2020. Just 14 days in. Unprecedented bush fires are raging in Australia. Whole species are at risk of being wiped out – and not just across the Tasman. Tensions are rising further between Iran and the US. Conflicts continue to rage across Africa and elsewhere. Refugees sit in overcrowded limbo in the Greek Islands. Te Reo Māori is still being mis-used – and not just in the recent Watties campaign. Toxic algae pollutes our rivers for yet another summer. I visit brand-new restaurants with my wheelchair-user friends and we still have to go through the backdoor.

The world needs to change.

We all know it and it’s perhaps more evident now than ever before. But what are we all doing about it? What difference can we possibly make to these huge issues that sit before us?

The answer to me is relatively simple. It lies in using our voices and supporting the voices of social and environmental change around us – both personally and as brands and organisations.

I believe 2020 is the year we all need to get bolder and louder. In 2020 it’s critical that we all understand the issues the world is facing and that we share our informed opinions as individuals, businesses and communities.

We must show our support for the issues we care about and take action towards long-term social, environmental and economic shifts. We must lift up those whose voices are marginalised and those who are using their kōrero to make a difference. We must advocate for our leaders to be brave in creating change. We must bring all people of all backgrounds on the journey with us. Only by coming together can we truly change the world. Kotahitanga holds the power. You, your teams and your communities hold the power.

I’m not saying it’s easy. Standing up and using your voice takes courage. Having your say will bring challenges. But using your voice is one simple action you can take towards changing the status quo. Look to the people, groups and organisations around you that are already advocating for change as inspiration. By simply getting behind them, using your voice and supporting their mahi, you can begin to create a lasting impact on our world.

Imagine if we all used our voices and the channels our businesses and communities have to support groups advocating for climate action, our indigenous populations, our youth, our elders, our disabled whānau and our migrants who have chosen to call Aotearoa home. Imagine the māramatanga that would grow from these voices being heard more often in more places, by more people. Imagine the movements we could build if we all used our voices as forces for social and environmental change.

2020 is the year we all need to give a damn. We need to work together as businesses and communities to address the Sustainable Development Goals. We need to educate ourselves on the issues we care about. We need to talk about these issues - loudly - and get even louder about what we’re doing about them to inspire others. We need to show that we truly care about a purpose that goes beyond profit.

As you settle back into work for the year, I challenge you to pause and really take some time to think about what you want the world to look like in five, ten or twenty years’ time...

How are you or your organisation going to contribute to creating that world?
How are you going to do that in a way that reflects your personal and professional values?
What are the tangible societal and environmental needs that sit behind your kaupapa?
How can you use your voice and channels to spark movement towards the change you want to see?
How will you empower others to be bold and use their voices too?
Who can you collaborate with to achieve your goals?
How will you know you’ve made real deep-level progress?

We all need to be the change in 2020. The world needs us. We need us. Our future generations need us. The time to be louder, bolder and braver as people and organisations is here. Will you step up?

Have questions about the issues raised in this article or how you can use your voice and your organisation to create positive change? Email me at hannah@ngatahi.co.nz for a kōrero.

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