Massey sponsors Festival of the Future

Massey University is sponsoring an event that will bring 300 young New Zealanders together to help shape the future.

The ‘Festival of the Future’, which takes place from November 16-18 at Te Papa in Wellington, aims to get young people to reframe 21st century issues as opportunities, and develop new projects to advance New Zealand.

Festival director Guy Ryans says last year’s event was a life-changing experience for many who attended.

“Festival participants will hear how one person’s idea can transform into a world-changing initiative. Anyone with the great ideas, entrepreneurial flair or community drive should come along,” he says.

“The festival will support participants to develop skills to enable them to spark and grow their ideas to the next level – it’s a chance to connect, learn and collaborate.”

The weekend programme features presentations from social innovators young and old, workshops, seminars, and project development sessions. The exciting line-up includes crowd-surfing kickstarter Anna Guenther, national Conscious Consumers coordinator Ben Gleisner and ‘Maori Boy Genius’ Ngaa Rauuira Pumanawawhiti.

Massey’s national events director Denise Armstrong says the event is the perfect fit for Massey’s brand.

“Like the Festival of the Future, Massey University is about ideas, innovation and action,” she says. “We were keen to sponsor the event because it offers a rare opportunity to bring inspiring, creative people together to discuss the big issues and explore ways of making a real difference.

“Later this year Massey and Westpac will host an event that will continue the work started at the festival. Called the new New Zealand Forum, it will bring mega-trends expert Daniel Franklin to New Zealand and ask business and opinion leaders to look to the future.”

For more information visit: www.festivalofthefuture.org.nz and www.newnzforum.ac.nz