Kia ora

The past few weeks have been a true test for us, and for all of nature, as Tāwhirimātea has swept across the motu with unrelenting force. Spring in the lower North Island is known for its winds, but this season feels next level. 

Perhaps Tāwhirimātea is reminding us to listen more closely to the rhythms of Te Taiao - to the balance between calm and chaos, stillness and movement. His wild breath reminds us that the natural world is alive, reactive, and always seeking harmony.

Makara wind farm — Bob Zuur’s photo capturing Tāwhirimātea at play among the clouds.

In this edition, we share Jane Riddiford’s reflection from Ruamāhanga Farm, where art, ecology, and education intertwine in the creation of a new Wetland Walk. It’s a story of collaboration, care, and listening to Te Reo o te Wai, the language of water.

We also invite you to join our next Toru Trail in Paekākāriki, spotlight Mangaroa Farms and their regenerative work with whānau, feature Hella’s Dowsing Workshop, and share Once Were Gardeners, a new Whakaata Māori series directed by our very own trustee Jess Feast

Together, these stories highlight the heart of Toru’s mission: to nurture nature-connected learning, community, and care across our bioregion.

Ngā manaakitanga,

The Toru Education Team

P.S. If you’re feeling inspired, pass the word along. Forward this email directly to a friend or neighbour, there’s a little something for everyone.

In her reflection Wetland Walk, Jane Riddiford invites us to slow our pace and listen to the whispering waters of the Ruamāhanga Awa, and to the creative collaborations that grow when we walk with nature. Her story traces the making of a community-oriented wetland, where art, poetry, and ecological care come together in harmony.

What began as a restoration project has become a living classroom, a place for tamariki, artists, and locals to explore connection, creativity, and environmental stewardship side by side. Jane’s words remind us that true regeneration begins with observation, patience, and shared action, the quiet activism of caring for the land and each other.

Jane’s full piece is inspired by the kaupapa of Te Reo o te Wai - the language of water.

Sunday 23 November | 10am–2pm | Kāpiti Coast

Through storytelling and practical examples, Doris will share how she’s woven permaculture principles into her life and work — from PaeCycle (a local food-scrap collection) and Pataka Kai (a public food-sharing cupboard) to her role as a Toru Education trustee.

We have a humble request of you (yes, you!): please share this newsletter with anyone who might enjoy it. We’d love it to reach people right across the lower North Island, those who care about learning, connection, and the land.

And if this newsletter was forwarded to you - welcome! 👋

If you’re hosting an event, workshop, or course that aligns with our kaupapa, we’d love to hear from you!

Nestled in the rolling valleys of Upper Hutt, Mangaroa Farms is a vibrant hub for regenerative agriculture, learning, and community connection. Their work brings people together to nurture land, food, and each other through hands-on, nature-based education.

This season, the team will be running their Growing Together workshops - family-friendly sessions exploring soil life, composting, and companion planting - designed to reconnect whānau with the rhythms of nature.

If you missed it, Mangaroa Farms was also featured on Hyundai Country Calendar (July 2024), sharing the heart of their vision and the people who make it all happen.

More Toru Partners! 

🪶Spring Bushcraft – Bird Language

Step away from the busyness of modern life and come into deeper connection with the natural world. Through guided listening and ancestral skills, learn to read the concentric rings of nature - tuning into how birds communicate safety, change, and balance in the bush. A weekend of stillness, storytelling, and awareness in the heart of the Kāpiti Coast.

🌀Hands On Dowsing Workshop

Join Hella for a practical introduction to the art of dowsing — tuning into the subtle energies of the land. Learn to work with tools, trace underground water, and sense energetic crossings in the landscape. The morning concludes with a walk up the hill to the stone circle and an optional shared picnic lunch.

791 Mikimiki Road, Masterton | $20 per person

To register, email hella@newforest.org.nz

🌱Permaculture Day Course

Join Carolann Murray at Korito Education’s four-hectare permaculture property for a practical day of learning how to create a thriving, self-sufficient backyard. Explore everything from chooks and bees to small-space gardening and seasonal food production, combining hands-on projects with thoughtful design principles.

Once Were Gardeners is a beautiful new Whakaata Māori series celebrating the deep relationship between people, plants, and place.

This newsletter grew from a simple observation — that across our bioregion, there are incredible people sharing knowledge, hosting workshops, and nurturing connection, yet many others don’t know these opportunities exist.

We wanted to bridge that gap — to help weave together the threads of learning, creativity, and community already thriving here. Each edition celebrates the people and places offering ways to learn, connect, and care for the land — right in our own backyards.

If you resonate with our vision, we would love you to be involved, this can be in many ways!  

• Please share the good news far and wide, sharing really is caring, and we want to find our people!

• Do you have an event or educational opportunity? - Check out our guidelines, and if it fits in with our kaupapa, then sign up and list your event with us! 

• Join one of our events! Learn with us and our partner organisations. Invite a friend along and learn together.

• Do you have ideas for us? Reply to this newsletter or email us at info@toru.nz with your bright spark!