A living landscape

A shared future

Our Place: Mangaroa

Mangaroa Farms is Earth School’s learning home: a working landscape of forests, pastures, gardens and waterways in Upper Hutt, near Wellington.

Across 1,222 hectares, people are exploring how food production, ecological restoration and community life can support one another. Children join weekly learning days, families settle for a season, course participants learn alongside experienced practitioners, and residents weave their lives into the wider community.

A Landscape to Learn With

Gardens, forests, pastures and waterways invite discovery and practical learning. From childhood enquiry to horticultural training, people develop understanding through direct experience with the land.
People to Learn Alongside

Teachers, leaders, growers, craftspeople and learners share knowledge across generations. Learning days, courses and shared projects create opportunities to build skills, friendships and confidence as part of a thriving learning community.
Caring for the Place We Share

Native planting, predator management, soil care and waterway restoration are part of life here. Learners can participate in ways suited to their interests and readiness. Explore Mangaroa’s Regeneration Work.
Growing Food, Sharing Knowledge

Our market garden, nursery, orchard and pastures connect learning with nourishing people. The Farm Shop / Kete Kai brings seasonal food and local provisions into everyday community life.
Space to Pause in the Garden

Central gardens offer space to wander, gather and pause, with seasonal colour, mature trees and quiet corners. Recognised with a national four-star rating by the New Zealand Garden Trust, they offer a quiet reflection of long-term care, beauty, and stewardship.
Part of a Living Community

Residents, local learners and visiting families bring different experiences to Mangaroa. Relationships grow through everyday encounters, seasonal gatherings and shared work, with room for participation, privacy and rest.

Finding Your Rhythm Here

There are different ways to become part of life and learning at Mangaroa. Whether you join us each week, settle for a season or explore a longer connection, relationships grow through shared experiences and time spent here.

A Weekly Rhythm of Nature Connection

Local children join Earth School for weekly days of discovery, creativity and practical learning. A familiar rhythm, caring kaiako and time with friends help them grow in confidence and deepen their relationship with nature and community.
Coming Home for a Season

Worldschooling families settle into furnished homes, with children learning alongside local friends. Parents and children find their own balance of learning, work, exploration and rest, with opportunities to join seasonal gatherings and everyday community life.
A Pathway to Practical Skills & Qualifications

Land-based course participants develop skills alongside experienced growers and practitioners, connecting guided learning with purposeful work. From nursery practice to caring for living landscapes, courses offer opportunities to build confidence, contribute and pursue recognised qualifications through education partners.
A Long-term Relationship with Place

Stay to watch the trees grow. People considering a home at Mangaroa are invited to explore the community, its everyday rhythms and its shared purpose. Begin a conversation about making a home here and contributing your interests, skills and care to the life and regeneration of the valley.