Ardern, Robinson to speak at Wanaka festival

Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern and former Irish president Mary Robinson will lead the programme at this year's Aspiring Conversations festival in Wanaka.

Organisers yesterday announced the two leaders would speak on the opening night of the three-day event on April 6 in a talk called ``working for change''.

It would focus on enacting change on ``local, national and international levels''.

Mrs Robinson, who led Ireland from 1990 to 1997, will also speak separately in a talk on justice.

Festival director Phillip
Tremewan said he tried to book the Irish politician many times and was ``delighted'' she agreed this year.

Organisers also announced other speakers for the 11-session festival including American astrophysicist Dr Jennifer Wiseman, Australian author Christos Tsiolkas and New Zealand historians Michael
Stevens and Prof James Belich.