Our Objectives
EDUCATIONAL AND WELLBEING
Objective: To create a holistic, and inclusive programme of events, gatherings and retreats to nurture the human spirit.
Outcomes:
Encouragement of a deeper sense of responsibility for self, environment and others
Inner peace and stillness
Community building and creativity
Active environmental appreciation and education programmes for visitors and special interest groups
Successful educational programmes for professional groups
ECOLOGICAL AND BIODIVERSITY OBJECTIVES
Objective: To ensure a sustainable ecological future by adopting an environmental restoration plan.
Outcomes:
Implementation of a comprehensive pest control plan
Implementation of a comprehensive weed control plan
Successful re-introduction of native flora and fauna
Establishment of a flourishing kiwi population
Return to a resounding dawn chorus
FINANCIAL
Objective: To establish a financial foundation to sustain Te Moata for the future
Outcomes:
Raise $2.2m for the purchase of Te Moata by the Charitable Trust
Raise sufficient funds for implementation of a staged pest and weed control program and for capital improvements to the existing structures
Establishment of an endowment fund sufficient to sustain the organisation.
Adoption of a business plan which establishes Te Moata Trust as a sustainable organisation
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES
Objective: To embrace sustainable practices for the operational running of the Sanctuary
Outcomes:
Efficient running of the facility with minimal environmental footprint
Biocompatible effluent system
Improved water quality
Minimal chemical residue from pest control and cleaning products
Growing and using organic produce
Solar/hydro power
STEWARDSHIP (Kaitiakitanga)
Objective: To ensure that Te Moata will be preserved for generations to come
Outcomes:
Charitable Trust Ownership
Financial endowment
Ongoing ecological restoration plan
Protection of Te Moata’s sacred spaces
Co-operacy based management with transparent processes
Honoring of the ancestors, elders and benefactors
Active community involvement
So far the work of the Trust in 2008 has been to clarify our vision and objectives and how Te Moata operates, create a fundraising appeal brochure, design a new website, formulate a business plan, commission an ecological survey of the land and engage a professional fundraiser.
Resident Community
This year, thanks to generous friends, we have a paid resident community receiving a stipend for their work at Te Moata: Nyanaviro is focusing the fundraising and holds the role of resident meditation teacher. Wah manages the kitchen and hospitality, Gay organises administration and finances and Annie co-ordinates and is developing our ecological restoration project and assists with fundraising.
Te Moata Charitable Trust - Board of Trustees.
Stephen Archer (Resident at Te Moata)
Stephen has been a trustee of Te Moata since 2006 and lives on-site as a resident meditation teacher, leading retreats at the sanctuary since 1996. He is director of Wellness Solutions and a consultant and trainer who advises on strategic approaches to workplace wellness, and facilitates healthy work and stress prevention programmes. He has been involved with Health and Safety and HR initiatives in New Zealand forestry, aviation and fishing, prisons, government departments and the mental health sector. Stephen has an honours degree in Eastern religions and trained for 13 years as an ordained Buddhist monk. He is passionately involved in the Save Te Moata Project and believes that the sanctuary is a valuable asset for New Zealand.
Ilana Becroft (Tairua)
Ilana has been a regular attendee at Te Moata retreats since 1990. For some years she offered practical assistance at the centre, culminating in spending one year (Sept 2006-Aug 2007), living and working full time at Te Moata. She made it her job to take responsibility for maintenance at Te Moata. In January 2008 she became a trustee of the Te Moata Charitable Trust. Ilana is a massage therapist, Dip TM, RMT. Previously resident on Waiheke Island, she ran a successful therapeutic massage practice there, as well as being a volunteer with Waiheke Hospice.
Gay Brice (Resident at Te Moata)
Gay has been a Trustee and Resident Community Member since January 2008. She currently manages the role of Administrator at Te Moata and has a 10 year history of attending and co-leading retreats as a Dances of Universal Peace teacher. Gay’s past work experience includes Team Manager at the Amway Contact Centre, Counseling and Course Co-ordinater at Friendship House, Manukau City and self employed music (guitar) teacher. Gay holds a Teacher’s Diploma in Word Processing and keyboarding and has taught for a number of years within the adult education arena.
Elisabeth Crago (Coromandel)
Retired from her career as a hospital administrator in the US, Elisabeth relocated to New Zealand where she and her husband are involved in organic farming, marine farming, and the Coromandel Oyster Company. Elisabeth joined the Charitable Trust in 2008, bringing her considerable business experience to the team. She has been involved in Te Moata programmes over the past several years and Te Moata has been a key factor in her commitment to life in New Zealand.
Wayne Fair (Resident at Te Moata)
Wayne has been involved with Te Moata since 2001. Over this time he says he has witnessed the magic of this place enrich and transform many people’s lives and he feels privileged to be both a trustee and resident of Te Moata. He believes in the cooperative and collective responsibility vision that is building at Te Moata. His passion for direct and open communication and working creatively has arisen out of many years of workshops, trainings and practical living. He is Te Moata’s hospitality manager and chef extraordinaire. Wayne has worked in the landscape industry most of his life where he was head gardener at Te Whau Gardens on Waiheke Island before moving to Te Moata in 2007.
Maniisha Wiessing (Kati Kati)
A new trustee since Jan 08, Maniisha has been a regular visitor and keen supporter of Te Moata for the past decade. Maniisha is a mother of young children and is also a director of Triodent Ltd, ranked as 9th Fastest Growing Company in NZ (Deloittes Fast50) 2007. Maniisha worked for several years as a high school biology teacher and together with her husband has owned two successful businesses.
Richard Solomon (Auckland)
Retired from his business career, Richard chooses to put much of his time into supporting ethically based organizations with a focus on well being of the human spirit. He became acquainted with Te Moata through his late wife's connection and love for Te Moata and the people in its community, and has been a Trustee for approx 3 years. He is very active in his Rotary Club and a Trustee of the Newmarket Rotary Charitable Foundation and is a Trustee and Council member of The Mankind Project (New Zealand) a worldwide organization with a focus on "changing the world one man at a time."
