Things to do  |  20 Jul 2022

Share this story

An upcoming free public event will explore the steps we can take to embrace wilderness in our urban cityscape and backyards.

‘Embracing the Urban Wild’ features quick fire stories from passionate people and local groups who are bringing biodiversity to our city. These bookend a panel discussion, which features experts from various disciplines, and a chance for members of the public to ask questions during a Q&A.

“As our city has grown, many special ecosystems and native species have disappeared; as the planet warms up, ecosystems are being further disrupted and habitats lost. In New Zealand alone, about 4,000 species are threatened or at risk of extinction,” says Jessica Halliday, Director of Te Pūtahi, Centre for Architecture and City Making.

“Our responses to climate change can make Ōtautahi Christchurch a whole lot better for other species. In turn, this richness or biodiversity, which provides vital systems for life on Earth, can help with our wellbeing and climate resilience.”

The free event is part of Christchurch Conversations: Towards 2030 - a speaker series looking at how we can reach our climate resilience goals.

“The Christchurch Converstation event series, supported by the Council’s Sustainability Fund, have been really popular. It’s a great way to engage our community on a range of climate related topics. There are strong linkages between our climate and natural environment - which is why the Council in 2019 declared a climate and ecological emergency,” says Tony Moore, Christchurch City Council Climate Resilience Lead.

Embracing the Urban Wild starts 6pm on Tuesday 26 July and is the first of of five events planned for 2022.

The event includes a panel discussion with experts Dr Colin Meurk (ecologist), Craig Pauling (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mutunga, English, Scottish and Welsh); Environmental Planner and Ecological Restoration) and Antony Shadbolt (Christchurch City Council’s Biodiversity Office, Landscape Architect).

This is a free community event, but bookings are required. To book and for more information please visit: https://events.humanitix.com/embracing-the-urban-wild

You can attend in person or online. Masks are required for those 12 years and over at Tūranga.

Christchurch Conversations is a partnership between Te Pūtahi, Christchurch City Council and Series Research Partner, The Building Better Homes Towns and Cities: National Science Challenge.