History of Transition Towns
In 2006, Rob Hopkins and a group of collaborators founded Transition Town Totnes. Inspired by their work, communities all over the world, began to set up Transition initiatives of their own.
Grey Lynn 2030 - Getting Started
Founded in 2008, Grey Lynn 2030 was established by people with keeness for action and readiness to grow a Transition based reslient suburb in the heart of Tamaki Makaurau. With engagement from locals, many who are still involved, Grey Lynn 2030 formed.
In 2008, Grey Lynn 2030 had visions of being reslient, being able to cater for our own needs, rely less on oil and gas, imported products and lower our climate emissions.
All our initiatives and projects since 2008 are true to this vision.
At heart, Grey Lynn 2030 is a community-led organisation promoting and engaging in building neighbourhood spirit and cooperation while working towards a vision of a self-reliant, positive, resilient, vibrant, connected and sustainable community.
The Book - A Decade of Positive Vision and Practical Action – Grey Lynn 2030
Our book captures the essence of the first 10 years of Grey Lynn 2030.The book was part of our celebration on 28 October 2018 when Grey Lynn 2030 turned 10!
Here's an excellent summary of Grey Lynn 2030 at this time by Inspiring Communities.
Transition in Aotearoa
Transition Towns quickly spread beyond Britain and Ireland, with New Zealand being amongst the early adopters.
Interest took off in New Zealand in 2007, following a visit from peak oil expert Richard Heinberg and two subsequent workshops at the Taupo Ecoshow.
Over 20 local transition initiatives popped up after the global financial crisis and subsequent oil price spike.
Later the recovery from the earthquake, causing severe damage and disruption in Christchurch in 2011 endorsed this view, central to Transition, that positive action at the scale of a local community is a vital part of long-term processes of building resilience before and after an emergency.
In Auckland, we experienced significant flooding in January 2023. This has brought the reality of climate change to our community.
2030 is now much closer than when we started. We keep our name reminding us local resiliency must happen now as we adapt to our changing climate.
Trustees
Grey Lynn 2030 started in 2008. In late 2011, the Grey Lynn 2030 Trust Deed was developed and, in May 2012, became the Grey Lynn 2030 Community Trust.
Initial trustees were Suzanne Kendrick, Lynn Green, Charlotte Gordon, Pippa Coom, Dianna Tawharu, Chris Olson, Sarah Guppy and Colinda Rowe.
Carolyn Cox, Gary Marshall, Finn Mackesy and Mandy McMullin were the Grey Lynn 2030 founders group.
Current Trustees: Grant Hewison, Marianne Van der Hass, Mary Anne Parker.
Community Activator: Suzanne Kendrick
Mary-Anne Parker - Treasurer
Mary-Anne has called Grey Lynn her home for the years. She absolutely loves the place and community and never wants to leave. She believes in progress, not perfection in our journey towards a regenerative future. Through growing awareness of the practical ways people and communities can contribute, we can all incorporate changes into our lives that will make a tremendous collective difference.
Mary-Anne joined the GL2030 Trust in 2019, supporting our activities with her expertise as a Chartered Accountant.
Grant Hewison - Chair
Grant has lived around Grey Lynn with his family for many years and practices as a Barrister and Policy Consultant.
He specialises in local government with a focus on Auckland Council. Grant is also an activator of Waitematā Low Carbon Network.
Grant is involved in a variety of advocacy initiatives seeking to address climate change, including the GL2030 Trust since becoming a Trustee in 2020.
Grant also plays music with a band regularly at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market on a Sunday morning.
Read more about Grant.
Suzanne Kendrick - Community Activator
Suzanne rejoined the Trust in 2021 after previously having been Foundation Trustee at the beginning of Grey Lynn 2030’s history.
She is an extremely active member of our local ‘hood, with long and strong ties to a number of different climate action and low carbon projects.
These include leading Bike Grey Lynn, Electrify Grey Lynn and Grey Lynn Emergency Resilience.
Suzanne is responsible for the Grey Lynn 2030 Car Boot Market.
