2019
TEDxTauranga 2019
- When: Saturday 22nd June, 2019. 10am to 5pm
- Where: Holy Trinity Auditorium, 215 Devonport Rd, Tauranga
- What: 11 live speakers on stage + 3 entertainment acts + glorious food, for an audience of 683 people
2019 SPEAKERS

JAMES RUSSELL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC66lVJtFe0
Meet James Russell: rat trapper and a world leading island conservationist.
James’ work brings together a variety of scientific methods to solve contemporary conservation problems, and he is currently on a quest to eradicate introduced mammal predators from all of New Zealand. More recently, James has been researching the social implications of pest control and the dynamics between humans and conservation.
Dr Russell is an Associate Professor at the University of Auckland and Strategic Advisor to the Predator Free NZ Trust.

KAT CLARK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zuqUpiM26c
Adopted from Russia as a young child and overcoming adversity as a teenager, Katerina (Kat) Clark was motivated to make a difference for other young people in the Bay of Plenty.
Kat established Tauranga Pryde and continues to provide ongoing support as a student advocate at the University of Waikato.
In recognition of Kat’s work on behalf of the LGBTQ community she was presented with two Youth Week awards and is a Local Hero New Zealander of the Year.

ROB WEINKOVE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZRsqin3lwY
Dr Robert Weinkove is Clinical Director of the Malaghan Institute, a biomedical research institute in Wellington, NZ.
Rob is a blood specialist researching a cutting edge, personalised, cancer treatment known as Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. CAR T- cell therapy is a treatment, which involves taking a patient’s own immune cells, reprogramming them and returning them back to the patient to fight the cancer.
Rob and his team are developing a clinical trial to evaluate a “third generation” CAR T-cell therapy. He hopes that this will present a paradigm shift for treatment of lymphoma, and possibly for other cancers, in the future.

DAVID DOWNS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iRkcjcM6lM
David is a published author on New Zealand Innovation, with two highly successful books – No.8 Re-wired, and No.8 Recharged.
He’s an ex-comedian, TV and Radio actor, and a genetically modified organism who documented his battle with cancer in the book A Mild Touch of the Cancer. David regularly presents and gives talks on his cancer journey and on the power of positive thinking and optimism.

ALEX HOTERE-BARNES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uOT15h4-7Y
Alex is a Pākehā product of the Kaupapa Māori educational movement. He works closely with teachers, school leaders and community members to help create relationships that are culturally and socially just.
As an educator and researcher with affiliations to Mātaatua, Tainui and Te Tai Tokerau areas, he is fascinated by what supports and gets in the way of mutually advantageous relationships between Tāngata whenua and Non-Māori. Alex is interested in bilingual schooling, philosophy, hip hop, tikanga Māori revitalisation, and having a laugh!

OLLY HILLS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws2Hms_-oQ0
Olly Hills is a 12-year-old entomologist from Hamilton who wrote a field guide to the New Zealand cicadas when he was just 10 years old. He has appeared in a season of “Fanimals” television shows on TV2 in a special segment called “Bugs with Olly” and was an invited speaker at the 2018 Entomological Society of New Zealand conference. Olly has an infectious love of all insects and nature that he loves to share with others.

STACEY SIMS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5LYGzKUPlE
Stacy Sims is a question-asker and boat rocker (disruptor) when it comes to human performance and physiology. She has asked the questions her academic predecessors said were too difficult to answer and gone after those answers.
Stacy has been widely recognized as a visionary for her thought leadership across the sports performance industry and will leave our audience with new insights into how to better understand themselves and biohack their routines for better performance.
email: ssims@waikato.ac.nz

DANIELLE APPLETON
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nx0O6h6jfQ
Danielle Appleton is helping emerging food technology companies carve out a better future for Aotearoa New Zealand. Danielle used a decade of experience improving processes in the dairy industry to co-found dairy and alternative-dairy startups KiaOra Milk and Evolution Meadows.
She currently works out of Level Two Innovation Hub, NZ’s most successful deep-tech incubator, and is incredibly passionate about the Future of Food. She’s pushing NZ to adopt new food technologies, but not for the reasons you might think.

