A new model of Community Land Ownership

A new model of Community Land Ownership

Community Land Trusts NZ is an initiative of the Koanga Institute. This is an exciting project that is developing a new model of land ownership to develop a sustainable rural community, in the central North Island.

An Opportunity To  Create a New Future

In the past our communities were bound together largely by patterns imposed by their environment. The industrial revolution changed all that, and new patterns emerged, fired by fossil fuels.  We have been wrapped in a bubble of progress for many generations now, many believe that this is taking us to the wall. We are faced with the challenge of bringing in a new paradigm.  A re-design based on optimism and the ecological revolution.  We urgently need to explore new models that create the conditions for a humane, sustainable society.

Up until now the Koanga Institute has been focussed mainly on one part of this challenge – the seeds, gardens, and more recently the issue of nutrition.  Holistic change needs to address our major economic structures, particularly those that determine how we use land and resources. All over the world, this need is being recognised and new models are coming forward to meet the challenge.   Over the last few years we have been reviewing these new models and we have decided it is time for us to act... to gather the skills and experience we have, and take the next step in bringing forward an individual working model that can inspire more to come. We believe the Community Land Trust structure, which has been successful for rural communities overseas, is the best model of land ownership (kaitiaki) for our vision.

We are developing a community using a new model of land ownership, within the legal structure of a Community Land Trust. It will include;

• A small village of 20-30 families, who will predominantly make their living from:
• biological small farming (crofting), value added cottage industries, entrepreneurial ventures allied with our vision and ethics, and supporting services within the community.
• A permanent home for the Koanga Institute, including space for seed gardens and heritage orchard collections.
• An education and research centre for regenerative agriculture and sustainable living, which will host residential interns and apprentices, as well as provide a comprehensive workshop and diploma program.

  If you are interested in this project, and would like to support this vision, please contact us via our website. We are holding our first hui on Nov 6-7 2010, to discuss the project so far, and to get to know other potential settlers.

Our vision is detailed further  at www.communitylandtrusts.co.nz