The Track Zero Charitable Trust (http://trackzero.nz) was founded in early 2018 with the goal of inspiring action on climate change through engagement with the arts. The main motivation is that artistic expression connects on an emotional level in a way that direct communication of science does not. Also, around 80 percent of New Zealanders engage in some way with the arts, a much larger audience than those who take an active interest in science. This presentation discusses the first major activity of TrackZero, a series of public meetings around New Zealand where scientists partnered with local arts practitioners to interact with audiences on the science, on people’s feelings and concerns, and on ways forward to action on adapting to or mitigating climate change. Different communities had different concerns and the range of conversations was rich and varied. While no formal evaluation has been carried out, we provide some general reflections on impact and engagement, and ideas for future activities.