About
350 Aotearoa

350 Aotearoa is the New Zealand arm of the international climate movement 350.org, which aims to unite the world around climate change solutions.

Our mission is to strengthen and grow climate action in communities across New Zealand.

We coordinate local campaigns by providing education, practical tools, and support for community leadership. Our campaigns challenge the cultural acceptance of fossil fuels, and push New Zealand and the rest of the world back on track to 350ppm and, consequentially, climate safety (350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide—measured in “Parts Per Million” in our atmosphere. 350 PPM).

Our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi

350 Aotearoa is committed to the responsibilities that come with honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and understanding our obligation to uphold the rights of Māori. As a result, our response to climate justice is guided, sustained, and strengthened by the tangata whenua assertion of Tino rangatiratanga.

The team

The work of 350 Aotearoa is sustained by our passionate teams of volunteers across the country, our small team of hard-working staff, our dedicated board, and our supporter base, who donate and amplify our work.

Staff

Alva Feldmeier
(She/her, nō Hāmene ahau)
Executive Director
alva@350.org.nz

Alva has a background in community organising, campaigning, and lobbying in the human rights and climate justice space. She first got involved with the 350 Aotearoa community as a volunteer in the 350 Ōtepoti Dunedin group in 2018. She enjoys working with volunteers and in an organisation that wants to unite people by collectively tackling the climate crisis.

Alva joined our staff team in 2021 initially as our Volunteer and Mobilisation Manager a few months later stepped into the position of Executive Director.

Iara Gelpi
(She/her, nō Urukuai ahau)
Admin Coordinator
iara@350.org.nz

Iara has been volunteering with 350 Aotearoa in the local 350 Tāmaki Makaurau group since 2020. She later also joined the staff team in mid-2022. She is passionate about climate justice, social justice, and community care. Iara loves organising and working with volunteers, and takes particular care in ensuring that those involved in the climate movement feel safe, included, and heard.

Adam Currie
(He/him, Tangata Tiriti, ancestors from Loch Lomond, Scotland)
Campaigns and Communications Advisor
adam@350.org.nz

Adam’s been campaigning for climate justice ever since a freak storm sent waves crashing into his community. He’s worked in and with groups such as Generation Zero, Greenpeace, freefares.nz & Oil Free Otago – but he’s stoked to be back at 350, where his activism began. Adam’s in love with climate organizing in collective community, building together the unstoppable momentum of people power that will create a cleaner, fairer Aotearoa.

Local Volunteer Groups

We know our voices are stronger when we raise them together. Climate change is the fight of our time, and to create meaningful change we need to act together. We began as a grassroots movement in 2009 and that hasn’t changed, by bringing together our skills, time, and networks we can create the change we need.

Together, we can put pressure on our banks, councils, unions, schools and other local institutions to divest from the fossil fuel industry. And it’s happening everywhere: your local group is one of thousands across the globe, all calling on our institutions to cut their financial ties with this dirty industry.

What’s involved with local group organising? Our dedicated teams across Aotearoa organise local events, activities and climate actions. This could involve everything from banner painting, outreach, and social media, to getting behind the megaphone on the day. There’s a place for everyone and we strive to make sure everyone’s skills and talents are valued. We also provide opportunities to up-skill, so make sure you let us know what you’re interested in – whether you’re an expert or completely new to all of this!

350 Tāmaki Makaurau

Kia ora koutou! Our core group is about 10 volunteers strong, and we meet weekly on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8pm.

Many of us have roles (e.g. social media, recruitment, or leading a campaign) but we all choose our level of commitment. We know life is busy – so we even have a wider group of volunteers who don’t feel they can commit on a weekly basis, but help us out with protests, postering, come to quarterly catch-ups, and lend a hand wherever else they’d like to!

In 2023, we’re focusing on getting pushing the transition to 100% renewable energy. We always welcome new voices in this movement, so we’d love to see you get involved!

Follow us on our Instagram or Twitter page, join our Wider Volunteer Facebook Group, or email us at auckland@350.org.nz to get in touch!