NICK BOWERS
Nick Bowers’ is an American entrepreneur, designer, and creator whose drone design helped Emirates Team New Zealand win the 36th America’s Cup. Underneath it all, he is a dreamer.
From building wood boats and airplanes as a child, to his current positions as Lead Designer at Periscope Aerospace and CEO of Kodiak Aerospace & Founder of Kettle Cinema, the secrets behind his revolutionary drone designs might surprise, and will certainly inspire.
email: nicholasbowersmail@gmail.com

KATHRYN BERKETT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrOddAuNau8
Mother to two adolescent children, Kathryn has dedicated 22 years to understanding how extreme trauma impacts the developing brain. Holding a Masters in Educational Psychology and certification as a Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics Practitioner, she now uses her skills to train others and to develop interventions that assist reparation of the physical and psychological aspects of impacted brains.
Armed with the knowledge that trauma can have huge emotional, behavioural and physical outcomes, Kathryn is passionate about sharing information with the wider community through her work.

LEO MURRAY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqNLCNdMDfk
Changemaker and thought leader, Leo Murray, cares deeply about the survival of our species and our planet. Catalysing a necessary paradigm shift for people to make changes out of love for the natural world rather than fear of what they stand to lose.
Specialising in regenerative sustainability, behaviour change and civil disobedience, Leo’s company Why Waste is reducing negatives impacts through waste minimisation. Local to Tauranga Moana, this conscious activist is seeking to improve the current system by co-creating a new story for humanity.
email: leo@whywaste.co.nz; phone: 022 066 4869

SAM SHEAFF
Entertainment / Performance.
Sam performed Flyaway, his piece of slam poetry. This is a type of spoken word performance that is often presented in a competition style. Sam was competing against nothing but our ability to keep up with his flow (*cringe* do the youths even use the word flow?).
His piece was a reflection the apprehensive time between high school and University, which, oof. He concluded “Exams are hard, but it’s harder combatting the fear”. Truer words never flowed.

AUSTIN TAYLOR
Entertainment / Performance.
Austin’s dance rendition of Crazy Little Thing Called Love made it difficult to tell his legs from his arms, such were his contortions.
I can tell you he wore the nattiest powder-blue two-piece suit (short-sleeved! Chic!) with contrasting sparkly pink tie which made my own outfit of red tartan and leopard print feel glum. I can also tell you at one point he used his extended leg as a guitar which is how I knew for sure we were all having a great time.

SIA'AMELIE TONGAN DANCE GROUP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imrjMQimDGA
Entertainment / Performance.
Our final entertainment gift was from the Sia’amelie Tongan Dance Group who embodied the fluid elegance of the Tongan surf in dance form.
I had less Pakeha Paralysis and more Pakeha Wistfulness watching the dancers’ fluid elegance teach us about the Tongan way of life. I feel fortunate to witness the fruits of these dancers’ efforts to nurture the gifts if their Tongan culture. May we consider to honour these gifts.

WILL JOHNSTON
Our beloved Emcee.
EVENT GALLERY
Check out these photos of our event.
PARTNERING WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES
We partner with visionary organisations to bring you TEDxTauranga. Companies who share our belief that new, and not yet imagined problems, can be solved when creative and inquiring people share good ideas.
Interested in sponsoring upcoming TEDxTauranga events?
Contact Hannah Bougen, Lead of Sponsorship & Partners Team,
phone: 027 886 3437 or email: hannah@tedxtauranga.com
PLATINUM SPONSORS

POWERCO
http://www.powerco.co.nz
Powerco – your local electricity network company. We keep the lights on the gas flowing to more than 446,000 customers across our footprint.
Our network is growing rapidly with ever-expanding regions and energy demand. We are no longer just power poles and gas pipes. We’re changing the way we do things to support your future energy options while providing a safe, reliable supply.
Powerco says:
“Powerco is proud to partner with TEDx Tauranga as the Premier sponsor. TEDxTauranga ticks all the boxes that Powerco considers when viewing sponsorship involvement. This is the third year we have supported the event which is innovative and forward-thinking, attracting hundreds of like-minded people.”

