Theme: Connectedness

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

144 Knighton Road
Hamilton, Waikato
New Zealand

Aaron Brunet

Aaron Brunet was the winner of the first MasterChef New Zealand. But it wasn’t really the journey we all saw. In this frank and honest account Aaron shares the reality behind Reality TV. More importantly he shares the lessons that he learned, so that we can avoid the same difficulties and enjoy the wins that we get in life.

Andrew Nicol

Personality. -That thing that we and others are perceived to be through our actions, words and interactions. Have you ever thought about your power to impact and change personality? What difference does it make to the world if the personalities you interact with are focused on ‘doing good’? In this talk Andrew puts a twist on a topic we have all heard before.

Debashish Munshi

Priya Kurian and Debashish Munshi are academics at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand. One is a professor of political science and the other a professor of management communication. What brings them together is a shared concern about issues of diversity, equity, and sustainability.

Jonathan Lyon

Jonathan Lyon is a former global advertising executive from London now photographer and artist. He created This Is My Voice as a platform and a voice for those who are rarely heard. He has founded a Camera Club at Auckland City Mission and is teaching photography to homeless people, “I wanted the homeless to tell their own story, to have their own voice, how better to tell their story than the homeless telling it themselves with their own words; their life through their lens.

Lindsay Adams

Paul Murray

Paul refers to himself as an ‘Education for Sustainability’ teacher, a travelling story-teller of sorts, a facilitator and a tutor. Over the year, He visits nearly every school in the Waikato District delighting children with his positive message, his crazy style, and his fun, entertaining lessons. Paul arrives with his eclectic entourage of vintage suitcases filled with props and learning equipment. The message is a clear one: Zero Waste!

Priya Kurian

Being human we will always have differing opinions, values and interpretations of how the world is and how it should be. Finding the middle ground, and living in as much harmony as possible is critical as our world becomes more crowded, and technology makes the world smaller. However Debashish and Priya show that Democracy is not the answer that many of us think it is, and suggest a new approach that uses the clash of ideas to create a stronger more resilient world for our future generations.

Rachel O'Connor

In this very human talk Rachel gives us a unique insight into what it means to be a refugee finally being accepted into a country and a community. Fittingly this talk was given on World Refugee Day. But rather than dwell on the frightening facts and figures, in this talk Rachel focuses on the the laughs, tears, and humanity, doing a job she so clearly loves.