A diverse and compelling line-up of speakers are sharing their ideas at this year's TEDx talks at the ASB Arena.
It's themed What Fits Your Future and they will challenge the audience on "how to connect with ourselves, each other and our planet, if we truly want to live better", says TEDx Tauranga organiser Charlotte Yates.
With the Olympics nearly upon us, Michael Hershman is one speaker who is particularly topical. He is an expert on corruption, accountability and transparency and is the newly appointed group chief executive for the International Centre for Sport Security.
"Michael has seen corruption at the highest levels of office around the globe. He was involved in the FIFA investigation and maintains that ethics in sport at international level is appalling," says Charlotte.
She says the idea behind TEDx is to provoke ordinary people's thinking by providing experts they may never have access to.
"It is a forum for idea sharing. The people speaking are the experts, in whatever it is they do or pursue. And they are passionate, so they inspire us to care about their topic. The event has a broad range of topics that tackle issues from different angles," she says.
She says the talks also include: an Iranian-British-Kiwi woman who opens the discussion about politicisation of women's right to wear headscarves; an Arataki-native who is coming from Waikato University to question the psychopathic construct and its role in society; a Samoan-born educator who demonstrates the effectiveness of Pacifika storytelling as an education tool; an engineer who will show us how our historical approach to civilising green spaces and waterways have backfired, and a computer scientist who became a high-tech food entrepreneur during a search for meaning in her life: both trying to re-establish a connection to living in harmony with the planet.
Add to this a technology enthusiast bringing attention to a vital part of life via an intriguing history lesson. "TEDx Talks express great and well-formed ideas - both completely new ideas, as well as basic ideas with a compelling new argument behind it that challenge beliefs and perspectives," she says.
"It is about seeking answers, but also about seeking questions. It is incredibly inspiring!"
the fine print
What: TEDx - What fits your future
Where: ASB Arena, Baypark
When: Saturday, August 20, 10am-6pm