She started the Wellpark Streamers who have over 20 years successfully restored an inner-city forest and waterway. This urban ngahere now has special ecological status as vibrant city stretch of native bush.
Marianne van der Haas - Board Member
Marianne started her journey to reduce her negative impact on our natural environment many years ago. She financially and personally supports environmental justice groups.
Marianne lived in Grey Lynn for over 20 years where she became involved with the Grey Lynn 2030 Waste Away group which focussed on waste awareness and reduction
Grey Lynn Suburb
Grey Lynn is an inner city residential suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. We located three kilometres to the west of the city centre.
Our projects focus on the surrounding neighbourhoods on the west side of the Waitematā Local Board area (Westmere, Ponsonby, Arch Hill, Freemans Bay, Herne Bay and St Marys Bay).
Grey Lynn is the overarching name for a suburb with some distinct areas the locals will know - West Lynn, Grey Lynn/Surrey Crescent shops and Richmond Road. The locals know what this all means!
Grey Lynn 2030 Transition Community Objectives
The charitable objects of the Trust are as to be a community organisation within Waitemata Local Board area. We promote and engaging in building neighbourhood spirit and cooperation while working towards a vision of a self-reliant, positive, resilient, vibrant, connected and sustainable community.
In particular the Trust:
- Foster a local identity that is associated with sustainable living;
- Build local resilience in terms of food, energy and waste management.
- Seek out methods for reducing energy usage as well as increasing our own.
- Foster and support a diversity of projects which emerge from our community via focus groups;
- Build networks with and support other organisations and groups consistent with our purpose;
- Identify gaps in knowledge related to climate resilience and to make available information and methodologies that facilitate positive change within the community.
- Raise awareness, care for and enhance the natural resources of water, soil, plants and wildlife;
- Create and maintain social media for our community to inform and to interact with the members of our community as well as with other community groups.
- Act as the point of contact for organisations wishing to engage with our community.
What We Do
Since Grey Lynn 2030 formed in 2008, we organised around focus groups which pick up initiatives, projects and events where there is energy and enthusiasm.
Many focus groups have kicked off ideas that have developed into self-sustaining organisations:
Grey Lynn Farmers Market
Grey Lynn Business Association
Grey Lynn Car Boot Market
Auckand Library of Tools
Grey Lynn Residents Group
The Grey Lynn 2030 Trust continues to function as an umbrella group to help promote aligned projects and organisations within the Grey Lynn area.
New Focus Groups - 2025
In 2025 the Trust started work on
Since the January 2023 floods our community is acutely aware more Civil Defence emergencies are likely. This is an important and large community project. So far we have unable to get suppport to start with implementing our commuity ideas.
If you have a community project you would like to start, or want to get involved with any of ours, please do get in touch. We have often been the incubator for community activities.
Our activities are the result of work by volunteers committed to our vision. Community. Connection. Action.
Historical Overview of Grey Lynn 2030 Activities
Grey Lynn 2030 Community Action
Grey Lynn Farmers Market
A weekly market, started in 2008 by our original members, now offers local fresh food and zero waste education.
Grey Lynn Waste Away (GLWA)
Passionate locals, tackling issues around waste minimisation
Community Waste projects
- the cup project
- e-waste collections in Waitemata
- Community Compost collection Francis St Reserve
- Plastic Free July
- Community recycling centre advocacy - Wai Orea CRC
- Trash to Trade
- No More Plastic Bags
- Auckland Council Food Scrap activation Waitemata
- Auckland Council Food Scrap activation in apartments
Wilton Street Community Garden
Keen local gardeners who enjoyed community spirit while digging the soil to create an edible gardens.
The land was later sold and the garden closed down.
Wellpark Streamers
A group of locals who care about their natural environment and quality of streams in the area. Primarily focussed around the parks that connect to Edgars Stream.
GLUE - Grey Lynn Urban Environment
Lobby group focusing on writing submissions to Council concerning issues relevant to Grey Lynn. This merged into the Grey Lynn Residents Group
Traffic Calming/Safe Speeds
In response to residents' concerns about the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, we lobby to manage the road environment to ensure motorists' speeds are appropriate for the area.
