Film screening followed by a panel discussion with Prof. David Norton, Kerensa Johnston and Elliot Easton, hosted by Te Tauihu Environment Trust (TET) and Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance (KMTT)

Think Like a Forest has had a big year, and for good reason. The New Zealand documentary brings the vision of Recloaking Papatūānuku to life - a bold, science-led initiative to restore, regenerate, enhance and manage over two million hectares of native forests and wetlands across Aotearoa in the next 30 years.

Join us for an invigorating evening with a screening of the 35 minute film, followed by a local conversation: what does recloaking our whenua actually look like, right here in Te Tauihu?

After the film, we're bringing together a range of voices working on this from different angles for a panel discussion, including:

Emeritus Professor David Norton - an ecologist with a career researching and teaching at the University of Canterbury, David is the strategic science advisor for Recloaking Papatūānuku and features in Think Like a Forest. He is passionate about better managing our native forests for biodiversity conservation and climate change resilience, including addressing the impacts of feral ungulates.
Kerensa Johnston - A lawyer, executive and Māori governance leader with a strong interest in sustainability, intergenerational investment and wellbeing. She served as General Counsel at Wakatū Incorporation from 2012 and then as Chief Executive from 2016-2025. Alongside other governance roles Kerensa currently chairs Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga and Ngāti Tama ki te Tau Ihu Charitable Trust, and recently joined the Board of KMTT.
Elliot Easton - a restoration and conservation practitioner working across Te Tauihu, with a focus on native planting, assisted natural regeneration and landscape-scale restoration. He previously managed the Restoring the Moutere: Ridge Tops to the Sea project for the Moutere Catchment Group and works to connect practical restoration with the people and communities needed to make lasting change.
Lucy Garrett - The Restoring Landscapes Programme Director for The Nature Conservancy Aotearoa New Zealand, working at the intersection of conservation, climate action, and finance. She leads initiatives that restore and protect natural systems while developing the finance, partnerships, and integrated strategies needed to scale impact across landscapes. Drawing on experience across NGO, UN, and private sectors, she works with partners to advance practical, scalable solutions that benefit nature, climate, and communities.

We'll explore what's working, what's getting in the way, and how our region is primed to lead the way on restoration at scale.

This event is part of the Nelson Tasman Climate Forum's annual Climate Action Festival, check out all other events on our website - https://www.nelsontasmanclimateforum.nz/2026-climate-action-festival/

Contact the host of Film screening and panel discussion - Think Like a Forest