- growing our connection with the marine world.
Wharf Hub for Sea Gardening
Volunteering
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
Meet and Greet (Manaakitanga)
Most Volunteers arrive at Auckland International airport. Unfortunately we won't be there to greet you, but you can bus down to Opotiki directly from there, with a short bus changeover stop in Rotorua, and we will be at the Opotiki Bus Stop by Illys Cafe to greet you around 4.15 pm Well give you a quick orientation tour of the town and settle you in at the Wharf Hub.
Our Vision ( Whakakitenga)
Interested in visiting a foreign destination with a view to making a difference?
Opotiki ranks bottom in most socio economic indicators of towns in New Zealand. But with the bush at its back, the sea at its front and rivers running through, its a town with potential to grow.
The Wharf Hub has a plan to help make a difference to the townspeople through reef deployment, thereby growing fish in the sea. With sea food comes fishermen, health and wealth.
But there much more to it that just placing structures on the mud silt seabed.
Our knowledge (Matauranga)
Come and learn about some very New Zealand Maori concepts such as kaitiakitanga, wairua, mauri, and the place of spirituality in rectifying environmental problems.
Day one starts off with an alternate view of reality on our short garden walk and talk on Reef building Kiwi style,
where small is beautiful and art is a connection.
Later you will be taken through a more in depth power point presentation that expands on concepts introduced.
Evenings we will also select for you relevant videos or night life tours that also reinforce the concepts introduced.
Our Action (Mahi)
The time of year, weather, our needs, your interests are all things that influence our consultated daily choice of activities.
There's reef module building, helping fishers complete the online fishing Log, making and loading pallets of modules for deployment, seabed surveys, creating new reef module designs, whitebait breeding grounds restoration, restoration work on murals, tending the community orchard and the Wharf Hub organic salad gardens, and plenty more.
It's a casual schedule but purposeful time. Generally work takes around 4 hours a day, afternoons your choice of activity (help with evening meal preparation always appreciated) and back to knowledge development in the evening.
Health and Safety (Hauora)
One of the strong Maori values you will hear about early on is Wairuatanga, While certainly there will be all Health and Safety equipment and instruction given to you as needed, we aim to go that extra mile and ensure your emotional and spiritual well-being are also attended to.
Cost - all inclusive (Koha)
Beds are all made up for you. There's a sunny girl's dorm room, a boys dorm room, and a couples room. Two bathrooms and two toilets.
Main indoor kitchen and a deck area also for cooking. We have a greens salad garden and many varied orchard fuits available in season.
Our experience is that just as we have differences in people, so to do we have many varied diets. Its not essential, some have very specialised diets, but we like to eat together and share conversation most evenings.
Consultation and growing unity are key elements in moving toward growing a sustainable world.
So we aim to have a well stocked pantry and purchase food for the group as required.
We try and make everything included for you in the 5 full days you are here. Wifi, laundry, water, snack and beverages, breakfast , lunch and dinner. All inclusive price of $2500
If you need a top up there's plenty of takeaways around town, Kebabs, Sushi, Subway but not KFC nor MacDonalds.
Alas these are not included.