600 meet for five day hui on permaculture

Turangi will be inundated with keen followers of permaculture and sustainable living this week when about 600 people gather in the town for Resilience by Design - the 11th Australasia Permaculture Convergence.

The convergence, known as APC11, is based around Te Kura o Hirangi, Hirangi Marae and Awhi Farm in Turangi for a five-day hui bringing together a range of grass-roots sustainability movements. It kicks off on Wednesday.

Permaculture is a holistic design system, which aims to develop sustainable human settlements and agriculture systems by modelling them on natural ecosystems.

APC11 project manager Kelvin Aris said a highlight of the convergence would be what's being called a "permablitz" on Te Kura o Hirangi to create an inspirational permaculture garden and meeting area.

The intention is to have an interactive garden and meeting space where the students from the kura and the wider community, including kaumatua, can come together to learn and share experiences around growing food.

The final garden design will reflect the physical, intellectual, social, cultural and spiritual environment of the school and focuses on students' health and wellbeing.

On a practical level, it will be used for growing food which will be used in the school's new kitchen/dining area and it will also link in to the nearby kaumatua housing and Hirangi Marae.

Delegates at APC11 will spend Thursday and Friday working on a design for the garden which reflects the Turangi area, and the weekend building it.

Mr Aris said that with a budget of only $1500 for the garden, most of which will be spent on transport, they're hoping for as many donations of materials as possible.

Convergence events will mostly be held at Te Kura o Hirangi, with food being supplied at Hirangi Marae. As much of the food as possible is being sourced locally, with vegetables being harvested from Awhi Farm, coffee being roasted in Raetihi and wine from Omori.

The whole event is about transmitting the knowledge of the permaculture community, new approaches to economics, food production, transport and design, articulating permaculture dreams and aspirations and bringing it all together. It aims to equip participants with the skills and connections that will allow them to work as change makers in their communities.

The convergence begins with a powhiri, followed by plenary sessions, with keynote speakers and international experts contributing by videolink. In the afternoon over 100 different workshops will be held.