The Otanui Educational Farm Park Project

Quick Links:

Conservation and Recreation Areas

Otanui Farm Park is a Humanitec development. It proposes a subdivision of 50 houses sited on a working organic farm, near to Havelock North and within easy commuting distance of the cities of Hastings and Napier. It features freehold sections, community recreation and conservation areas, total access to the Trust-managed farm property, and ecologically designed building and service systems. The farm will host a number of mutually supportive educational and agricultural initiatives.

The Aims

to create the best possible environment in which to live and bring up a family.
to make a farm lifestyle accessible to more people.
to support a mixed sustainable organic farm.
to be a model for innovative ecological design.
to provide a farm environment for a variety of educational and eco-initiatives.

Back to the top...

The Village

The Farm Park site plan has approximately 40 houses, with ultimately another 10 on adjoining titles. To lessen the overall impact on the farm and neighbours, we have concentrated the houses as far as practical in one area. At the same time, we have striven to give each house site its own individual aspect and features.

The heart of the village is at the confluence of two willow-draped streams, where a grove of old poplars stand sentinel at the head of a sheltered valley. Here will be a cluster of 10 houses around a village green and community facility area. Radiating out from this will be a dozen larger sections on the surrounding knolls and bordering the designated pony paddock. The balance are higher value properties on the overlooking ridges and terraces.

There's a range of section types and sizes from approx. ¼ acre to 3 acres, with the possibility of leasing further agricultural land if the purpose is compatible with the farm park aims.

Back to the top...

Conservation and Recreation Areas

A short walk from the village to the head of the valley brings you to the first of the conservation/recreation areas, the Waterfall Rock Garden. The pools under the waterfall itself are being formed into a safe swimming area for families with young children, and the slope around the waterfall is being fenced off from stock and planted back in natives, though there is a plan to leave the boulder strewn valley floor free of shrubs and to plant thousands of Spring bulbs around the rocks.

The second major conservation area is the 1 km river border; for which negotiations are under way to procure funding for the removal of the invasive willows. We will help form a series of pools for fishing and swimming and let the banks regenerate with natives.
A smaller gully near the village has been designated as a memorial garden, and will be planted out in a variety of fruiting and specimen trees to create a peaceful place for walking and browsing.

In addition are the water supply lake at the village entrance and the wetland area and their surrounds. However, ultimately, the whole 400 acres will be encompassed within the Land Development Plan as we look at options of farm forestry and shelter copses for the animals in each paddock.

Back to the top...

The Farm

The property is of a viable size (approx. 420 acres) to support a sustainable mixed organic farm (ie. cropping, livestock and horticulture), and is situated in the fertile Maraetotara valley 20 minutes east southeast of Havelock North, between the river and the Maraetotara road.

The property will be managed by a Land Management Trust who will lease the pastoral land to the farmer(s).There will also be smaller areas of leasable arable land available for other intensive initiatives complementary to the farm and village and to the educational programmes running on the property.

The type of agricultural activities engaged in are up to the farmer(s), but ideally a wide variety will create more opportunities for links with educational initiatives, as the farm is envisaged from the outset as having a social and cultural role as well as an economic one.
The farm is being developed for easy and safe community access, with walking paths and plenty of stiles and pedestrian gates, and has been chosen as much for its aesthetic beauty (there is an abundance of trees and features) as its agricultural potential. It has a mixture of flat cropping land, gentle slopes, and steep hill country. The property also provides a waterfall, river access and ideal areas for climbing and horse-trekking. These facilities will be spread over the property, encouraging activity over the whole area. Residents and their children will be welcome to take part in the seasonal farming activities such as hay-making, feeding-out, lamb-rearing etc.

Back to the top...

Education and Eco-Initiatives

Apart from farming, the central enterprise planned for establishment at Otanui is an education centre offering small-scale environmental education programmes for schools, organic farm training for adults and related short courses.

This will be based at the southern end of the farm away from the residential village area.
Some smaller initiatives have also been proposed, including an eco-homestay and medicinal herb project, but as yet no formal application has been made. It is an intention within the overall concept to have employment created on site.

