Otamatea Eco-Village :: Communities Directory

Formed: 1996 Established: 2000

This page last updated:8/19/2009

Otamatea Eco-Village

Kaiwaka, Northland,

New Zealand

The land for Otamatea Ecovillage was purchased in 1996. It is a 100-hectare peninsula in the Kaipara harbour in Northern New Zealand. The founders sought a site suitable for a cooperative permaculture development. The land has been divided into 15 two-hectare lots with individual titles, plus 70 hectares.

All 15 lots have been sold. Occasionally one comes up for resale. Information on anything available will be posted on our website by the owner. Our motivating philosophy is permaculture, commitment to organics, and movement towards self-sufficiency. Monthly community meetings are held; we have weekly shared meals and occasional celebrations. We use consensus for decision-making. Members commit to do three hours of community work weekly, including grazing projects, regenerating native bush and other tree planting, weed control, and administration.

Annual residential permaculture design courses are held (although they have been on hold for a number of years). A number of other workshops and various other long- and short-term courses are run, and we have the occasional open day. WWOOFers (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) and visitors are welcomed, by arrangement.

Status: well established

Website: http://www.otamatea.org.nz

Contact:

364 Oneriri Rd,
RD 2
Kaiwaka, Northland 0573 New Zealand
Phone: +64-(0)9-431-2577, +64-(0)9-2809590

International Telephone Info

Community location is placed at the center of the zip/postal code, city/state, or city/country (not based on street addresses)

This page last updated:8/19/2009

Visitors Accepted

Visitor Process: Make contact with Marijke and you can plan to stay as a Wwoofer or “helper,” and there are also two residents who offer rental accommodation.

Statement of Housing Non-discrimination:

Our community does not discriminate in regards to housing based on race/color, national origin, religion, sex/gender, family status (i.e. having children, not having children, or being pregnant), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, source of income, age, creed, personal appearance, political affiliation, HIV infection, military/veteran status, unfavorable military discharge, gender identity or expression, receiving public assistance, or being the victim of domestic abuse.

Population Members(adults and children): 30 Non-member Residents: 6 (Varies, We have many visitors, inparticular Wwoofers or other helpers who stay for varying lengths of time.) Open to new members: Yes	Government Decision Making: By consensus Identified Leader: No Leadership Core Group: No	Labor and Money Financial Style: Members have independent finances Open to Members with Pre-existing Debt: Yes Labor Contribution: Expected (3 hours per week) Join Fee: Yes (Membership comes with land purchase (presently 2 are for sale please contact Mick@otamatea.org ( 5 acres and 1/15th share in 176 acres of common land)) Regular Fees: Yes (For upkeep of the road etc. a few hundred dollars anually.)
Land and Buildings Rural (4 km drive way and 3.4 km to nearest small town.) Area: 247.1 acres (100.0 hectares) Land Owned By: Individual community member(s) (We individually own 5 acres and communally own the remaining commom land) Number of Residences: 16 (Many examples of more sustainable building systems) Cohousing: No	Food, etc. Percentage of Food Grown: 21-50% (Most people have extensive gardens. and some rear their own stock. The community owns a beef herd also.) Share Community Meals: 1 time/week Dietary Choice or Restrictions: Diet is up to each individual Dietary Practice: Omnivorous Alcohol Use: Used occasionally Tobacco Use: Used Occasionally	Social Factors Common Spiritual Practices: No Which Spiritual Traditions(s): (we respect individual choice.) Educational Style(s): Public schooled

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Become an Editor Current editor(s): marijke

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