We are a group of people drawn together since 1995 to evolve a small settlement with a village atmosphere. Our motivating philosophy is to be self-sustaining in as many aspects as possible, using permaculture principles to create a place to live in harmony with each other and our environment.
A little about some of the eco-villagers and how they’re progressing…
Heidelind & Rik:
Heidelind is a Sustainable Rural Development teacher for NorthTec (Northland Polytechnic). Rik taught Sustainable House Design, also for NorthTec. He is a retired Dutch architect, and designed and build his 50m2 (almost) autarkic solar cabin. The cabin faces North and is mainly timber framed (Lawson’s Cyprus) with glass panels on three sides and an insulated concrete/rock wall to the South. To maximise solar gain also the North side of the roof is transparent. The cabin stands on a concrete slab with solar hot water floor heating, a conservatory and a 12V PV power system.
Sabine & Wolfgang
We have become part of the Otamatea Eco Village in 1997. This was a dream come true for us and a desire for community fulfilled. We have built a beautiful and inviting light earth house and barn/studio. Our power needs are met by photovoltaic panels, which teaches us how to live well while using less energy. We have dry composting toilets and a greywater system to take care of our wastewater. The gardens and orchards we have established are very productive and feed us (almost) all year round with fruit and vegetables.
We have immigrated from Germany in 1987. Sabine has a background in teaching and has worked since in many other areas. She is particularly passionate about good, nutritious and delicious food and working with people towards building sustainable relationships. Wolfgang has a background in veterinary science and is now working as a consultant for the food industry. He is passionate about appropriate technology, self-sufficiency, and resilience.
Daniel & Jude
Daniel is a Landscape Architect and Jude runs a theatre company involved with environmental issues. They moved up permanently in February 2002 having completed stage one of their plans – a straw bale post and beam home with strawbale infill. They have also completed an earth brick and timber barn which provides their bedroom accommodation. Other projects include herb garden, pergola, shelterbelts, orchard, native bush and pond edge plantings, vineyard plus fencing for chooks and a house cow. Keep up the good work!
Sharna & Kapil:
Kapil is a photographer and Sharna is a retired counsellor and wedding celebrant. Incorporating spiritual ideals within physical structures is important to them, so spaces have been planned for meditation, contemplation and healing. Projects include orchards, subtropicals, herb spiral, and edible hedgerows. Their barn/studio/workshop is called “Wakawhenua” – Earthship – and progress has been intuitive and organic. Building elements include power poles, arches, timbers, mud in-situ adobe walls, mud floors, ferro cement, Onduline roof, recycled bricks, bottles – all to be adorned with copious mosaics and sculptures. Summing up his philosophy Kapil quotes Hundertwasser’s eloquent words “Beauty is not a luxury”.
Sharna has built with the help of the community, a 45 sq meter studio with loft. A beautiful mosaic floor has been created by Kapils son Tejas, from tiles Kapil has collected over the years from dump bins at tile shops. Waste water and toilet are collected by a vermicast waste water system. Sharna commutes to Auckland for the working week, leaving Monday morning and returning Fridays evening to recharge after a week in the city!
Robert, Marijke, Krystal & Anton:
Known as ‘The Far Side’. Nellie and Dolf have built a Hebal style house. Rob and Marijke are building a timbercreate “castle”, with lots of curves and mosaics. They also renovated and extended the iconic Eutopia Cafe in Kaiwaka, which they still run as of 2026 . They love to create beautiful thing and enjoy carving, mosaics, sailing and music. They have extensive fruit orchards and gardens and all sorts of animals share the property.
David and Margie Slinger:
Brits who came to New Zealand after owning and running a Tourist business in Kenya think that belonging to the OEV community is a refreshing escape from the madness of today’s world!
Being part of a multi-national community brings its challenges for sure, but the common goals and beliefs create an over-all sense of camaraderie that is rare.
David and Margie share their land with two baby doll sheep who keep the orchard ‘mowed’.
David and Margie are directors of Life Energy Designs Ltd that create Products that balance, protect and assist healing. The QSB, Quantum Scalar Box, their latest product, has taken nine years to develop and uses Scalar waves to relieve stress and assist healing at a causal level. All their products are proudly made in New Zealand, 80% of these are exported all over the world.
Find out more about them or contact Margie and David www.lifeenergysolutions.com
Contact: admin@ lifeenergysolutions.com for more info. (no space)