Our Vision

The Problem We Are Solving

Worldwide, many are beginning to think that we need to take action. If we continue on our present path, humanity will annihilate the conditions for living on this planet. Our mental health and physical wellbeing are boosted by contact with nature — yet we have never been more disconnected from it.

Our aim is to inspire people to take action to create a poison-free New Zealand. Our vision is to establish a replicable model that contributes to nature recovering on a grand scale.

What We Believe

It is now popular to grow your own food, and there are many resources teaching how to do this. We would like to go further — to teach people how to grow their own protein and set people up with their own small businesses using animals not only for food and fibre, but also to replace the need for fossil fuel and chemical in weed and pest control, fire prevention, and transport.

Our mental health and physical wellbeing are boosted by contact with the natural world. The world's most widely-read natural health resources tell us that illness is avoidable and reversible — this includes heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's, and mental illness. Appropriate diet, avoiding chemicals, sleep, and exercise connecting with the environment are among the vital tools. We would like to contribute to spreading this message.

The Land We Steward

The founding property of the TaongaFarmacy collective encompasses 800 acres of mostly steep hill country, with around 50% effective for grazing. Approximately 40 hectares of flat land with a gravity-fed irrigation system and some excellent soil provide the foundation for our regenerative farming practices.

The property runs 200 lowline cattle (small Angus) and 400 naturally coloured merino sheep, and maintains a small stud of Icelandic horses. The collective is also engaged in commercial beekeeping, with hives spread through North Canterbury and Marlborough.

The Umbrella Model

TaongaFarmacy is not a single farm. It is an umbrella — a shared identity and set of values that connects a growing network of people who share our vision, mission, and values. We find people who are already doing remarkable things and give them a platform, a community, and a shared voice.

We also seek to leave the property in a trust so that future generations can learn how to grow their own farm using the modern knowledge of regenerative agriculture and permaculture, plus the skills of frugal making that previous generations possessed.

Celebrate Nature

We could harness the enthusiasm of our visitors and start ecotourism businesses. Our roadsides could be planted in bird and bee corridors, enhancing the tourist experience, acting as natural fire retardants, and providing much-needed shelter to adjoining farms.

Invasive weeds line our roadsides, riverbeds, and public areas. Wilding farms are going to change our landscapes. We believe in setting up small businesses to monitor local areas and replace the need for chemical intervention — working with nature, not against it.