About Us
The Lighthouse Keepers
Lighthouse Rangatahi
This work would not be possible without the incredible compassion that young minds of Aotearoa bring for all elements of Te Taiao.
Young people and their perspectives are at the centre of our operations and guiding philosophy. The Climate Change Learning Programme prioritises open discussion, reflection on personal and collective wellbeing, and rangatahi-led action projects in schools following the term in which the programme is delivered.
Lighthouse Aotearoa also hosts a dedicated group of young people who regularly consult with local government and community organisations, and who participate together in immersive experiences. This group is open to all who demonstrate mana and commitment, and experienced rangatahi offer constructive mentorship for those starting out.
“Dave”
Official Mascot
Not a long time ago in a faraway land, Dave was born alongside thousands of identical brothers and sisters on the production line. While most of his siblings were content to be purchased, played with, and eventually forgotten, Dave wanted more. Like a memory from a past life, he felt a connection to something greater than himself – a beautiful world, with mysteries and wonders around every corner. Yet he felt powerless to escape the destiny that had been laid out for him - from factory to shipping container, and ultimately to shelf.
Then one fateful day, when Dave had just about given up hope, he met a friend named Rebecca. Like him, she believed in the value of all living beings and the land itself, and they shared a similar vision of what could be in the future. Rebecca introduced him to several of her friends who felt the same, and before he knew it, Dave had become the official Lighthouse mascot!
Dave’s story reminds us that even if you’re a product of petroleum and capitalism (who isn’t these days?), you still hold the power to choose your own path.
Will Stovall, PhD
Founder, Director
Will Stovall began facilitating the Climate Change Learning Programme in Te Tauihu a few years after moving to Whakatū Nelson, and was blown away by young peoples’ compassion for the natural world and acute awareness of the threats to future generations of life. He realised quickly that the demand for empowerment of environmentally conscious rangatahi would only increase, and established Lighthouse Aotearoa in 2025 to add another voice to a growing choir.
Will has spent his career working toward a more sustainable future, first as a marine conservation biologist, then as an environmental educator. His PhD research focused upon a region of the United States hotly contested between Indigenous and colonial interests, and he is deeply motivated by the lessons that Paha Sapa continues to teach.
