Mohua 2042
We are a community-led charitable trust, grounded in the values of Golden Bay and dedicated to supporting a thriving, resilient, and regenerative future for our region.
We work across the whole bio-region, bringing people together to create long-term solutions that care for our environment, support our local economy, and strengthen the wellbeing of our community — now and for generations to come.
We work across the whole bio-region, bringing people together to create long-term solutions that care for our environment, support our local economy, and strengthen the wellbeing of our community — now and for generations to come.
Our vision
"Our vision is for a flourishing community that is adaptable, caring and inclusive. We work in concert with nature to preserve and improve our environment. Our sustainable approach inspires others."
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These values are under-pinned by themes of abundance, well-being and creativity, embodied by the concepts of:
Kaitiakitanga, Stewardship Looking after and leaving the environment in a better state for the future generation.
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Wairuatanga, Spiritual WholenessThe spiritual dimension of all existence; the all-inclusive wellbeing of an individual, but also the spiritual energy of the collective with which individuals identify.
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What we do
Our mission is to bring people together around a shared vision for our region, and support the long-term wellbeing and resilience of Golden Bay through strategic, collaborative, and place-based mahi.
Instead of focusing on just one sector or issue, we work with people throughout the bio-region and all sectors - connecting ideas, navigating complexity, and supporting a shared direction for the future.
Our work began with facilitating the creation of the Mohua 2042 Sustainability Strategy - a long-term community-developed vision for Golden Bay. We continue to support bringing this vision to life through offering mentorship and support, helping projects with funding, and sharing our communitys progress.
Instead of focusing on just one sector or issue, we work with people throughout the bio-region and all sectors - connecting ideas, navigating complexity, and supporting a shared direction for the future.
Our work began with facilitating the creation of the Mohua 2042 Sustainability Strategy - a long-term community-developed vision for Golden Bay. We continue to support bringing this vision to life through offering mentorship and support, helping projects with funding, and sharing our communitys progress.
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Meet the trust
Debbie PearsonChair
Debbie is the Chair of Mohua 2042 trust and brings a wealth of experience from leadership roles with organisations such as the Art of Living Foundation, Boxwood Charitable Trust, and Source3 Ltd. With a passion for meaningful change, she has led major programmes across government, corporate, and community sectors — from transforming Fonterra’s supply chain through a $300M SAP rollout, to driving innovative biosecurity partnerships, and coordinating global initiatives like the UN’s Stand Up, Speak Out. Before founding her consultancy, DJP Consulting, Debbie spent over 15 years as a senior executive, including roles as Director of Preclearance at Biosecurity NZ and GM of Supply Chain Strategy at Fonterra.
Reggie LuedtkeTrustee
With over 20 years' experience across startups, non-profits, and impact investing, Reggie brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial and systems-thinking expertise to the trust.
He co-founded and led BlueTree Network, growing it into a 450-person healthcare consultancy with $250M in revenue. As a Fellow of the Edmund Hillary Fellowship, he’s part of a global community developing solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges from a New Zealand base. He also founded Earth Equity, creating a path for companies to allocate stock and board representation to nature itself. Reggie has held governance roles with the Alaska Conservation Foundation, Earth Equity, and the Coalition of Everyone, and is a co-founder of Takaka Co-housing and Te Hapori Hauora Community Land Trust, which now supports 34 homes and long-term land stewardship. |
Grant KnowlesTrustee
Grant has been a creative and community-minded presence in Golden Bay since moving here in 1987. He owns Art Vault in Takaka, supporting over 60 local artists, and manages the weekly Village Market, a vibrant hub for food, craft, and creativity. Grant also hosts Fresh Start Friday on Fresh FM, where he interviews locals and shares stories from across the region, celebrating local voices and initiatives.
With three terms on the Golden Bay Community Board and active roles in Tasman District Council and local groups, Grant brings a deep understanding of the community's infrastructure and needs. A founding contributor to the Mohua 2042 Strategy, he is now a proud trustee, dedicated to building a sustainable and resilient future for the Bay. 
