to promote cross cultural collaborative marine and coastal management efforts
- Driving culture change efforts in a public sector department through the introduction of meditation and new ways of working.
The impacts of these projects on the gulf will be seen over time.
Applications closed on 6th September 2019
Objectives of the Oceans Lab
- Each individual who participates experiences personal transformation which may include: a deeper connection with environment, others or self, alternative paradigms to view and understand the world, greater self-awareness, personal healing, deepened self confidence.
- Each individual develops their capability in understanding systems, and creating innovative and effective solutions that have lasting impact.
- Teams create effective solution projects that can have lasting positive impact on the Tīkapa Moana / Hauraki Gulf along with clear pathway to execute these projects. Note: if you are already working in this space the project could be to improve the way you are working on what you are already doing - it may be a shift in the way you're approaching your current projects, partnerships, collaboration, or leadership.
- Participants and teams develop relationships with organisations and individuals working to improve Tīkapa Moana / Hauraki Gulf including prospective partners and funders to support with execution of their project.
- Greater awareness in our community and country about the need to protect and care for our environment and particularly our oceans.
Do you have:
A deep connection and commitment to be working in the restoration of the life force of the environment / moana (ocean) and even more specifically Tīkapa Moana / Hauraki Gulf.
A desire to innovate to create a new world.
Self awareness with the desire to heal and grow yourself.
A longing to understand the whakapapa (history) and the depth of this system.
Eagerness to work in a team connected to this mission.
You will get to:
Spend four days on the water and on islands in the Gulf developing yourself and your ideas to improve the Gulf.
Learn about environmental issues the Gulf faces, hearing from stakeholders across the ecosystem.
Learn indigenous based leadership and innovation methodologies with leading coaches and facilitators.
Connect and build a network with other passionate environmentalists.
Receive follow up support to develop and take forward a solution to improve the Gulf.
Key Dates
6 September - Application Deadline.
15 September - Confirmation of participation.
29 October - 1 November - Four day full-time immersive Lab experience on the Hauraki Gulf.
29 November - 10th December Two in person workshops in Auckland.
2 November - 30 January - Ongoing support to develop idea including support with refining and testing your idea as well as access to partnership and funding opportunities to bring solutions to life. One of which includes apply for funding through G.I.F.T. This will include two half day workshops (dates tbc).
Additional Information
Thanks to our great partners we are able to heavily subsidise the cost of the lab. We are offering a pay as you can model, below is what is recommended. Please be honest about your situation, as your payment may or may not subsidise another to attend. Costs include boat tour and travel to an Island in the Gulf where all food and accommodation is covered for the 4 days.
Employees from for-profit organisation $800
Employees from government $600
Employees of non profits / social enterprises $400
Scholarship / Unwaged individuals $200We want to ensure that the costs do not prevent the right people from participating, if money is a barrier, please contact us at kiaora@thespiritlab.co.
Keen to see more?
Browse through these photos to see and learn more about the Lab
Read more about what participants had to say:
"This program is innovative and intentional, focused on developing personal and community growth to innovate and work better together and take on some of the biggest environmental challenges."
Dr Rebecca Jarvis, Lecturer AUT
"This course is transformative, in that it provides a catalyst for self-healing and self-development which assists us to act consciously and intentionally towards our greater purpose. It also teaches various tools to facilitate deeper working teams and greater outcomes for projects."
Andy Kenwothy, Sustainable Business Network
"The Oceans Lab was absolutely nothing that I expected it to be, but everything that is needed for Tikapa Moana / The Hauraki Gulf. We need more people to have these experiences if we are to collectively restore the health of the Gulf."
Adam Whatton, Waiheke Dive and Snorkel, Hauraki Gulf Conservation Trust
Who we worked with
Thanks to the generous support of these partners we were able to run the Oceans Lab
Contact
kiaora@emergeinstitute.co
Spirit Lab © 2019