Trustees
The Kāmahi Trust
We have three Trustees – Rebecca Mason, Sacha MacDonald, and Richard Abel.
All three Trustees are successful local business owners who have a keen interest in the Trust's purpose.
For now, Rebecca is the Chair, but this role will be rotated amongst trustees in years to come.
Meet The Kāmahi Trustees
Rebecca Mason
Rebecca Mason grew up in a distinguished household. Her father was the playwright Bruce Mason and her mother the well-known gynaecologist and obstetrician, Diana Mason. More than twenty years ago Rebecca discovered her own vocation and became a Leadership and Development Coach. She found this to be a most satisfying and rewarding career and used her coaching business to give back to young playwrights and young people in general through scholarship programmes. This continued a tradition of giving started by both of her parents. Since her retirement in 2021, Rebecca has continued to do this, through the Kāmahi Trust.
Prior to becoming a coach, Rebecca had a background in education, human resources management, and general management. She worked for a Crown-Owned Company for many years as a Senior Manager, Human Resources Manager and Acting CEO on occasion.
In 2010, Rebecca and her husband moved to Nelson from Wellington, to take advantage of the wonderful climate, access to the outdoors, and relaxed lifestyle.
Rebecca says, “Through all of my life and different careers, my major focus has been to make the world a better place by making a difference to the people I work with and come across in my daily life. This has been through values of kindness and courage and a strong commitment to developing myself and others.”
Sacha MacDonald
Sacha MacDonald of Ngāpuhi, Ngati Ruanui, Ngā Ruahine and European descent, has more than 20 years’ experience in business management, human resources, capability development and management accounting. She is frequently called upon for projects involving organisational capability, recruitment and the development of human capital.
Sacha is an entrepreneur herself, and is a founder and co-founder of several businesses. Sacha utilises her years of experience managing businesses and teams to deliver excellence.
Her passion for Māori entrepreneurship is ignited through her company Arewa. Arewa supports Māori development initiatives, organisations, and individuals looking to grow agile businesses. She is driven to create social impact initiatives by creating agile and scalable business models where people are at the heart of the organisation.
Sacha is a graduate of the Darden School of Business, an Edmund Hillary Fellow and an EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women 2017.
“I have a philosophy of developing people and their capabilities within all the businesses I interact with, whether my own or the businesses I assist,” says Sacha. “I’m passionate about Māori business, and also developing individuals and the wider community around them. I see these interests as a good fit with the Kāmahi Trust.”
Richard Abel
Richard Abel is an accountant and business advisor based in Nelson. He is the Managing Director of an accounting firm with 15 staff. In addition, Richard is involved in governance roles including Chair of the Accountants and Tax Agents Institute of New Zealand. He also serves on Advisory Boards for the DIA (AML/CFT) and the Open Polytechnic (Business Stakeholders Advisory Group). His qualifications include being a chartered member of the Institute of Directors, member of the New Zealand Trustees Association and a Professional Business and Tax Advisor (ATAINZ).
Richard has proven experience in his dealings with New Zealand entrepreneurs and business owners. A highlight was when he recently worked with a client as their business advisor and assisted them with their Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce Business Awards entry. The client went on to win the Supreme Business Award. Richard also assists others through his guest media spots with NZME (NZ Herald), Business Mentors NZ and Radio NZ.
Richard and his wife Rebekah, along with their three children, thoroughly enjoy the wonderful lifestyle Nelson offers.
“I have a commitment to being of service to others and I highly value being able to maintain trust and integrity with everyone I encounter,” says Richard. “I enjoy assisting young people with similar values to make a difference.”