Ask an outsider to describe Aotearoa New Zealand or Nordic countries and similar themes will likely crop up: stunning andscapes, good quality of life, relative political stability. Indeed, all appear in the top 20 of Forbes’ recent global happiness survey of more than 140 countries.

The reality for those living there, of course, is far more varied and nuanced. We bring together novelist Antti Tuomainen from Finland (the current reigning champion in the world happiness league), Sámi journalist and writer from Sápmi, Sweden, Elin Anna Labba, poet, youth-worker and novelist Dominic Hoey (1985) and debut author of the Ockham NZ Book Awards longlisted Poorhara Michelle Rahurahu (Ngāti Rahurahu, Ngāti Tahu-Ngāti Whaoa) to hear what life behind the happiness headlines looks like, and what steps might bring perception and reality into closer alignment.

Chaired by Adam Dudding.