Wai-ora Trust
Founded in 1981, Wai-Ora Trust has supported the restoration of people and the environment for over 40years.
From humble beginnings we are now a self funding organisation which operates out of a 17 acre property in Harewood, Christchurch and also own a 500 acre farm incorporating regenerative native bush and accommodation facilities in Rakautara, a small settlement 22kilometers north of Kaikoura.
Many of our founding members remain connected to Wai-Ora and it is not unusual to meet people on a daily basis who have had a positive interaction with Wai-Ora over their lifetime.
Community Services
We offer various services, all of which we self fund through our social enterprise.
From our small Fitness Centre which offers small groups of clients regular, 45minute sessions to our Community Gardens, extensive fruit orchard and weekly foodbank distribution we are able to sustainably support members of the community to engage across various services and programmes.
We also support various communities through camps, Te Reo classes and mentoring.
Volunteering
There are numerous ways to volunteer at Wai-Ora and we are blessed to have regular volunteers help us with our foodbank, weekly Community lunches, Orchard maintenance as well as Property maintenance.
We also offer placements on our Community Works programme and most summers run working bees on our Kaikoura Farm property.
There are also opportunities to volunteer within our social enterprise with our native nursery being a popular request with those wanting to volunteer.
Whanaungatanga
Weekly community lunches, working bees and community evenings are a great way to build community and whanaungatanga.
Within our website, you will learn of the various ways you can connect and become part of the Wai-Ora whanau.
Venue hire
We have 2 venues available for hire.
Te Ahi Kaa is our Christchurch based training Centre, utilised by government agencies, corporates, sports teams and community groups as well as our Coastal Kaikoura farm camp which is an ideal camping area for whanau or groups.
Social Enterprise
Set up in 1995 Wai-Ora Group is the social enterprise of Wai-Ora Trust and was established to give employment opportunities as well as support the social programmes of the Trust by creating an income generating arm of our organisation.
As we have established ourselves as a leader in environmental care we have been able to reduce the need for dependence on external funding or grants, hence allowing us to support the community in an autonomous and meaningful manner without the need to tick boxes, or justify “outcomes” to keep an external funder happy.