accelerating the transition to a regenerative, organic and just food system.
Pākaraka Permaculture is an organic agro-ecological farm and education centre.
The Farm
Established by Harry Parke and Jeanette Fitzsimons in 1991, and joined by Niva, Yotam, Lily and Dina Kay in 2014.
On the farm, you will find a chestnut orchard, an olive orchard, a pecan orchard, vegetable gardens, sheep, cows, chickens, worms, bees, silvopasture, establishing food forests, fruit orchards, hardwood timber plantations, regenerating wetlands and regenerating native bush.
The farm is off-grid, powered by solar and micro-hydro systems, and has multiple springs that flow from the native bush which we use as our water supply. Our farm and gardens have been certified organic by Organic Farms New Zealand #1009, since 1991.
Pākaraka Permaculture Market Garden
Established in 2014 by Niva and Yotam Kay, Pākaraka Permaculture is a leading example of organic regenerative small-scale market gardening. For 10 years, we have consistently grown over 10,000 kg of food a season on a 1/4 acre of land a season while improving our soil and ecosystem!
We believe a significant part of the future of fresh food is local, small-scale, organic, regenerative and diverse.
2025 update:
We are taking a break from intensive cropping to pursue new challenges to promote environmentally and socially desirable futures!
Yotam now teaches Horticulture and Sustainability at Hauraki Plains College and Niva is working on a PhD at The University of Auckland.
Education
We love sharing what we do, up-skill and inspire!
We offer a range of workshops, talks and online courses on gardening, fermentation and permaculture. Come and join us on the farm, online or inquire about inviting us to come to you.
We pride our events on being fun, engaging, suitable to any level of experience and making sustainability feel accessible!
Niva and Yotam are the authors of two best-selling books: "The Abundant Garden" A practical guide to growing a regenerative home garden, and "The Abundant Kitchen" A practical guide to growing a regenerative home garden
Meet the Team
Harry Parke - Founder/Director - Pākaraka Farm
Harry has been a long time organic farmer. Harry has vast experience as a professional in livestock care and management, including 20 years as a professional and competition sheep shearer.
Harry loves sharing his passion for vegetable gardening, native planting, animal welfare and off-grid living.
Niva Kay - Founder/Director - Pākaraka Permaculture
Niva is passionate about storytelling, environmental impact, and social impact. Beyond her life on the farm, she works across various media forms, including writing, photography, film, and games.
Niva is the co-founder of The Rebel Film Collective and a writer/director/producer of the award-winning feature documentary "High Tide Don't Hide." She is also the instigator of the REGENERATE Game Jam, an initiative that reimagines farms in games to focus on organic, regenerative, and indigenous farming knowledge, practices, and frameworks.
Niva studied interdisciplinary environmental studies and continued into Permaculture design. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Leadership for Change and a Master's degree in Technological Futures.
Yotam Kay - Founder/Director - Pākaraka Permaculture
Yotam is a master gardener, growing vegetables and teaching others how to do it since 2005. He loves growing things and sharing his passion for them. Yotam is a graduate of The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies and Peace Leadership and holds a Diploma in Permaculture Design and a Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Practice. Yotam has been a certified Permaculture teacher since 2010 and is currently studying for a Master of Teaching and Learning at the University of Waikato.
Yotam had worked on a wide range of projects before establishing Pākaraka Permaculture in 2014, including leading community food resilience and gardening projects, establishing food gardens and sustainability programs in schools, and managing commercial organic horticulture operations in New Zealand.
Yotam is a regular contributor to NZ Gardener Magazine. Niva and Yotam were awarded the peer-reviewed 'Farmer of the Year' at the 2021 Organic NZ Awards.
Shakēd From
Shakēd has been living off-grid for the last decade, focusing on exploring and creating collaborations for regenerative abundance as a response to the global crises. Shakēd has been one of the Trustees developing Kotare Village, managed the Heritage Fruit Tree Nursery and Forest Garden for Koanga Institute, and worked with schools and other institutions in establishing food/educational gardens. Shakēd has been teaching permaculture-related courses such as Design, Propagation, Forest garden design and management, Appropriate technologies, Bio-char production and application, Bio-intensive gardening, etc. Shakēd specifically enjoys exploring practical, place-based, regenerative solutions for simple living.
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Contact us
To get in touch, please email us at Hello@pakarakafarm.co.nz
We are located at 80 Pākaraka, Thames. Visits to the farm are by prior booking only - Please don't visit the farm unless otherwise arranged.
