
Last week about 40 church leaders from Dunedin met at Orokonui Ecosanctuary for an event funded by the Wilberforce Foundation and Longview Trust. We had a lovely day enjoying the forest and birds, connecting with each other, and hearing from guest speakers Dr Andrew Shepherd, James Beck, and our dear friend Selwyn Yeoman.
It was a bittersweet time as we acknowledged and farewelled Selwyn. Selwyn has pioneered the A Rocha local group in Dunedin since 2011 while working in church ministry and completing a PhD. We would like to acknowledge the incredible legacy that Selwyn is leaving behind – he has inspired many of us with his selfless and hope-filled dedication to creation care.
We bid Selwyn a fond farewell and pray that he will experience God’s richest blessings as he settles into life in Auckland. With Selwyn moving on, the leadership of A Rocha Dunedin has been handed over to Kate Bonné and Zac Martin.

Here’s a little introduction from both of us:
Kate Bonné : Kia ora! I’m Kate. I have always felt a strong connection to the natural world, and that has grown into a sense of vocation as I’ve picked up environmental studies (currently doing a Masters focused on forest restoration), outdoors hobbies (like tramping), and conservation work (as restoration manager at The OPERA). Love for creation and our relationship with the Creator are inextricable for me, and I find hope in how the kingdom of God means restoring our relationship with the land. I’m looking forward to sharing the goodness of that restoration through the mahi of A Rocha Dunedin.
Zac Martin: Hi, I’m Zac! After several years volunteering with A Rocha, I’m really excited to be stepping up to help lead the local group. I’m currently working as a pastoral apprentice at Dunedin City Baptist Church while completing theological studies at Otago University. Before entering ministry, I worked for the City Sanctuary project leading urban predator control efforts around Dunedin. I feel really passionate about helping Christians see creation care as an important part of living faithfully for Christ.