Hōhepa Hawke's Bay

The Hawke’s Bay community was the beginning of the Hōhepa Homes Trust in New Zealand, and is a thriving community.

Through living and working in community life, people with a disability will grow to experience satisfying lives with as much independence as possible. Curative education, social therapy, a rich cultural life and biodynamic land-use combine to make Hohepa unique in the way it encourages the development of body, soul and spirit for all.

Residential life at the Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay community usually begins at the school. The school maintains a curative education programme, inspired by the ideas of Rudolf Steiner.

The programme for the intellectually disabled is based on the Waldorf Curriculum and the New Zealand Curriculum. The school maintains close associations with the Ministry of Education, but is currently classified as an independent school. We have a current application for Integration status with the Ministry of Education. Students remain in the school up to the age of 21, when they may move to the adult programmes (provided places are available) or to the related Hōhepa Wellington, Auckland or Canterbury facilities.

The adult community life involves the residents in daily vocational programmes, ranging from craft skills for weaving, feltmaking, woodwork, candlemaking, farming and gardening. Life Plans include plans for personal development and achievement in these vocational areas, and are linked to NZQA accredited courses and certificates.

Products from the farm and craft studios are sold through the on-site shop. The emphasis is on giving a sense of worth through contributing and being a part of ‘real work’.

We also consider applications from people not in Hōhepa Residential Service, to be a part of our Day Service programmes and facilities. A critical part of our approach in developing people are the therapies which are woven through the regular life – in nursing, medical and dietary care, in arts, speech, social therapy and movement and expression (eurithmy).