Global Think Tank and Change Activator
We’ve forgotten something.
For most of human history, people understood that they were part of nature – not separate from it, not above it. That relationship shaped how we lived, what we consumed, and what we valued.
That connection has broken. And the result is visible everywhere: a climate in crisis, ecosystems collapsing, consumption running unchecked. Not because people are bad, but because when you lose your sense of belonging to something, you stop caring for it.
Terra Nova Foundation exists to rebuild that connection – and to channel it into lasting, meaningful change.
We work with individuals, organisations, and communities to help them rediscover their place in the natural world, and then put that renewed relationship to work: shifting behaviour, redesigning systems, and activating a new generation of changemakers.
We’re not interested in guilt or fear. We’re interested in belonging, joy, and purpose – because that is where happiness resides and where profoundly good decisions are made.
Based in Aotearoa New Zealand, we work globally. And we’ve learned that when people genuinely reconnect with Earth, the change that follows is real, deep, and it lasts.
Mother Earth is calling. We help people answer.
Video: Scott Mouat, Elwin Productions
The School for Changemakers moves purpose-driven individuals into effective agents of change by giving them the skills, support, and real-world experience to transform ideas into impact. Based in Aotearoa New Zealand, the programme brings together global and grassroots practitioners who are actively leading change across systems, communities, and environments. Drawing from regenerative practices, connection to land & water, and indigenous knowledge, it embeds insights that are both locally rooted and globally relevant.
Participants leave with a clear sense of purpose, a tangible project or initiative, and a global network of peers - equipped to create lasting impact in the world.
The Earth+ Mark of Excellence recognises the leading organisations aligned with Earth. Through in-depth, independent, on-site assessments, it goes beyond surface-level sustainability to evaluate how organisations truly function - looking at how they meet real human and environmental needs, reduce unnecessary consumption, and actively contribute to regenerative outcomes. It sets a new benchmark for what “good” looks like globally.
More than an accreditation, the Mark of Excellence is part of a wider movement to reshape how organisations think, operate, and create impact. It celebrates those who rethink traditional models, align decision-making with planetary wellbeing, and take responsibility for their role within a living system. By recognising and connecting these organisations, Terra Nova is building a global network of leaders who demonstrate that regenerative, values-led ways of working are not only possible - but essential for the future.
The Terra Nova Initiative is a bold, large-scale effort to demonstrate what a truly regenerative future can look like in practice - starting in Aotearoa New Zealand and designed to be replicated globally. It brings together diverse elements that are rarely integrated: indigenous & sage wisdom, circular resource systems, and innovative investment models - all working together to anchor the way we live & work.
More than a single project, it is a living model for humanity - connecting people, organisations, and resources around a shared vision of an Earth-positive future. By aligning knowledge, action, and investment, the Terra Nova Initiative shows how large-scale transformation can move from concept to reality, creating practical pathways for regions around the world to transition to regenerative economies that benefit all living beings.
In fact, we’re specialists in this area. We take great care and carry out rigorous reviews to ensure that change is happening and measurable. We help our partners and other environmental organisations to do the same. This approach is super important to the work we do – we all need to be accountable to the difference we say we make.
See our work
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