A group of Dunedin residents has called for politicians to work collaboratively and come to an agreement on a long-term strategy to reduce New Zealand's exposure to economic instability and energy limitation.
At a recent public meeting, 150 people heard academic, community and political leaders discuss the economic and environmental issues facing New Zealand, co-organiser Emeritus Professor Sir Alan Mark said.
Those at the meeting ratified a declaration calling on politicians to put aside their political differences and work constructively to plan for the economic instability and energy limitations facing the country, he said.
"The meeting showed a real desire among the wider community for politicians to come together to address the very serious problems we are facing."
Those at the meeting calledfor cross-party national plans to deal with a deepening or prolonged financial crisis and aplan to encourage New Zealand business to explore opportunities to deal with the "inevitable" shift to a lower-carbon, lower-energy economy.
A feasibility plan was also called for to deal with the transition from a debt-based economy to one founded in "community well-being, monetary security and environmental resilience".
Another plan was also sought to progressively restrict the extraction and use of fossil fuels and promote the switch to renewables.
Sustainable Dunedin City co-chairwoman Jocelyn Harris, one of the meeting's sponsors, said people should engage with their political leaders and election candidates at every opportunity to push them to take real action.