We ARE KEEPING the earth warm

Growing healthy, nutrient-dense organic food is one activity that is immediately apparent to all who visit, but that is not our only relationship with the environment.

The society, through caring for the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua, is the guardian of the space.

The Sanctuary Mahi Whenua is a resource that is available to everyone, whether as a place to enjoy nature or as an educational tool.

We are committed to engaging with our wider community, and here are some of the ways we support the community.

• We have created a place for enjoyment and learning in the community.

• We showcase organic horticultural and permaculture principles.

• We promote the production of nutritionally-rich food in a sustainable way to foster healthy lifestyles and environments.

• We maintain the Sanctuary gardens and food forest as a community research and demonstration resource promoting self-sufficiency using organic horticultural techniques. 

• We encourage the use of the Sanctuary for wide-ranging educational purposes.

• We recognise the Sanctuary is a taonga and Sanctuary members as Guardians of this space.

• We look after the significant trees of the Sanctuary, originally planted by Unitec staff.

• We seek to nurture positive relationships and maintain the Sanctuary environs.

• We inform the community about the historical significance of the Sanctuary as gardens established by pre-European Māori and later used by the asylum kitchen.