TECT
http://www.tect.org.nz
TECT is a nationally recognised Trust leading the way in community funding and support. We aim to make a significant impact, shaping the quality of life and wellbeing of those living in the Western Bay of Plenty for generations to come with community grants towards sectors including education, arts & culture, sport & recreation, environment, and health and social services.
TECT is part of the fabric of the Western Bay and is ambitious for the future of the community that it serves.
With TECT’s knowledge of the community and collaborative attitude, we are able provide support to grassroots and major projects alike; helping the region thrive for generations to come.
Wayne Werder, Chief Executive of TECT says:
“TECT is proud to be a funder of TEDxTauranga; a pivotal event in Tauranga’s event calendar that brings our community together to learn and grow. This year the event will be bigger than ever, with hundreds in our community enjoying all that is to be discovered through the unique experiences, stories and ideas shared by an amazing line-up of speakers.”
GOLD SPONSORS

SIMPSON GRIERSON
https://www.simpsongrierson.com/
Simpson Grierson is one of New Zealand’s largest full service commercial law firms. Leading the way as a truly inclusive workplace and champion of diversity, it is no wonder that Simpson Grierson has received awards such as the ‘Rainbow Tick’ (diversity) and the ‘Supreme Award’ (gender equality) to showcase their on-going commitment to an inclusive workplace.

TAURANGA CITY COUNCIL
http://www.tauranga.govt.nz
Tauranga is one of the country’s fastest growing cities and home to around 140,000 people in the Bay of Plenty. Tauranga City Council is committed to ensuring Tauranga Moana is a desirable place to live now and in the future, by providing the right infrastructure and services as well as social, economic and environmental activities.
TCC says:
“Tauranga City Council proudly supports events that shine a light on our growing culture of innovation and collaboration. TEDxTauranga is a great opportunity for our community to connect, be inspired and challenged by ‘ideas worth spreading’.”

THE UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO
http://www.waikato.ac.nz
The University of Waikato has been a key provider of tertiary education in the Bay of Plenty since the 1990s, and maintains a strong partnership with Toi Ohomai. The newly opened Tauranga CBD campus boasts a vibrant and engaging multi-purpose space for students, researchers, and the community alike. The UoW have also enhanced the range of qualifications and study options available to students in the Bay of Plenty.
Professor Neil Quigley, Vice Chancellor of the UoW says:
“The University of Waikato is proud to be a partnering sponsor of TEDxTauranga in June 2019. The event provides us with a unique opportunity to engage with a diverse audience of professionals from many different sectors, all with a shared interest in learning.”

LEXUS
https://www.lexus.co.nz/
At Lexus, we strive to transform technology into exceptional experiences. Beyond vehicles, our pursuits in imagination and innovation seek to anticipate the future – so that we can keep doing better for people and society.
Since 1989, we have been redefining what the world expects from a luxury automotive experience. from our trademark reliability to class-leading refinement, we are constantly raising the bar and setting higher standards
Lexus says:
“Be Brave”, “Be Thoughtful” “Be Imaginative” are key philosophies the Lexus brand live by, and why we are proud to partner with TEDxTauranga – an event that brings these philosophies to life with unique, courageous and inspiring individuals.”
MEDIA PARTNERS

BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/headlines.cfm?c_id=1503343
Founded in September 1872, the Bay of Plenty Times has faithfully recorded the development of Tauranga city and the surrounding district, marking Tauranga’s progress from a small fishing village to one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing centres.
Greg Murphy, General Manager at NZME says:
“TEDxTauranga is a natural partner for the Bay of Plenty Times, showcasing the movers and shakers that contribute to the growth of the city. We are excited to come together to shape the conversations of tomorrow.”

THE HITS
http://www.thehits.co.nz
The Hits 95FM is designed to engage with today’s adult listener. It’s the place you go to feel happy, connect with like-minded people, laugh and have a good sing along!
It’s the go-to station for smart, busy women 30-49 years old. Being local, talking about what is happening here and now is a critical component to The Hits past and future success.
Greg Murphy, General Manager at NZME says:
“The Hits is proud to partner with TEDxTauranga, aligning in our shared principles of highlighting and commending the superb talent making a difference in our community.”
SILVER SPONSORS

PRIORITY ONE
https://www.priorityone.co.nz/
Priority One is Tauranga’s economic development enabler dedicated to building a city and region that’s innovative and future focused – creating a destination of choice for talented people and the businesses that need them.
Priority One says:
“Priority One supports TEDxTauranga because it celebrates new ideas and innovation in the local community and inspires people to think differently, accept challenges and succeed in ways they never thought possible.”

