Fuel – Chris Boxall

I started blogging in 2018 because I needed a way to write often without publishing a book. It also helps me de-clutter, and add value to various discussions. I hope you enjoy my blogs.

My blogging principles are to try to be: positive, readable, logical, informative, fair, accurate, impartial, and of independent spirit and mind.

I want to write about things that will make a difference to the community and humanity, and about things that have either not had sufficient air time or where the public or journalists perhaps haven’t got the right gist of an issue.

No topics are off-limits. I have two conflicts of interest: I work in oil and gas, and I own shares in my and my wife’s education agency company.

In addition to blogs, I have a number of publications or events that fuel my writing and aspirational social entrepreneurship (in order of most recent to oldest):

2021 – Auckland Writers Festival participant including:
- Autumn Salon Series conversation with Isabel Allende, Mohamed Hassan and Yijun Li,
- Picture Book Practice workshop with Shaun Tan, and
- A Nobel Life conversation with Kazuo Ishiguro.
2021 – Attended Aotearoa SDG Summit Series – Be The Change (Online Hui 2) including:
- Growing Sustainability Culture in your Organisation with Mike Burrell, Sustainable Business Council.
2021 – Submission to the Climate Change Commission on their draft 2021 report calling for systems thinking which shows three elephants, four pillars of success, three omissions and one idea to solve everything.
2021 – Growth Without Economic Growth Webinar by the European Environmental Agency via the European Environmental Bureau as digital attendee.
2020-2021 – Took 4 months off masters study to support my wife work super-full-time as a team member of Ineos Team UK try to win the America’s Cup; very rewarding to see her excel in sports administration at the highest levels.
2020-2021+ – Studying MSc in Sustainable Development from the University of Sussex – refer to ‘Humanity/Sustainability Quest’ for further details.
2020 – Attended Aotearoa SDG Summit Series – See The Change (Online Hui 1) including:
- The Power of Visual Storytelling Workshop with James Bishop and Tim Hamons.
2020 – Helped organize, and attended, the United Nations Association of New Zealand National Council Meeting in Auckland.
2020 – Attended Improving Resilience with the Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure via thinkstep-anz, about climate risks to businesses, reporting via a gap analysis process, and involving governance, strategy, risk management and metrics/targets.
2020 – Attended Go Green Expo and bought biodegradable cling wrap, although I must say that the produce is very average.
2020 – Watched A Life on Our Planet by David Attenborough via Netflix and trialed 40 days of vegetarianism which I enjoyed, although it wasn’t sustainable for family life – but we did agree to materially reduce meat consumption.
2020 – Invented “Altruistic Rocket Theory” which is (the bare bones of) a theory that explains how international treaties can be very successful. Please refer to the November 2020 blog article for further information.
2020 – Supplied feedback to the Sustainable Business Network feeding into APEC 2021 focused on a consumption treaty (inc. breaking the link between GDP growth and resource extraction, sanctuaries, and properly dealing with own rubbish / recycling), understanding first principles of renewable energy (not necessarily clean nor without consumption) and circular economy (paradox with second law of thermodynamics), and mandatory reports on the SDGs.
2020 – Achieved Chartered Manager designation at the Institute of Managers and Leaders.
2020 – Voted in UN75 survey by the United Nations about how to increase international efforts on global challenges.
2020 – Queried to Stuff about an article (https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/122413289/climate-explained-why-does-geothermal-electricity-count-as-renewable) which concluded that geothermal is renewable but presented evidence and reasoning that critiques the arguments.
2020 – Submission to the Productivity Commission on New Zealand Firms: Reaching for the Frontier, calling for an analysis of comparative advantage to forge through COVID-rebuild and net zero carbon uncertainty and disruption.
2020 – Reader of Future Forces Disrupting Sustainable Business – a full-spectrum thinking approach to building sustainability, 2019-2029 by Institute For The Future.
2020 – Sustaining NZ via VisionweekNZ as digital attendee.
2020 – Published ‘Introduction’ – 1st YouTube video at https://youtu.be/ZPDCGxb2aes.
2020 – Wait but Why? The Road to Superintelligence by Tim Urban via Talks at Google digital attendee.
2020 – A Critical Examination of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals by Dr Heloise Weber via UQx digital attendee.
2020 – Supplied feedback to the Sustainable Business Network which was directly quoted in an April 2020 letter to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about ‘Investment in the post-pandemic economy’, arguing for an analysis of comparative advantage and sustainability.