350 Pamutana

Kia ora e hoa ma! We are the 350 Pamutana whānau. We are a small but growing rōpū of keen activists in the Manawatū.

This year we are focused on building our group of core campaigners, campaigning on local issues and the new Homegrown Energy Campaign.

We meet every second Thursday, 7:30 to 8:30pm in Palmy, both in person and online. We are a rōpū all about whanaungatanga and make sure that during our meetings we have fun and build our sense of community in the group.

350 Te Pamutana formed in 2021 through the initiative of Ryan, one of our amazing members. Check out how our group came to be and what we’re looking forward to in 2023: https://350.org.nz/350-te-papaioea-keeping-a-watchful-eye-on-solar-panel-progress/

If you are keen to get involved with 350 Te Pamutana follow our journey on Instagram or reach out to us at palmerston-north@350.org.nz

350 Pōneke

Kia ora! We are the 350 crew from Pōneke! We do lots of creative, cool, and effective actions to create action on climate change. Some of our recent wins are Kiwibank divesting and a roadmap for ACC to divest. This year we are taking on our new Homegrown Energy Campaign and looking to grow our group.

We meet weekly on a Monday from 6-7 pm and we’d love for you to join us in whatever capacity you can!

Once a month we have a meeting in which we invite new recruits to join to give them an introduction to 350 and answer any questions.

To get in touch you can email us at: wellington@350.org.nz

Fossil Free Aoraki

Fossil Free Aoraki is a Canterbury based group that meets in Otautahi Christchurch. This year we will be working to get fossil fuel boilers out of schools, and driving forward our new Homegrown Energy campaign. We want to see clean energy for all at home, work, and school. We would love to see you join our group.

Get in touch with us at fossilfreeaoraki@350.org.nz and follow us on Facebook.

350 Ōtepoti

We are a passionate intergenerational group of volunteers that meets fortnightly on Wednesdays on or near the Otago University Campus. We organise actions that look to creatively engage the public on our key campaigns through art, drama, music, and whānau-friendly activities. Recently, we’ve focussed on pressuring ACC to divest from fossil fuels and called on the government to allocate more funding to transitions all fossil fuel boilers in kura and schools.

Manaakitanga is an important part of our group’s identity. When we meet we always share kai and bring our full selves. We aspire to be a supportive community where all are welcome and can participate as they’re able.

350 Christchurch

We are an independent 350.org action group advocating for climate change awareness in our community and creating change in Ōtautahi and beyond! Our core team has a monthly planning meeting, and we host monthly public meetings for outreach and discussion. We write letters to the editor, lobby politicians local and national, and create petitions. We would love to have you as part of our group.

To join us get in contact: christchurch@350.org.nz

Join a group

Board

350 Aotearoa Board (August 2022)

Tania Sawicki Mead
Co-Chair
co-chairs@350.org.nz

Tania has a background in campaigning, advocacy, political strategy and human rights policy. She currently works for the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission and previously had roles as the Executive Director of JustSpeak, at the Green Party of Aotearoa and in foreign affairs. She has a Masters in International Relations from the University of British Columbia. She is a born and bred Wellingtonian and is passionate about supporting interconnected movements for social, climate and economic justice, and enjoys diving, cooking feasts for family and friends and dance.

Jonathon Hagger
Co-Chair
co-chairs@350.org.nz

Ko Ngai Takaoto toku iwi. Ngai Takato is my iwi. Kei Rotorua toku kainga inaianei. Rotorua is where I live. Ko Jonathon Hagger ahau. I am Jonathon Hagger.

Jonathon is the Chief Executive for Rotorua Community Hospice. He brings to the 350Aotearoa board experience in governance and senior leadership roles. He has an MBA awarded by the University of Waikato and is currently the chair for Wera Aotearoa Charitable Trust, a not-for-profit, delivering social change for people who are disadvantaged. The ancestral lands where Jonathon’s whānau originate from are experiencing first-hand the effects of climate change through coastal erosion as well as wildfires becoming far more frequent.