Back to the top...

Sites and Services

Water - At the north eastern boundary of the farm is a spring-fed stream which is to be dammed where the road crosses it. This will create a park feature as well as being a sediment trap for heavy rainfall events. The water will be pumped from there to the highest point on the property and reticulated back to the houses untreated. Each household then has the option of treating it or using it as a grey water supply.

Sewage - Each household is required to provide its own primary treatment; at minimum a two chamber septic tank, though householders are welcome to choose a biotech system or even a worm-based one [Dowmus] if wanted. The effluent will be reticulated from there to a community sand filter (secondary treatment) and reed bed wetland (tertiary treatment), with allowance for a linear UV filter between. This combination will provide the absolute highest ecological standard possible.

Power - the house designs offered all maximise passive solar energy, and residents will be encouraged to install active solar panels too. Though we are connecting to mains power, sites have already been identified for a small hydro-electric generator and wind turbine, eventually decreasing our dependency on the national grid. Their installation will depend upon resources and will be a decision made by the Trust at a later stage of development.

Back to the top...

Rights and Legal Framework

At an agreed threshold, the development company will devolve the farm title to a Land Management Trust, who will oversee the continuing maintenance and development of the property and community facilities, and manage the farm lease as well as the smaller leases of the arable allotments to complementary initiatives. This Trust will be made up of five members drawn from residents and initiative carriers, with the proviso that a majority (3) shall be resident on the property. Until that devolution, the Trust will act as management in consultation with the development company.

on purchase of their property the homeowner has sole title to their section and access rights to the farm property. They also have the right to stand for nomination to the Trust (all initial householders can act as trustees till there are nine, then it will revert to an executive of five nominated trustees). The title and rights are indivisible and can be onsold at any time on the open market. Each title contains the right for the Trust to set a community levy for the maintenance and development of community facilities on Trust property.
any titleholder of an approved separate site can apply to the Trust to lease the land around their title up to a negotiated maximum on a renewable basis. Any titleholder may apply to lease a parcel of land for an agricultural or complimentary initiative. The Trust maintains the right of approval.
Each title includes a contract to uphold the organic certification standards of the farm, to adhere to agreed building guidelines, and whatever other conditions are established by the development company for sewage etc.

Back to the top...

History of the Initiative

July 15th 1998 - The first commitment to creating a farm lifestyle community is made. Jonathan Jordan begins making contacts and seeking colleagues.

1999 - 2000 - consultations ongoing with various farming and development advisors. Various properties viewed. Plan and budget created around one particular farm, but negotiations eventually stall.

Dec 12th 2000 - The first public meeting for people interested in the idea of an eco farm park is held in the Havelock North Community Centre. Some 40 people attend.

Feb 2001 - After viewing many different farms over a period of 2 years, Otanui is chosen as the ideal site, and negotiations begin.

March 23rd - First newsletter sent out including: informing of ongoing negotiations with Otanui owners, discussion of ownership structure (common ownership vs. Trust), alternative power supply suggestion, educational programmes, community supported agriculture.

June 1st - Conditional contract on Otanui signed and 2nd newsletter sent out (Bugle vol. 1 no. 2) including; farming appraisal (by Liz Alington), more on education, housing and reason for no selection policies, water, the name Otanui.

August 1st - 3rd newsletter with draft plan of lot descriptions and prices, and other news including; school conservation project, website, land management group meeting, BD course project, advance sale discount offer.

September 9th - Open day out at the farm. Potential residents and children met for walk and picnic. Approx. 35 people attended, including children.

October 10th - Public meeting held in Maraetotara School to introduce the plan to neighbours.

Mid-December - first investors buy shares in the development company against future titles

December 21st - contract signed and sale goes unconditional.

February 2002 - Hastings District Council issues consents and first terrace blocks offered for sale.

Back to the top...

For Further Information, contact...	Jonathan Jordan
	Humanitec Resources Ltd P.O Box 8739 Havelock North ph/fax +64 6 877 3048
	jpjordan@humanitec.co.nz