Hakea

30/05/2026

A lot of people ask us what appliances we're using around Hakea, and one company we consistently recommend is Challenger.

Over the years we've used a range of Challenger products throughout our homes and community spaces, and the experience has been excellent. Their fridges are highly efficient, their heating systems produce impressive warmth, and everything we've used has proven reliable, practical, and well-built.

Another thing we really appreciate is the service. When you call Challenger, you speak with a real person who knows the products and is ready to help. That level of customer support makes a real difference.

If you're considering upgrading your refrigeration, heating, or off-grid appliances, Challenger currently has a King's Birthday Sale running until 11:59pm on Tuesday 2 June.

The sale includes special pricing on a range of fridge freezers, including larger family-sized models, along with selected diesel heaters that come with installation kits included.

Our experience with Challenger has been consistently positive, which makes it easy for us to recommend them to our community.

Check out the sale here:
https://mailchi.mp/ee8c8ada7eb6/long-weekend-big-chill-kings-birthday-fridge-freezer-mega-sale-limited-time-offer?e=57fec65449

Sale ends Tuesday 2 June, while stocks last.

Thank you to the Challenger team for continuing to provide quality products and great customer service.

01/05/2026

It doesn't matter that we harvest bananas all the time, each harvest is just as much exciting!!

This bananas have such a decent size, you might confused with the ones that came from Eucador!

Don't be fooled tho, they are grown right here at Whāingaroa, Raglan in our food forest 🌴

23/02/2026

🌿✨ Hakea Gathering 2026 ✨🌿

This year marks ten years since the Hakea Gathering began — a decade of music, shared meals, learning, and regeneration on this land.

Ten years ago, the land was under conventional farming.
Around that time, a conscious shift began toward permaculture principles and long-term ecological restoration.

Since then, the focus has been steady: soil health, biodiversity, water care, planting, and connection with the whenua.
The work continues.

To honour this milestone, we are welcoming back Excalibur — a classic rock and roll band who played at the very first Hakea Gathering. Seasoned musicians, timeless songs, and a true rock and roll evening under the open sky.

We are also honoured to host Marcellus, who will speak on Sovereignty and Proclamations, introducing the foundational moments of 1835 and 1840. Marcellus has worked with hapū across Aotearoa, supporting communities in understanding constitutional history and legal standing with clarity, goodwill, and depth of experience.

Hakea Gathering remains intentionally intimate — yet full of experiences:

Music under the stars
Workshops on land, law, soil, and living systems.

Permaculture and regeneration in action.

Water wisdom and whenua connection.

Shared potluck feasts.

Storytelling and intergenerational kōrero.

Acoustic sessions and full-band evenings.

Children running barefoot.

Starlit conversations, astrology, and quiet reflection.

A space to learn, contribute, and belong.

There are 8 supporter tickets remaining for those who feel aligned with what is unfolding.

🔗 https://events.humanitix.com/hakea-gathering-2026

To celebrate this milestone, we are sharing a special video by Remi, who was part of Hakea’s early story.

The video captures the land 10 years ago, at the start of its transformation from conventional farming into a permaculture and regenerative system.

Imagine how much life and beauty have grown since then.

🔗 https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DfbJL9Gmm/

Ten years of gathering.
A living landscape.
The journey continues 🌿

Experience dipping your toes into a new world...

04/02/2026

What does it mean this ' Food Forest' ?
Is it where you pick your food?
Is it the new fancy word for orchard?

You will find many descriptions of food forest, but to us it's living ecosystems that can support each living being involved from bacteria to humans, from birds to trees. They are essentially human designed Forest, although they evolve & change while we stay part of it as participants. These systems are not only highly abundant but also resilient in the face of extreme weather or disease. When designed in a diverse way, they also provide for medicine, fiber, feed for animals, even timber...

It's, of course, where we go to pick our food when we need a snack, or sit under the canopy to center ourselves and connect to the natural world. It's my (Merve) favorite place to hide.

Can you imagine one in your backyard, your neighborhood or in that public park?

26/01/2026

It's hard times with all the extreme weather. While feeling sad & praying for all those affected, we find these times are all extremely valuable in reading the landscapes and reevaluating our systems for diversity and resilience.

We go out in the rain too watch, where the water is naturally overflowing. These patterns help us make decisions to plant for the needs of the land for one thing.

We planted Taros where we don't have gutters, and they have been loving all the water. They are probably a metre and half tall with big leaves. Taro is one of those special crops of New Zealand that fed people long time.

We also planted a little valley with bananas as we observed over a time how the water naturally flows there and it is damp even when it's dry elsewhere. It doesn't look much at the stage but over time they will make the banana forest right alongside the scenic reserve track.

Did I mention we love walking and harvesting food 😋

13/01/2026

Kia ora everyone! We wanted to say hello and introduce ourselves to some new faces around here and remind that we are still here to the old friends. We’re Merve, Dan, and the rest of our little community, living life on our land with passion and purpose. Dan and I are all about growing our own food, building community, and living regeneratively. We’ve been working on this land for years - Dan’s been here for 10 years and I’m approaching 8 years - transforming this family land into a thriving haven for people, plants, and animals. We take pride in our skills, whether it’s creating food forests or off-grid systems, and we’re excited to share our journey with you. Follow along and get inspired to get your hands dirty and create the life you want ✨️✨️✨️

I have chosen a selection of photos from what we grow, the workshop we do, celebrations we make! There is something for everyone 💛

19/12/2025

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