Countdown to Festival for the Future
400 young innovators from around New Zealand will converge on Auckland this weekend for the fourth annual Festival for
the Future. The festival celebrates youthled Kiwi innovation, and supports the next generation to spark and grow ideas
for a better world. Contributors come from a vast range of disciplines to connect, share their passion, projects, and
vision for New Zealand.
28 year old Festival Founder & Director, Guy Ryan said “...the Festival has grown into a significant national event, and now has support from some of
New Zealand’s most influential organisations. The showcase of young New Zealanders who are literally changing the world
is incredibly inspiring, it’s the kind of stuff that makes you proud to be a Kiwi.”
Keynote speakers range from Andrew Hamilton, CEO of The Icehouse to Minnie Baragwanath, CEO of Be Accessible which is
transforming New Zealand’s support of accessibility needs. Emeline Afeaki Mafile’o will talk about the various
enterprises she has established that are changing lives in the Pacific.
Young innovators include Tsar Marsters, a 19 year old hiphop dancer who turned poor high school grades into a
successful dance academy soon to represent New Zealand. Taylor Finderup, a 15 year old will talk about the campaign she
led to help ban sharkfinning, Yvonne Taufa is connecting girls from low income backgrounds with donated dresses for
their school balls through ‘The Cinderella Project’, and Jason Pemberton who cofounded the Student Volunteer Army in
the wake of the Christchurch earthquake.
Twentyone speakers will give talks over the weekend, punctuated by workshops, seminars and entertainment.
Inspiring Stories Trust, the organisation behind the Festival, with support from the Akina Foundation, has awarded 54
scholarships to young people around the country who wouldn’t have otherwise been able to attend. Recipient India
LoganRiley, 19, from Hastings, said she was most looking forward to attending the workshop section of the festival
programme “to develop some skills in bringing ideas to life and creating a vision that everyone wants to have a part
in.”
Festival for the Future is on from the 5th
to the 7th of September at AUT University’s Sir Paul Reeves Building in central Auckland. Tickets will be available
until 3rd of September.
ends