Duane Major
Pastor and Beach Campaigner
In 2016, Duane Major set up a campaign to raise the funds to purchase a 7-hectare beach up for private sale in the heart of the Abel Tasman National park, in order to gift it back to New Zealand and keep it as public land. Together with his brother-in-law Adam Gard'ner, they raised more than $2 million from 40,000 people and successfully purchased the beach.
A father of four, this was not Duane's first community endeavour. Duane raised $550k restore to West Spreydon school pool, and coordinated the purchase of two houses, one of which was done up and sold to a school teacher, who would have otherwise had to leave New Zealand due to high rental costs. Duane's work as a youth worker with Spreydon Youth Community instilled a passion for nurturing values in young people and creating thriving communities.
Duane has been a pastor at Spreydon Baptist Church since 2009.