Green Screen
Community movie screenings were organised to stimulate discussion and action. We met for 10 years with Green Screen - using this as a way to encourage people to our monthly meetings.
Grey Lynn Business Association
GLBA originally was a casual group of local business owners who offered mutual support. Many of our members had small, work from home businesses. A committee was formed and GLBA became its own entity.
In 20025, after years of work, GLBA has become a Business Improvement District (BID)
Grey Lynn Community Choir
Community singing and performing at community events.
This has now become The People's Choir
Energy Group
A group of local experts and keen learners, who are committed to finding local solutions to energy. In 2025 this became Electrify Grey Lynn
Grey Lynn Urban Environment (GLUE)
Residents focussed on writing submissions to Auckand Council.
We write submissions on issues that are important to our community
Also the Grey Lynn Residents Association submit on issues of Heritage and Unitary Plans
Plastic Bag FREE July
Waitemata Waste Away is part of the worldwide movement of reducing plastic in our environment. We have run many events over Plastic Free July. Our Plastic Bag Free campaign was our major success.
Trash to Trade
An event that encouraged and supported upcycling, focusing on local business waste management and creating upcycling businesses.
Wai Orea Community Recycling Centre
Grey Lynn's 2030 has always been commited to reducing waste.
We worked for many years to get what has became Wai Orea Community Recycling Centre. The Auckland Council management contract of the CRC went to Henderson based MPHS.
Repair Cafes
We started pop-up events, bringing people together to share practical skills and saving items from going to landfill.
After starting in Grey Lynn, Brigitte Sistig has gone on to be influential in the Right to Repair movement.
Sew Grey Lynn/Stitch in Time
A monthly get together at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market where local expers offer a community repair service and teaching service.
Last Sunday of the Month - Grey Lynn Community Centre.
Our History
Newsletters, events, street parties, community action and participation
Green Screen: The Yes Men Fix The World
When: Saturday 3rd July at 7pm Where: Grey Lynn Community Centre on Richmond Road Tickets at the door just $2 Showing: ‘The Yes Men Fix The World’ Described here by Kail from the Green Screen team: “the sequel to the ‘The Yes Men’ and if you’ve seen that then you’ll have a bit of a…
Winter Solstice and Matariki Celebration
Come and celebrate! Saturday June 26 5.30pm to approx 9pm St Columba. 92 Surrey Crescent, Grey Lynn (we will begin in the hall). A time to recognise that we have passed the shortest day and are now turning toward the light and waiting expectantly for the lengthening of the days. We will acknowledge the rise…
Join us for a fairtrade cuppa
The Grey Lynn Community Centre and Grey Lynn 2030 are hosting a Coffee Break this Fair Trade Fortnight as part of Oxfam’s Biggest Coffee Break. Come and enjoy a Fairtrade cuppa with homemade biscuits and help raise money towards Oxfam’s work with struggling coffee growers in the developing world. Date: Thursday 13th May Time: 10…
Grey Lynn 2030 Monthly Community MeetingL May 2010
S#!T happens – deal with it! This month the Waste Away group present an informative and entertaining meeting of ideas, tips and practical advice on dealing with waste. Guest Presenters Sunshine Yates “Household Waste & Recycling in Auckland City” Dorte Wray “Towards Zero Waste – Food Waste” With updates from the Wasters on a range…
Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream symposium
BRINGING IT TOGETHER: What will it take to create a Just, Sustainable, and Fulfilling Future? “You can no longer save your family, tribe or nation. You can only save the whole world”. Margaret Mead The internationally acclaimed symposium “Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream” is being presented in Grey Lynn for the first time, in…
West Lynn Street Party & Twilight Market
We have received overwhelming feedback that the inaugural Street Party & Twilight Market was a big success and a whole lot of fun. We really enjoyed decorating West Lynn to create a traffic calming people – space for the evening which provided the opportunity to have a great time at our local shopping area with…