Human Flourishing: What does it need? St Andrews Trust for the Study of Religion and Society is holding a conference
over the Friday evening and Saturday of 5 & 6 May to explore what needs to happen to support human flourishing in New Zealand. There is a paradox at its centre.
Money can't buy flourishing and most of what constitutes flourishing is not measurable in terms of GDP. However joint
action and a sense of community and agency are vital. Come and here an exciting panel of people talk and take part in
workshops to discuss the issues.
The seminar is made up of 2 parts :Friday evening from 7.00 pm and Saturday but only Saturday incurs a fee.
The ticket price includes lunch is available on the day and morning tea is included. Vegetarian options are available
but no other special diets are catered for,
Human Flourishing Seminar / Conference
Dr Heidi Thomson, Associate Professor, School of English, Film, Theatre and Media Studies at Victoria University will be
speaking about the importance of the Humanities in education in an environment where humanities courses are being closed
down and the focus is on STEM (Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics subjects).
Dr Carwyn Jones, Lecturer in the School of Law and his research Areas are the Treaty of Waitangi, Treaty settlements,
Waitangi Tribunal, Maori and constitutional issues, will be speaking about his new book, New treaty, New Traditions
Dr Danielle Shanahan is Manager Conservation, Research, Learning and Experience at Wellington’s Zealandia wildlife
sanctuary. She discovered in her 2012 research that the mere act of being in a park actually improves health and regular
time spent in nature can help prevent depression and high blood pressure.
Julian Raphael is a highly experienced community musician, music educator, composer and performer who works alongside
children and grown-ups with a philosophy and teaching style that is influenced and informed by music-making of the
world’s cultures. Julian leads the Wellington Community Choir and is director of Community Music Junction, and a student and teacher of music from the Shona culture of Zimbabwe and is one of the very few New Zealand
facilitators of African marimba and mbira.
Paul Bruce and John Pennington will talk on the topics of Our Climate Declaration and Public Engagement and we will show
a short presentation by Max Harris on his recent book The New Zealand Project.
More details about the event are available here http://www.publicgood.org.nz/2017/04/21/human-flourishing-conference/