Karen Swainson

Board Secretary
Karen brings to the board 20 years’ experience of delivery and operational management in the private and NGO sectors, including IT and project management. She is a passionate believer in sustainable change and loves to drag her kids along to climate actions whenever possible. She is the Operations Manager of Mindful Money, on the board of Ooooby and her local school, the co-founder of community organisation Pachamama Alliance Aotearoa, and a keen musician and veggie gardener.

Sam Huggard

Board Member

Sam is a trade unionist and campaigner based in Wellington. He is the Director of Campaigns at NZEI Te Riu Rua, former strategic researcher with E tū union and former National Secretary of the NZ Council of Trade Unions 2014–2019, where he led the union movement’s work on just transition for workers and communities affected by climate change. Sam brings twenty years of involvement across unions, the community sector, campaigning organisations and students’ associations including as National Convenor of Campaign for MMP in 2010 and 2011, Co-President of NZUSA in 2000 and 2001 and as a part-time lecturer on Unitec’s Graduate Diploma in Not-For-Profit Management between 2008 and 2013.
@SamHuggard

Roshni Mathew
Treasurer
Roshni brings dynamic financial insights and experience to 350 Aotearoa as a qualified Chartered Accountant and in her current capacity as a vCFO working with innovative and impactful startups within Aotearoa. She is a fierce advocate of environmental movements that have the power to unlock climate justice and create greater economic equality for disadvantaged communities.She is inspired to use her skill set and lived experiences to make a positive impact.

Inangaro Vaakafi
Board Member
Pacific Climate Warriors Council of Elder
Inangaro Vakaafi is the Polynesian Council of Elder and founding member for the Pacific Climate Warriors. An experienced producer and journalist in Niue, she is now based in Wellington, New Zealand where she is the Pacific representative of the 350 Aotearoa board, and actively campaigns for climate justice. A strong youth advocate, Ina has served as the President of the Niue Youth Council, a Board Member for the Niue Island Organic Farmers Association and Vice President for the Pacific Youth Council.

Ina also worked with the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth (UNMGCY) and was the Pacific representative at the 2015 UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. Ina’s driving force for her work is her belief that we inherit lands from our ancestors and borrow them from our children.

Her aim is to reconnect the Pasifika to their island roots, and navigate spaces between tradition and the western way of life. Of Niuean and Cook Island heritage, Ina intends to return home to the Pacific Islanders to share her skills and build capacity on her island.

Annual Report

2021

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 350 Aotearoa do?

350 Aotearoa is the New Zealand arm of 350.org. the international climate movement of ordinary people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all.

350 Aotearoa run flaxroots campaigns here in New Zealand, from decarboning the state sector, to calling for renewable community energy projects to fossil fuel divestment. All of our work leverages people power — individuals working together in pursuit of a common goal — to dismantle the influence and infrastructure of the fossil fuel industry. Find more on our About page.

How do I get involved?

At minimum, make sure you’re on our mailing list to find out about our campaigns and receive low-bar actions you can do from the comfort of your home straight to your inbox. Browse our Get Involved page to see how you can make bigger contributions in a local group setting. From there, what you do and how much you get involved is up to your group’s needs, your interests, and how much time you want to put in!

I don’t have time to commit to a local group. How can I still be involved?

Whether in person or online, simply talking with those around you about the climate crisis and what’s happening in your area is an important step toward making change. Also, follow climate action groups like 350 Aotearoa on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and share our content for a low-commitment way to show your support.

If there is no local campaign group in your area yet, consider bringing other local supporters together for a one-time event – a potluck meal, film-screening, or roundtable discussion. By building relationships between passionate people in your community, a group is more likely to emerge, even if you’re not available to lead it yourself. From there you might like to consider starting a group in your area. Let us know so we can support you.

You can also donate to keep the movement strong.

Can 350 Aotearoa help run this campaign with me?