2020 – Energy Justice, Just Transitions and Climate Change Policy seminar by Max Lacey-Barnacle via SPRU digital attendee.
2020 – Online CEO Forum: The new economy: resilience and regeneration via the Sustainability Business Network digital attendee.
2020 – #MasterClassLive with Dan Brown via MasterClass digital attendee.
2020 – How to be a more effective agent of change by Alan Atkinsson via TEDx digital attendee.
2019 – Empowering the Civil Society Voice on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals digital attendee.
2019 – Became a Member of the International Development Young Professionals Aotearoa New Zealand Incorporated.
2019 – IDYPx Short Talks attendee including:
- Fragile Contexts talk by Catherine Belfield-Haines,
- Direct Impact talk by Darren Ward, and
- Doughnut Economics talk by Shruthi Vijayakumar.
2019 – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade event in Auckland on UN Climate Change Conference COP 25 public discussion and preparation attendee.
2019 – Became a Member of the United Nations Association of New Zealand.
2019 – Became a Member of the Sustainable Business Network.
2019 – SDG Summit attendee including:
- The international context, and NZ’s leadership role panel discussion with Rt. Hon. Helen Clark, Dr Jacqueline Parisi, Dr Russel Norman, and Rachael Le Mesurier, and
- Accelerated action beyond the status quo panel discussion with Dr Gill Greer, Kevin Hague, Dr Arend Merrie, and Sophie Handford
2019 – Completed Columbia University course ‘The Age of Sustainable Development’ via Coursera taught by Jeffrey Sachs.
2019 – Festival For The Future participant including:
- The future is ours to create! panel discussion with Justin Lester, Stacey Morrison, Golriz Ghahraman, TJ Perenara, Greer Perenara, and Talei Bryant,
- Leadership in the face of big, complex and urgent challenges panel discussion with Sophie Handford, Sonya Renee Taylor, Anne-Marie Brook, Grant Robertson, and Emily Muli,
- Moving from exclusion to a radically inclusive planet workshop with Steve Pirie, and Sarah Nally,
- Dreaming big, pushing boundaries for our future panel discussion with Andrew Barnes, Sharndre Kushor, Audette Exel, and Asaeli Pene,
- Against the odds – adversity, courage and resilience panel discussion with Charlotte Hoonhout, Steve Pirie, Whaiora Patrick, and Rachael Elder,
- Learn a powerful change model workshop with Emma Holderness,
- How sustainable human rights initiatives must start with personal transformation workshop with Sonya Renee Taylor, and Anne-Marie Brook, and
- A powerful force for change panel discussion with Chris Gallavin, Takunda Muzondiwa, Vuki Vujasinovic, and Lucy Gray.
2019 – Reader of one of my now favourite books – Circadian Code by Dr Satchin Panda.
2019 – Auckland Writers Festival participant including:
- Doughnut Economics conversation with Kate Raworth,
- Long Fiction for Younger Readers workshop with Tessa Duder,
- Bridge of Clay discussion with Marcus Zusak,
- Jobs, Robots and Us conversation with Kinley Salmon, and
- An Evening With Arundhati Roy.
2019 – Viewer of one of my now favourite documentary series – One Strange Rock by National Geographic via Netflix.
2019 – Social Innovation Conference attendee in Auckland including:
- Lecture by Shay Wright about making it as a social entrepreneur.
- Mock social enterprise hackathon.
2019 – Completed SDGAcademyX course on ‘Transforming Our World: Achieving The Sustainable Development Goals’ via edx.
2019 – Completed Copyright Licensing New Zealand Elearning Module on ‘Copyright Basics’.
2019 – Became a social entrepreneur by running Sustainability Quest pilot education module at St John’s Mairangi Bay School (Y3 & Y4) in Auckland.
2019 – Bought a series of awesome toys for educational purposes including magic sand, a polaroid, a drone, a Tesla plasma light, a salt lamp, a Tesla coil, a magnetic levitation globe, a perpetual motion engine, a solar powered windmill, a pendulum, a Galileo thermometer, a storm glass barometer, and ultra light air-dry clay.
2019 – Hosted guests in our house using Airbnb.
2018 – National Writers Forum attendee in Auckland including:
- Lecture by Lani Wendt Young about writing when there are reasons not to,
- Lecture by Anita Heiss about bringing the Aboriginal voice to the mainstream,
- Masterclass workshops (on language, editing, and plots) with John Marsden,
- Point of View workshop with Paula Morris,
- Writing for Younger Readers workshop with Kyle Mewburn,
- Digital Platform panel discussion with Rhonda Kite and Edwin McRae,
- Poetry and Place workshop with Siobhan Harvey, and
- Making Magic Everyday workshop with Lee Murray.
2018 – Attendee of Auckland 2018 concert of Bob Dylan – winner of 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature.
2018 – Reader of one of my now favourite books – Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
2018 – Submission to Independent Taskforce on the Tomorrow’s Schools Review – proposing a new curriculum framework ‘Kia Angitu Ki A Koe’ with a focus on project work to put the awe back into education.
2018 – Submission to the Ministry for the Environment on the Zero Carbon Bill – advocating detail to progress NZ’s international leadership, and to adopt targets.
