In this Labyrinth.

This summer I joined some of our Go Eco team for 3 glorious peace-filled, politically charged and unifying days at Waitangi, some had never been before and others had not for many years. Each day we were up before dawn, fully appreciating the opportunities to reflect and relish in the natural beauty and the quiet moments of contemplation. With a backdrop of twinkling stars and the vast expanse of the universe, W. H. Auden's words resonated deeply with me.

?"Looking up at the stars, I know quite well that, for all they care, I can go to hell. But on Earth, indifference is the least we have to dread from man or beast."?

These lines seemed to capture the essence of our contemporary existence, framing the complexities of power dynamics, the inundation of globally powered information, and the unsettling realisation that much of what we perceive as reality is constructed for purposes not always transparent to us.

The political landscape of my birth country looms large. Memories of a time when the nightly news was a trusted source of information, delivered by solemn figures with rounded vowels and deep authoritative voices, contrast sharply with the present reality of a fragmented media landscape.? To be clear those voices still spoke with the class-based bias of authority in that era.

The World Economic Forum has issued an ominous warning that deliberate information manipulation casts a long shadow over our collective consciousness. Foreign and domestic actors alike leverage misinformation and disinformation to sow discord and deepen societal rifts. Even the upcoming Hamilton City by-election serves as a battleground where truth struggles to assert itself amidst a deluge of falsehoods. In the context of governance, the implications of the potential for civil unrest and political instability loom large on the horizon as risks for organisations as well as the communities we operate within.

In the face of these challenges, I think that Auden's verses continue to reverberate, urging us to confront the indifference of the cosmos with an unwavering resolve to embrace love and empathy.

?"How should we like it were stars to burn with a passion for us we could not return? If equal affection cannot be, let the more loving one be me."?

Centring hope in the darkness and reminding us that even in the absence of reciprocation, love remains a guiding force in our journey through life. With each other, through community-based collaboration, service delivery and familial relationships.?

It has to be because regardless of the squeaky voices railing against honouring Te Tiriti and obfuscating the meaning of apartheid. It has to be because there are many people like me now, who are parents to children who whakapapa māori and have been supported to do so with pride.?It has to be because as employers we must also provide safe workplaces and spaces for our teams and communities.

Amongst the chaos of misinformation and discord, there is an erosion of truth that threatens to undermine the very foundations of our communities. As environmental and social organisations become targets for online trolling and harassment, the line between truth and fiction blurs, leaving us vulnerable to both manipulation and censorship. Moreover, the spectre of modern conservatism looms large, its ascent marked by a concerted effort to stifle progressive movements and consolidate power in the hands of a few.?

The retreat of the state in the 80s and 90s paved the way for an unfettered market, wherein the interests of the privileged outweighed the needs of the many. Modern conservatism combined with neoliberal interests has led us to this place where free speech is a front for online bullying. We are coming to understand that all is not as it seems.

This is why Waitangi was such a powerful experience this year, I keep saying it was like a giant peace festival, but, do not mistake the hippy peace festivals of the ’60s for the show of unity and inclusion that held us mesmerised and sat with us throughout our time at Waitangi.?

?James Baldwin once said, "We've got to be as clear-headed about human beings as possible because we are still each other's only hope."

We have not begun to weather the storm of hate and denialism that is being stoked by the unseen faces of global networks, we have seen but a glimpse and Waitangi 2024 was a show of love that highlighted the humanity that prevails in our communities.