Insights from Motu's Just Transitions Dialogue

Over 2022–2023, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research led a team of researchers and practitioners in developing “A guide to just transitions for communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.” The guide was commissioned by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment with the goal of creating a practical resource that would help communities and organisations run their own just transition processes. With the aspiration to make the development of the guide itself a just transition process, Motu broadened engagement on the guide with co-funding from the Aotearoa Foundation through a cross-sector dialogue process. This paper summarises the objectives and design of the Just Transitions Dialogue and reviews the impact it had on the development of the guide. The Dialogue surfaced valuable insights into just transitions concepts, challenges, opportunities, and enablers in the unique context of Aotearoa. This had a profound effect on shaping the form and content of the guide to make it more accessible and relevant for prospective users. In addition, by building relationships and understanding across participants, the Dialogue strengthened the foundation for a diverse community of practice on just transitions in Aotearoa New Zealand.