Get Involved
Workshops
Caity is passionate about learning, education, re-connecting people with the Earth and real food. She taught gardening in Waldorf Schools, tutored horticulture on the island extramurally for Northtec, and is a compost facilitator for Auckland Council.
She is offering a series of fantastic workshops that run throughout the year. Come learn about soil health, planning and planting orchards, pruning, cooking and more!
EDUCATIONAL GARDEN TOURS
Okiwi Passion has an open farm policy- visitors are welcome to walk around the gardens and see for themselves what we do (most days after 11 a.m.)
We also offer a guided tour in which we will spend at least 1 ½ hours with you, walking around the gardens, sharing our approach with you and getting you up close and personal amongst the crops and compost piles, chickens, worms, mulch and fungi!
($10 per person, min. $50).
Intern
We offer a minimum 3-month internship for up to three individuals at a time, from August through to end of April. The internship is aimed at those who are seriously considering becoming commercial organic growers and want to get their hands dirty.
Wwoof
Over the years we have hosted well over 250 wwoofers. They have come from afar, from Alaska to Finland, Germany to Australia, and have made an enormous contribution to the life of the farm. Apply now!
INTERN
3-12 months
- High degree of involvement
- Participate in workshops and teaching sessions
- Wide range of hands-on learning opportunites
- Gain organic market gardening skills
- Focus on personal selection of crops
- Organic food and personal accomodation provided
WWOOF
2 month minimum
- Gain organic market gardening knowledge and skills
- Wide range of experiences - on and off the farm
- Organic food and personal accomodation provided
- Once in lifetime experience
Frequently asked questions
Absolutely!
We are now offering placements from 17 of August 2020
We are offering nine internships in 2020/2021. There will be three intakes :
Intake 1: Monday 17 August – Friday 6 November 2020 (12 weeks) 3 vacancies
Intake 2 : Monday 9 November 2020 – Friday 29 January 2021 (12 weeks) 3 vacancies
Intake 3 : Monday 1 February 2021 – Friday 23 April 2021 (12 weeks) 3 vacancies
We get up around sunrise for breakfast and have a quick debrief for the day. Mornings are generally spent harvesting, producing salad, watering, hoeing and prepping beds for planting. We have a one hour lunch break around midday. Afternoons are spent planting, propagating and collecting eggs. In the heat of summer we have a long midday break to avoid working in the intense heat.
Accommodation is in 2 clean, dry caravans, unheated and without power but with plenty of warm bedding. We have extra room in the house if needed and for over winter. You have free access to the house at all times to relax and make yourself at home. There is study space available in the house.
Laundry, bathroom and toilet facilities are in the main house and shared.
Note: The entire island is off the grid, we run with a solar array and a back-up generator. We therefore have to be conscientious about use of power.
There is a ferry service that operates several times a week it, usually leaving from Downtown Auckland. Bookings essential!
Two airlines serve the island with multiple flights per day and an airport bus service connects Auckland city to the airport. Check out the options below!
In addition to using rain water, people here make their own power through solar arrays with batteries to store the power, and a generator as back up.
Recently, Auckland Council has established a public electric vehicle charging station in Claris.
There are hundreds of options on this amazing island! There are plenty of hikes to do, beaches to visit, camping spots to enjoy, hot pools to bask in, community events to attend, fishing, diving, etc.
Plus, Great Barrier is a Dark Sky Sanctuary so you will get to experience the magical night sky with us!
What folks are saying about their experience...
callum la spina
Intern, SPring/summer 2018-2019
Doing an internship at Okiwi Passion was one of the best experiences I have had while travelling. It gave me an excellent introduction and first hand experience in organic farming. I went from knowing virtually nothing to being able to maintain and care for a variety of crops over the 4 months I was there. My favourite parts were the soil biology and composting workshops. On top of all this, on my time off I had the chance to hike, camp out, dive and fish in one of the most beautiful wilderness areas New Zealand has to offer. Thanks Gerald and Caity!
matt pennycuick
wwoofer & Permaculturist, Autumn 2019
yuki komatsuda
intern, SPRING 2018
Okiwi Passion was my first stop on my agricultural exchange program in New Zealand. I learned sowing, planting, soil preparing, pruning, watering, weeding, harvesting, and so on. Gerald & Caity explained every task clearly, according to my English level. They also often offer workshops about plants, soil, and even the business side of running a farm – depending on the helper’s interest. I learned not just about farming. We cooked, went fishing and hiking together. They were such great teachers – all of the time. Every single day was really special. I will never forget this incredible experience. Thank you Gerald & Caity!!