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Host rating
85 %
Last replied
26 Jan 2026
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Details
Description
We are Greg and Claire, parents of a 9-month-old baby girl and a very active 10-year-old son. We are non-owner stewards of land that has a long history as a communal farm, held by the Renaissance Charitable Trust since 1977. Our work here is currently focused on forming intentional community, improving accommodation, and restoring the farm that has been let go for many years. All the labour and love that is given to this farm goes towards paying forward the gifts, knowledge, and generosity received from those who came before us and hopefully helping the intentional community become a lively thriving and truly special place.
The Community Vision:
We are here to create a cooperative way of life that interweaves people with land and one another. By regenerating a small, diverse, and long-neglected farm and by transforming our relationships with ourselves, others, and the land. We aspire to create deeply fulfilling lives for ourselves and a thriving, resilient community that can inspire and educate others to grow stronger, more connected ways of living.
Community Values and Aims:
*Bring neglected farmland back into vibrant, productive life
*Foster genuine, supportive relationships grounded in honesty and trust
*Raise empowered children within a highly integrated, participatory, caring village environment
*Cultivate social, economic, and ecological resilience through self-provisioning and shared responsibility
*Model generosity, beauty, and celebration as essential to a balanced life
*Transition steadily away from fossil-fuel and industrial dependence toward locally rooted sufficiency and community-building
We love to receive volunteers interested in or already experienced with intentional community and look forward to sharing great conversations about the challenges and exciting possibilities of sharing life with others.
We do not operate a business and are focused on self-reliance and providing as much of our own food and land-based supplies as possible, so you can come feeling confident that your much appreciated contribution will be going towards co-creating a beautiful communal situation. Many tasks are done together, with plenty of opportunity to learn, share skills, and laugh and enjoy the process.
Hard boundaries include no smoking, no culture of drunkenness, and pets by negotiation only (generally no pets).
For the right people who are excited about their experience here, there may be potential for longer-term involvement.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
Interests
Hiking
Sailing / Boating
Mountain
Camping
Nature
Animals
Gardening
Carpentry
Cooking & food
DIY & crafts
Plant care
Sustainability
Farming
Van life
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We invite you to become a short (or long)-term member of our small community raising babies, growing food, and slowly transforming a once-neglected farm into a place full of life with deep connection built on cooperation. Who knows WHAT we will all experience and learn with the group of people that are called to come and be a part of this exciting and experimental time!
We’re happy to share what we know—experimental gardening, preserving, firewood splitting, regenerative land care, DIY repairs, animal wrangling, and the messy, frustration, and joyful art of communal living. In return, we love hearing your stories, learning new skills, and discovering surprising things about ourselves through the exchange. Expect a lively mix of productivity, play, shared meals, and real connection.
Help
With 60 acres of overgrown farm there is always a lot to do and we have a variety of tasks that shift with the seasons. Most of the current work is in releasing trees and buildings from overgrowth, freeing fence lines of prickly scrub, gardening tasks such as weeding, planting, watering, bed preparation and fertilising, general property clean-up (including scrap metal collection and deconstructing abandoned structures), and a few major firewood missions. We are open to skilled volunteers contributing to larger renovation projects, and to independent or creative projects if they align with our priorities and are discussed and approved in advance. It’s hands-on, varied, and satisfying task that is exclusively non-for-profit and in service to the community and all participants - including you!
Our capacity for supervision is limited, so we aim to place people into tasks they are genuinely interested in and reasonably capable of doing. We do not want to micromanage or carry people through their tasks. This setup suits people who can help independently when needed, follow directions carefully while also asking clarifying questions, treat tools and buildings with care, communicate clearly and respectfully, and bring emotional maturity. It helps if you’re comfortable contributing even when tasks are repetitive or physical, enjoy being around children, and are socially independent rather than relying on hosts for entertainment.
Tasks are usually organised around one or two fixed communal days per week (typically mornings, roughly 8am–1pm), occasional helping bees, and self-directed or solo help on other days, done at the volunteer’s own pace.
We prefer people to come the 1st or 3rd Sundays of the month (So, February 1st, February 15th, March 1st, March 15th) so we can get stuck in together from the next Monday! We aim to do our shared work together between 8am and 1pm, with flexibility for harsh weather.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Accommodation is in a shared house with two bedrooms, a common area, and a wood-fired cooker for heating and meals. It’s currently being brought back to life, so early volunteers will help make it more cozy and functional. We’ve got plenty of firewood, hot meals, and good company! Van-lifers are also very welcome—we have flat spots to park, and access to indoor spaces for cooking, showers, and warmth.
Food-wise, we raise animals and regularly eat meat, often cooking vegetables with broths or animal fats. While we respect different dietary choices, this means shared meals may not suit vegetarians or strict dietary needs. Volunteers can self-cater if preferred, or contribute to communal food and join us as short-term members of the group—sharing not just the help, but the harvest and the heart of our project.
Volunteers generally have independent breakfasts while we tend to our kids. On communal days, we share lunches and/or dinners, with other meals being self-catered. In some arrangements, we provide basic staples plus access to gardens, orchards, and limited eggs (meat is not regularly provided). Shared cooking and cleaning are an essential part of life here. We cannot cook and clean for everyone.
What else ...
Length of stay and reviews:
Stays are organised in two-week blocks, with an initial check-in after the first four days to make sure it’s working well on both sides.If it’s not a good fit, we ask that alternative arrangements be made within three days, with the expectation that agreed exchange continues during that time. Extensions are possible in further two-week blocks following a review and feedback conversation. There is no fixed maximum stay — it depends on how things are going.
Other stuff:
With babies and kids around, we ask for no smoking or drug use anywhere on the property. We aim for a grounded, present atmosphere. Safety, kindness, and mindfulness around children are essential.
We’re about 20km from the nearest town (Motueka), and usually only head in once a week—so having your own transport is helpful, though not essential. Let us know and we’ll see what’s possible. We’re right at the edge of Kahurangi National Park, with two stunning rivers nearby for exploring (or braving a cold dip in winter!).
Mobile reception is pretty limited and mostly available on Spark network —you may need to walk out to the paddocks to get a a clear signal. WE DON'T HAVE WI-FI, which is excellent for real connection, slowing down, and reading, but pretty frustrating if you’re trying to manage emails or research projects! We have a few spare pairs of gumboots to lend if needed, but can’t promise they’ll be the perfect fit—best to come prepared for mud and weather.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
The farm is big and access is reasonably easy, so we ought to be able to find a beautiful spot for any sized van to park up.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Artemis