Mark MansonTrustee
Born and raised in Golden Bay, Mark is an eighth-generation local with deep roots in the Takaka Valley. "I was born within 200 metres of the Takaka river and have lived within 400 metres of that river for most of my life. I feel deeply connected to this valley and its hills of the Eastern side. I have travelled, and know how special it is here; and how lucky I am to be able to be here. My wife and I started a funeral home in 2018: Matuku Funerals, which is located on our farm in East Takaka. It is the first funeral home in the bay for 85 years." He is also a musician, an artist, a farmer and a father; a friend of animals and a planter of trees, and "mostly harmless". Mark’s grounded outlook and deep love for, and experience with the land brings an enriching contribution to the trust board.
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Andrew Hayes
Coordinator
Andrew coordinates the day-to-day operations of the Mohua 2042 trust, supporting community-led initiatives across Golden Bay. Based in the Nelson-Tasman region since 2019, he brings project management and business development experience to his role, helping facilitate collaboration between diverse community groups working toward shared environmental and social goals.
Driven by values of community reliance, collaboration and environmental sustainability, Andrew is passionate about supporting approaches that demonstrate how communities can address environmental challenges while building resilience and connection. When not coordinating trust activities, you'll find him with his family and friends; gardening or exploring the natural landscapes that make this region remarkable.
Andrew coordinates the day-to-day operations of the Mohua 2042 trust, supporting community-led initiatives across Golden Bay. Based in the Nelson-Tasman region since 2019, he brings project management and business development experience to his role, helping facilitate collaboration between diverse community groups working toward shared environmental and social goals.
Driven by values of community reliance, collaboration and environmental sustainability, Andrew is passionate about supporting approaches that demonstrate how communities can address environmental challenges while building resilience and connection. When not coordinating trust activities, you'll find him with his family and friends; gardening or exploring the natural landscapes that make this region remarkable.
Our story
Planting the seed
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The idea for Mohua 2042 began to take shape at the Adaptability Forum - a community event supported by local members of Tasman District Council. The forum created an open, participatory space where locals came together to explore how Golden Bay could build resilience and adapt to current and future challenges.
Discussions ranged from housing, food systems, and sustainable business to education, energy, and local governance. What stood out was the passion in the room - and the sense that, as a community, we shared a strong common vision for the future. But there was also a familiar frustration: “We’ve had great conversations before - how do we make sure this leads to real change?” This question became the spark. A suggestion emerged: “If we’re serious about a sustainable future, let’s create a Sustainability Strategy for Golden Bay.” A committed group of locals stepped up to turn that idea into action. They recognised that if we were to truly support future generations and protect the taonga of Mohua, we needed a practical, community-led roadmap for change. |
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"The idea for the Strategy came from the belief that if you really want something to happen, you have to be able to visualise it first, and clarifying that vision by putting it into words gives it a much greater chance of becoming real."
- Debbie Pearson, Chair
Growing the visionThe core group took the idea out to the wider community to test the level of interest in developing a local Sustainability Strategy. Interest was phenomenal, and diverse. A plan was devised and the community engaged!
We studied Sustainability Strategies from other regions and countries. We held hui, gave presentations and developed an online tool to gather grassroots input and to understand what mattered most to the community. We looked at other regional and national strategies including Te Tauihu Intergenerational Strategy, Kotahitanga me te Taiao Strategy and Tasman District Council vision and strategy documents. How did we, the people of Golden Bay, want Golden Bay to look in 2042? |
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A collective strategy emergesAfter a multi-year process involving the development of guiding frameworks and focus areas, hui, meetings, community consultations, and online discussions, the input was gathered, shaped into a draft, and refined through further feedback.
The result is a living, evolving document - designed to capture the ideas and aspirations of our community and to provide: ● a summary of what could be ● a direction on how to get there ● a celebration and collation of what is already going on ● a reference point for ongoing decision making We continue to track and celebrate our progress. In 2024, we released our first progress report - a reflection on the journey since the strategy was launched two years earlier, and a chance to acknowledge the momentum already building across the Bay. |
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Where we are now
Mohua 2042 continues to carry the community's vision forward. We work to support individuals, organisations, and initiatives to align with these values and intentions, and celebrate our progress along the journey.
Our story is about community. Listening deeply, dreaming together, and taking action towards a future that reflects our collective values. It's a long-term journey, but one built on the belief that Golden Bay can, not only be sustainable, but can become an exemplar for how communities can thrive - by looking after each other and our whenua.
Our story is about community. Listening deeply, dreaming together, and taking action towards a future that reflects our collective values. It's a long-term journey, but one built on the belief that Golden Bay can, not only be sustainable, but can become an exemplar for how communities can thrive - by looking after each other and our whenua.