You know your own community better than anyone, so we believe local groups are best suited to run – and win! – their own campaigns. However, we can provide resources and guidance so you’re prepared to act on the changes you want to see.

What is climate justice?

Climate justice is the international environmental justice movement’s response to climate change. It views climate change as a complex social justice issue, as opposed to simply an environmental one. While environmentalism may see climate change as a result of poorly regulated industries, climate justice sees it as a product of inequality and an economic system obsessed with growth for the sake of growth. Racism and classism are inextricably linked to climate change, and these issues cannot be ignored.

Why aren’t you talking about things like recycling and veganism?

Our campaigns focus on building transformative power that challenges the status quo and social license of the fossil fuel industry. That means less focus on personal consumption choices (which are incremental) and more emphasis on collective action (which can tackle massive systemic issues).

Both are important, but we believe that by building a movement linked to these three demands, we can reach political tipping points that allow for change big enough to halt the climate crisis:

A fast and just transition to 100% renewable energy
No new fossil fuel projects, anywhere
Not a penny more in finance for the fossil fuel industry

So should I go ahead and start a local group?

If you can identify a few other dedicated people in your community to help you and are committed, yes! Get started.

Our vision is to have thousands of local community groups standing in solidarity with each other. It does take time, commitment, and energy to steer a group to maturity, but it’s precisely that sort of commitment we need if we are to change the course of history.

How much support will 350 Aotearoa offer when I start a group?

We have plenty of trainings and resources available to help you, and we often run campaigns that local groups can easily plug into. Depending on your location and how much staff or volunteer capacity is available, we also might be able to provide coaching and other direct support. But remember, in the end it’s you who can build a real local movement where you live.

I want to make a donation but I don’t want to use my credit card. What is your bank account number?

Our bank details are as follows:

Account name: Three Fifty Aotearoa
Account number: 38-9009-0488496-00

If you choose to make a donation this way, please make your name the reference and email us at 350@350.org.nz to let us know your donation amount. That way we’re able to keep an eye out for it and send you a tax receipt once the payment has been made.

I want to set up an automatic payment to 350 Aotearoa. What is your bank account number?

Our bank details are as follows:

Account name: Three Fifty Aotearoa
Account number: 38-9009-0488496-00

We’ll send through a tax receipt at the end of each financial year.

How do I go about leaving a gift to 350 Aotearoa in my will?

Leaving a bequest is a powerful act of kindness so that you can have a lasting impact to create a brighter, cleaner future for future generations. Bequests enable us to keep leading ambitious campaigns that move us towards a more just, sustainable Aotearoa and send ripples of impact to end the fossil fuel industry, and giving you the ability to support the fight for climate justice into the future.

In our guide to ‘Leaving a gift in your Will’, you can read more about making donations to 350 Aotearoa, the work your gift will support, and how to go about setting up a bequest in your will. As well as all the 350 Aotearoa bequest information required about leaving a gift in your will including; different types of bequests, recommended wording and bequest FAQ’s.

Where is my donation going?

A huge amount of our organisation’s costs go towards volunteer development and support. We invest in the people that are involved in our 350 Volunteer Network by up-skilling and training them and ensuring that they have all the resources to create meaningful change in their communities.

Part of our success so far have been nationally coordinated campaigns that empower people across the country to take action. That is why we continue to invest in our campaigns.

Our staff team consists of two permanent staff members, combined we have just enough capacity to support our volunteers, create meaningful and impactful campaigns and keep our small charitable trust running smoothly yet are small enough to keep staff costs as small as possible.

350 Aotearoa is almost entirely (with the exception of a couple of grants we apply for to cover campaigning costs) funded by our generous donors. We are proud to not be accepting any money from the government, fossil fuel industry or any other corporations that conflict with our campaigns and values.

You can view our past financial reports on the Charities Services Website.

Contact

General Enquiries:
Email: 350@350.org.nz

Media Enquiries:
Email: alva@350.org.nz

Postal address:
98 St Heliers Bay Road
St Heliers
1071 Auckland