Free MindJam talks at Arrowtown's Lakes District Museum this Labour Weekend

MindJam, a free weekend of expert-led conversations, is on at the Lakes District Museum in Arrowtown this Labour Weekend. Catalyst Trust is running it with the University of Otago's humanities division, and the organisers say it is the first MindJam in Queenstown since 2019. Each of the five sessions is guided by an expert, and questions and conversation from the audience shape the discussion. We read the Mountain Scene report published on 17 October, and the dates below are the Labour Weekend dates it describes.

Friday 23 October The opening session, "How do we build a better world?", runs from 5.30pm to 7pm. A panel of university experts looks at what the humanities can offer in a time of large global change, including climate change and social disruption.

Saturday 24 October From 11am to noon, Dr Fairleigh Gilmour leads "Teachnology", on the possibilities and pitfalls of technology in teaching and learning. From 1pm to 2pm, Dr Peyton Bond leads "Tradwives and Girlbosses", a conversation about what feminism can be today.

Sunday 25 October From 11am to noon, Prof David Ciccoricco leads "Artificial Relationships", which looks at what fiction can tell us about relationships with AI personas. The weekend closes with a session on New Zealand's upcoming general election, led by Dr Neil Vallelly, from 1pm to 2pm.

How to attend All sessions are free, but registration is required through Catalyst Trust's Humanitix page. Koha, or donations, will go to the Lakes District Museum's education programmes. Organiser Cath Gilmour suggests fitting the talks around good coffee, meals and walks. Planning a stay without a car? Our car-free stay guide covers getting around Queenstown without driving, and our short walks guide has ideas for the gaps between sessions. For more planning help, see the Queenstown guides hub.