TOI OHOMAI
https://toiohomai.ac.nz/
Toi Ohomai provide more than 200 study options to over 13,000 students in the wider Bay of Plenty region. Courses on offer cover certificates to postgraduate level study across specialties including business, creative arts, engineering, forestry, nursing, and marine science – to name a few! Toi Ohomai is passionate about forming purposeful connections with our community and industry to develop a united exchange of knowledge.
Jessica Barnett, Head of Marketing & Communications says:
“Toi Ohomai sees TEDxTauranga as a perfect fit within our diverse sponsorship portfolio. It is a great opportunity to support the local community as they share new technologies, innovative practices and capabilities.”

COMVITA
http://comvita.com
Comvita was founded in 1974 by two Bay of Plenty beekeepers who set out to connect people to nature for the benefits of good health. Forty-five years on, Comvita is now the world leader in Manuka honey – which is core to the company’s natural health products range and found in retail locations in more than 18 countries.
Saada McNamee, Chief People and Culture Officer at Comvita says:
“Comvita is proud to support an event which provides a platform for sharing inspirational ideas locally. It’s fantastic that the Tauranga community has access to its own independent TEDx conference, as part of a highly-reputable global initiative.”

REID DESIGN
http://www.reiddesign.co.nz
Reid Design is built on ideas, both beautifully creative and totally tech… We create superb brands and love building great websites, specialising in the visual, logical, and interactive processes that really enrich the internet experience.
So to improve your business, sales, or workflow using digital technology, talk to us today.

DATACOM
http://www.datacom.co.nz
IT services company Datacom works with organisations and communities around the world to solve their biggest challenges, imagine new possibilities, and help move them to a better place by connecting people and technology.
Rob Julian, Head of Datacom Midlands says
“At Datacom, we are passionate about supporting and empowering the communities in which we operate. We are proud to partner with TEDxTauranga, and alongside some of our valued and forward thinking customers, for this year’s Re:Action event.”
BRONZE SPONSOR

BLUELAB
http://www.bluelab.co.nz
Bluelab enables growers to produce healthy, nutrient-rich plants, with handheld meters that easily and effectively measure, monitor and control pH, moisture, conductivity, and temperature. With over 30 years expertise, Bluelab® products provide growers with the critical data they need to promote better yields. From home-based hydrophonics through to the most demanding commercial food-growing environments our specialist products are perfected to meet the needs of a diverse range of growers. Simple to use and built to last.
Bluelab says:
“Most great things are sparked by a single idea, but it is through the convergence of many ideas that innovation occurs. Bluelab are proud to support the TEDxTauranga event which provides a great channel for sharing ideas which stimulate innovation, enabling economic growth and sustainability.”

BAY ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES
https://bayaccounting.co.nz/
Bay Accounting is a local Accountancy & Taxation firm providing complete range of accounting, taxation and business advisory services.
Bay Accounting says:
“We are proud to help TEDxTauranga, as it aligns with our principles of strong community connection and growth of our city and its people.”
PARTNER WITH US
Sponsors of TEDxTauranga are innovative, leading organisations which are seen as forward-thinking organisations. If your organisation is dynamic with a community focus, we’d love to hear from you.
THANK YOU
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Another 3 Videos From TEDxTauranga 2019 Now Online
Great news! Ive just updated our 2019 event page with 3 more videos from TEDxTauranga 2019! #8. Leo Murray: "Living with less is living with more: Cocreating a new story for Humanity" Watch: TEDxTauranga 2019 Event Page / YouTube / TED.com...
read moreFirst 7 Videos From TEDxTauranga 2019 Now Online
Great news! Ive just updated our 2019 event page with the first 7 videos from TEDxTauranga 2019! #1. James Russell: "Predator Free New Zealand’s bold plan to restore birdsong to Aotearoa" Watch: TEDxTauranga 2019 Event Page / YouTube...
read moreA Recount of TEDxTauranga 2019 (22 June) “RE:ACTION”
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read moreSneak Peek: Food, Entertainment and 2 More Speakers For TEDxTauranga 2019!
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It's hard to believe it is already May... but the great news is TEDxTauranga 2019 is just over a month away! Have you got your ticket yet? Get yours today and join us on 22 June 2019 for a day full of engaging speakers, live entertainment, and plentiful food to keep...
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