Rachel Brown - Founder of the Sustainable Business network speaking at Auckland Changemakers Convention

New Zealand has a rich history of cultural change, technological innovation, progressive social policy, entrepreneurship and community development that today we take for granted. There are many examples but here are a few: Te Tiriti O Waitangi, women’s suffrage, social security, state housing, dairy cooperatives, playcentres, kohanga reo, nuclear free NZ. The list is long.

Behind each of these achievements were dedicated, hard working individuals who made change happen. One name used to describe these extraordinary, everyday people is “changemakers”. All across New Zealand there are people going the extra mile to support their communities, improve the environment they live in, and create value and beauty in the world.

Here are two 90 Second Changemaker video profiles:

Verena Maeder

Verena is an earth building artisan with 19 years professional experience. She studied architecture and building biology before emigrated to New Zealand in 2002. Her business offers construction, training and restoration work.

“Earth building artisan with 19 years experience, trained in NZ, Switzerland and Germany. After studying architecture and building biology, I emigrated to NZ in 2002 and took on an existing mudbrick manufacture. Today the business offers construction, training and restoration work.
Mother of Raven (13) and Manuka (11). Built our own adobe home in 2007. Chairperson of Earthbuilding Association NZ since 2008.”  solidearth.co.nz
(03) 545 0240
Directed by Iain Frengley (irfrengley@gmail.com)