The Circle We Keep
Not just another sustainability podcast.
The Circle We Keep is a podcast from The Aotearoa Circle, hosted by Izzy Fenwick. Its name reflects the power of a partnership unique to The Circle - where leaders from Aotearoa New Zealand’s public and private sectors come together to tackle our most urgent climate and nature challenges.
In each episode, Izzy speaks with people shaping this work on the ground: business and public sector leaders as well as other experts. Together, these conversations show what’s possible when sectors collaborate - barriers fall, innovation accelerates, risks reduce and new opportunities for growth and investment emerge.
At its heart, this podcast is grounded in one truth: nature is our greatest economic asset and restoring and protecting it is essential for building a resilient, thriving future.
Listen on:
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
In this episode, host Izzy Fenwick sits down with Stew Hamilton, Chief Executive of Mercury, to discuss New Zealand’s energy future and its deep connection to our natural resources. Stew shares his perspective on how Mercury’s assets go beyond turbines and transmission lines - they include rivers, wind, geothermal fields, and the landscapes that power them.
Together, Izzy and Stew explore insights from The Aotearoa Circle’s Energy Climate Scenarios, highlighting how climate change and nature loss could challenge our energy systems, and why national support is essential to safeguard New Zealand’s energy backbone.
This conversation offers a fresh perspective on why energy is everyone’s business and how protecting nature is key to powering a sustainable economy.
Step into The Circle with Stew Hamilton.
Connect with The Aotearoa Circle:
Website: theaotearoacircle.nz
LinkedIn: The Aotearoa Circle
Connect with Mercury:
Website: mercury.co.nz
LinkedIn: Mercury NZ
Episode resources:
The Aotearoa Circle Energy Sector Climate Change Scenarios
Low Carbon Energy Roadmap
Wednesday Nov 12, 2025
Wednesday Nov 12, 2025
Izzy’s understanding of the link between a healthy environment and a healthy economy began with a conversation on Waiheke Island in 2016. Her dad, Sir Rob Fenwick, was explaining the findings of a government report on the state of New Zealand’s marine environment. The message was stark: our declining natural resources weren’t just an ecological concern - they posed a real threat to our economic prosperity.
In this preview to the first episode, Izzy sits down with her mum, Lady Jennie Fenwick, to reflect on Sir Rob’s legacy - as an environmentalist, business leader, and co-founder of The Aotearoa Circle. Together, they explore how his belief in quiet collaboration, cross-sector leadership, and practical action continues to guide New Zealand’s response to climate and nature challenges today.
Wednesday Nov 12, 2025
Wednesday Nov 12, 2025
In this opening episode, host Izzy Fenwick is joined by James Palmer, Chief Executive and Secretary for the Environment, Ministry for the Environment. James is also co-chair of The Aotearoa Circle.
Together Izzy and James explore how environmental reporting has shaped action in Aotearoa New Zealand and why making data accessible and meaningful to leaders is vital for protecting our natural, economic resources.
They also unpack how far New Zealand has come in connecting environmental evidence with business and policy decisions, and what the Ministry’s latest environment report tells us about the state of nature today and why we need to strengthen our natural resilience for tomorrow.
Step into the circle with James Palmer.
Episode Resources
Our Environment 2025 Tō tātou taiao
Connect with Ministry for the Environment
Website: https://environment.govt.nz/
LinkedIn: Ministry for the Environment