16 January 2012
Transit of Venus Forum - Lifting our Horizon
Gisborne, 6-8 June 2012
SOLGM is thrilled to offer two early to mid-career local government staff the opportunity to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime event
The Transit of Venus Forum from 6-8 June in Gisborne will debate New Zealand’s future path, providing a unique opportunity for a limited number of New Zealanders to come together to talk and think about the big issues facing the nation.
We want two local government staff to represent our sector at the Forum.
PLUS these two staff will witness an historic astronomical event at a special place – Tolaga Bay.
If you are a local authority employee in your early to mid-career who would like to engage in debate around the big issues facing New Zealand, this may be for you.
About the Transit of Venus Forum
The second Transit of Venus of this century will occur on 6 June. It was the 1769 transit that brought James Cook to Tahiti, and subsequently to New Zealand.
Sir Paul Callaghan and partners (The MacDiarmid Institute, the Royal Society of New Zealand, Victoria University of Wellington, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, and the Tolaga Bay community) are using this extraordinary phenomenon in 2012 to provide the focus for a major three-day event on the East Coast where Cook first landed.
- On 6 June, the day of the Transit of Venus, forum participants and other guests will gather in Tolaga Bay to witness the transit along with the local community.
- The Transit of Venus Forum will follow in Gisborne on 7 and 8 June.
- A limited number of new generation New Zealand thinkers are being invited to confront New Zealand’s current realities and risks, and put forward some bold and optimistic opportunities for development.
- Participants will come from a wide range of backgrounds such as policy makers, journalists, educators, business people, and community leaders.
- They will hear a range of presentations from high powered speakers, and then participate in discussion of the issues raised.
Local government has been asked to participate.
We want two local authority staff to join these leaders to represent our sector.
The aim is that conference, while optimistic and forward looking, will be grounded in a realistic assessment by scientists of our current condition and risks in respect of our land, sea, water, biodiversity, human capacity, and energy sources.
Key to the occasion will be partnership with local iwi - the emerging Māori economy subsequent to final Treaty settlements will be a major theme.
Other themes include:
- How can our scientists and a science-based economy help New Zealand rise to the challenge it now faces following the Christchurch earthquakes?
- How can we make a living in a way that improves and conserves our natural capital?
Click here to find out more about the Transit of Venus Forum
Who can participate?
- SOLGM is nominating two local authority staff to attend the Transit of Venus Forum.
- SOLGM will pay the Forum registration fee and contribute up to $2,000 towards associated travel and accommodation costs for each of the two chosen staff.
- This is an opportunity for early to mid-career ‘thinkers’ from all local authorities and across all the disciplines represented in our sector.
- Anyone who is a fulltime permanent employee of a New Zealand territorial authority or regional council is eligible to apply by making a submission as detailed below.
How to participate
If you are interested in being one of the local government sector representatives at the Transit of Venus Forum, SOLGM invites you to submit a Think Piece of up to 2,000 words on:
Lifting our Horizon - science, sustainability and the future of my community
- There are no particular stipulations as to what your submissions should or should not cover, or the form it should take. Just put forward your perspectives on the topic as you interpret it.
- After considering the depth of thought and discussion in the submissions, SOLGM will offer two staff the opportunity to attend the Forum.
- We do emphasise this is not a competition in which the Think Pieces will be judged according to pre-set criteria. We do not have a right answer in mind, against which they will be marked. We simply want to hear what you think, and are hoping to be impressed.
- While the selection will be based on the submitted Think Pieces, it will also have regard to the diversity of circumstances, disciplines and perspectives within the local government sector.
- It is likely that telephone interviews will be arranged with shortlisted candidates as part of the process.
Conditions and obligations
If you choose to submit a Think Piece, you agree that:
- SOLGM may publish your Think Piece either on its own or as part of a collection of submissions, and
- You may be asked to present your Think Piece at a SOLGM event (seminar, conference or webinar), and that if asked you will be available to do so.
If you are one of the two staff chosen to attend the Transit of Venus Forum, you agree to report back on the experience of attending the Forum with:
- A written report of 500 words for a SOLGM publication such as PULSE e-magazine, and
- A presentation about the experience of attending the Forum at a SOLGM event (seminar or conference or webinar).
But wait … there’s more
Every staff member who submits a Think Piece will be entitled to register for any SOLGM event, seminar or conference (other than the SOLGM Annual Conference) that takes place before 31 March 2013, with a $100 discount off the advertised registration fee.
Next steps
- Register your interest in participating by emailing info@solgm.org.nz by 5pm, 1 March 2012
- Email your Think Piece along with your current CV to info@solgm.org.nz by 5pm, 6 April 2012
Find out how you could participate in the Transit of Venus forum by downloading SOLGM's brochure here (PDF 315KB)
Contact
If you have any queries, please contact:
Don Mackay
SOLGM Manager, Good Practice and Policy
Email Don
Phone: 04 978 1258 or 021 212 1912