Welcome to Arotake-Makariri, our Winter Review - a chance to pause, reflect, and celebrate the people and partnerships that drive Aspen Institute New Zealand. Your support as active participants and donors makes our work possible.

As the Aspen Institute marks its 75th anniversary this month, we’re reminded that its founding purpose - to unite diverse voices in pursuit of a freer, fairer society - remains just as relevant today. While global challenges grow more complex, so too does the need for leadership grounded in clarity, courage, and connection. More….

“The difficulty of our time is a difficulty of the human spirit.” As global instability echoes the conditions that sparked the Institute’s founding, our CEO, Christine Maiden Sharp shares reflections from Aspen, Colorado, where she joined the International Partners to mark the Institute’s 75th anniversary. In a moment shaped by both turbulence and hope, she explores why the founding vision remains urgent today, what it means to lead with principle, and how a global network can help us respond to the challenges ahead.

New Zealand and India share a long-standing relationship, with significant opportunities to increase trade across sectors . The recent forum, Empowering Economies: A New Era of NZ-India Business Relations, bought experts from both nations together to explore how these opportunities can be leveraged for mutual growth. Hosted by the High Commission of India to New Zealand in Wellington, the discussion built on the NZ - India forums held by the Aspen Institute New Zealand, which focussed on how New Zealand can apply their skills and expertise to assist India, while also providing opportunities to strengthen and build long-term relationships between the two nations. 

Welcome to Arotake-Makariri, our Winter Review, where we pause to reflect on the past six months and celebrate our Aspen NZ community. Many of you have participated in our seminars, online forums and courses, and have stayed engaged through The Lookout. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey - your support as donors and active participants is crucial in enabling the Aspen NZ programme to thrive.

A few highlights from the past six months: