About the Journal
Who is Āpōpō Journal for?
Our unique journal was created by 18 to 25 year-olds and aimed at 18 to 25 year-old New Zealanders.
Who came up with the concept?
The McGuinness Institute.
Who is the McGuinness Institute? The McGuinness Institute is a Wellington-based, non-partisan ‘think and do tank’. Our focus is quite general: to look at New Zealand’s long-term future. Our overarching project, called Project 2058, is based on the year 2058, in which we continuously ask what success would look like in the year 2058 and how this might be achieved. Our youth workshops with 18 to 25 year-olds are one of the tools we use to probe and shape the future.
Why was Āpōpō Journal developed?
To help young people navigate their futures and the future of New Zealand. In 2011 the Institute hosted a workshop called StrategyNZ. It brought together over 100 New Zealanders to represent the population in the year 2058. Two ideas particularly resonated: Sir Paul Callaghan’s keynote address on making New Zealand ‘a place where talent wants to live’ and the importance of 18 to 25 year-olds as an often overlooked age bracket (society tends to teach young people until they are 18 and then expect them to act as though they are 25). Āpōpō Journal responds to both ideas, growing New Zealand talent through foresight.
Why was Āpōpō Journal published in 2018?
Āpōpō Journal commemorates the first ten years of the McGuinness Institute’s Project 2058. We wanted to do something to celebrate this milestone and, more importantly, we wanted to encourage people to join us in reshaping and reimagining New Zealand in the year 2058.
How was Āpōpō Journal developed?
The McGuinness Institute began the Āpōpō Journal project in August 2018. The production team worked closely to develop an analogue resource for 18 to 25 year-old New Zealanders, with the aim of helping them shape their long-term future.
The black cover reflects the origins of the journal’s title, Āpōpō Journal, which means ‘Tomorrow’ in te reo Māori. The title Āpōpō also refers to moving towards pō (night/darkness). Pō was a time for whānau to sit together under the stars, to share, learn, and look to both the past and the future.
The look and feel of the journal has transformed over time in response to feedback from young people across Aotearoa New Zealand through social media and focus group sessions. Polls and questions on Instagram invited followers to give their opinions and advice.
The Institute facilitated four focus group sessions to check that Āpōpō Journal was developing in the right direction. These focus groups were invaluable sources of information and we are grateful to the 18 to 25 year-olds who came along to share their ideas. You can read more about their feedback here.
Many of the beautiful images and poetry Āpōpō Journal features are from talented Instagram photographers and past Institute workshop participants. We are lucky to share their work with you through Āpōpō Journal.
FAQs
Q. How can I use Āpōpō Journal?
A. However you wish; it’s a journal to make your own. You might choose to keep it private, or see it as a special taonga to share with future generations. Here are a few examples of how you can make the most of the Āpōpō Journal:
- record and reflect on your past
- create your own time capsule
- map your whakapapa
- schedule your time into weekly/monthly/annual events
- record your own significant dates on the maramataka
- learn from whakaaro
- strategise your future
Q. What makes a journal special?
A. A journal is better than talking to your dog; your dog can’t remember what you said and remind you in 40 years! A journal is yours and yours alone; it is about what you think, not what you look like.
A journal is analogue; there is no app required, no faults detected, and no electricity used – just you, your time and the journal itself.
Q. What makes Āpōpō Journal unique?
A. Its youth focus: designed by 18 to 25 year-olds for 18 to 25 year-olds. Its New Zealand focus: it is produced in New Zealand and intended for use by New Zealanders. Its future focus: it acts as time capsule allowing you to look out 40 years to the year 2058.
Q.How does Āpōpō Journal teach hindsight, insight and foresight?
A. By sharing hindsight, insight and foresight in the following ways:
Hindsight
- It lists whakaaro (proverbs/thoughts) from New Zealanders.
- It summarises key events in New Zealand’s history by date.
- It makes you think about the lessons you have already learnt.
Insight
- It shares the story of the Institute’s youth workshops and most importantly what we learnt about shaping the future.
- It contains 15 worksheets you can use to document your journey and summarise what you have learned.
- It will help you learn and use te reo Māori.
Foresight
- It includes whakaaro to inspire you to be curious about the future.
- It teaches a number of futures studies tools that you can apply to your own life and share with your whānau, community, business, country and world.
- Calendar space for the next 40 years to plan for the future.
Q. Who printed the journal and what paper stock did they use?
A. Wakefields Digital printed Āpōpō Journal. The journal’s insert pages use Advance Laser paper, an environmentally responsible stock produced using Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) pulp, sourced from Sustainable and Legally Harvested Farmed Trees. The cover is printed on Notturno Specialty Grade stock, and is manufactured under the strict ISO 14001 Environmental Management System. It is also Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF).
Q. How can I share how Āpōpō Journal has helped me?
A. We’d love to hear about your experience using the journal, whether through Instagram with the hashtag #apopojournalnz, or flicking us an email at enquiries@mcguinnessinstitute.org.
Q. What does ‘paying it forward’ mean?
A. If you receive a free copy of the journal, you can choose to ‘pay it forward’ by doing something kind for another person. That might include sharing tips you’ve learnt from Āpōpō Journal, helping out a friend going through a difficult time or volunteering in your community. It’s up to you!