2018 – Submission to the Productivity Commissions on the Low-Emissions Economy – advocating to consider post-2050, and for more targeted investment in technology.
2018 – Auckland Writers Festival participant including:
- The Absent Sea conversation with Carlos Franz,
- Masterclass workshop with Neal Stephenson from Magic Leap, and
- An Evening with Karl Ove Knausgaard.
2018 – Participant in Narrative Imperative Sustainable Development Goal competition with ‘Delegate to Achieve the SDGs’.
2018 – Submission to the Tax Working Group – advocating for hypothecated taxes, more targeted use of GST, and diagonal equity in personal income tax.
2018 – NorthWrite Conference Moving Your Writing Forwards including:
- Writing Creative Non-Fiction workshop with Janice Marriott, and
- New Stories From Old workshop with Whiti Hereaka.
2017 – Bought a hybrid car.
2017 – Self-published ‘Life, God, Love, My Pilgrimage’ – 7th book in Social Series – about my brother, religion, and my wedding. Some commercial sales.
2017 – Participant in XPRIZE Seat14C sci-fi short-story competition with ‘Out Of This World’.
2017 – Shortlisted for Bonsai: The Big Book of Small Stories with ‘Go Fish’.
2017 – Completed suite of Digital Business Academy courses.
2017 – Founder and director of my and my wife’s company: Sweet English Limited.
2017 – Became a full Member of the New Zealand Society of Authors on the back of my Social Series.
2017 – Tried the 5:2 fasting diet but stopped as it was incompatible with family meals.
2016 – Self-published ‘Back To My Roots’ – 6th book in Social Series – about visiting my Dad’s homeland. Some commercial sales.
2016 – Submission to Constitution Aotearoa – advocating a priority to adapt to the exponential digital future, asking for proper consultation with Maori and more discussion on the Treaty of Waitangi, and calling for us to first establish our national identify.
2016 – SingularityU New Zealand Summit attendee in Christchurch.
2016 – National Writers Forum attendee in Auckland including:
- Lecture by Chris Cleave.
2015 – Birth of my daughter, Amelia.
2015 – Bought a house for my family.
2015 – Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language, Level B1, Instituto Cervantes.
2015 – 2020 – Was a Member of the New Zealand Book Council (now Read NZ Te Pou Muramura).
2015 – Self-published ‘Ambiate’ – 5th book in Social Series – about my personal philosophy. Invented English word “ambiate” (refer to Purpose tab).
2014 – Graduate Management Admission Test score of 690.
2014 – Became a Member of the NZ Institute of Management (now the Institute of Managers and Leaders).
2013 – Birth of my youngest son, Maximo.
2013 – Stood in local body elections, unsuccessfully, for the board of the Waitemata District Health Board.
2013+ – Became an Associate of the Institute of Directors in NZ.
2012 – Submission to the Ministry of Social Development on the Green Paper For Vulnerable Children – advocating for a more proactive and holistic approach.
2011 – Birth of my eldest son, Francisco.
2011 – Married the love of my life, Juliana.
2010 – ‘Axeman XI’ poem published in ‘A Tingling Catch – A Century of New Zealand Cricket Poems 1864 – 2009’ anthology.
2010 – Self-published ‘Don’t Follow The Script’ – 4th book in Social Series – about creative poetry.
2010 – Self-published ‘Horror At Hobson House’ – 3rd book in Social Series – a memoir for my flatmates at the time.
2009 – Self-published ‘I Am An Axeman’ – 2nd book in Social Series – a memoir for my cricket team at the time.
2008 – Self-published ‘Buried Treasure’ – 1st book in Social Series – a memoir for my maternal grandma. Some commercial sales.
2007 – 48 Hours film challenge participant.
2005+ – Became an Associate Member of the New Zealand Society of Authors.
2005 – Cycled around Lake Taupo in under goal of six hours.
2005 – Completed altitude training.
2004 – 2007: Volunteer at four summer and one winter Camp Quality camps for children who had, or were affected by, cancer.
2003 – Summited Mt Paricutin, Mexico in winter.
2002 – Competed in the World Shoving Racing World Championship at Angel Fire, New Mexico, USA and finished in the top 40.
2002 – Voice was in crowd noise used in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’ in battle scenes.
2001 – Summited Mt Taranaki, NZ in summer and Mt Ruapehu, NZ in winter.
2000 – 2002: Certificate in Arts endorsed in Expressive Arts from Massey University, Palmerston North, including:
- Writing workshop with Joy Cowley,
- ‘The Snake’ poem published in ‘Hot Ink’ anthology,
- Various short films made,
- Comedy review actor, and
- Theatre actor.
2000 – 2002: Bachelor of Business Studies in Finance and Enterprise Development from Massey University, Palmerston North. Invited to do Honours, but declined to go travelling.
1995 – 1999: Attended Wellington College, obtaining School Certificate, 6th Form Certificate, an ‘A’ Bursary, 4x top in Japanese, and 2x top in Geography.
1994 – Self-published ‘Chris Boxall’s Autobiography’ – a book that was a school project.
1994 – Photo published in ‘The Best of New Zealand’ book.

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