About Us

Welcome | Nau mai, haere mai

Te toto o te tangata he kai, te oranga o te tangata, he whenua, he oneone | While food provides the blood in our veins, our health is drawn from the land and soil.

Hakea is located in an inlet of Aotea Harbour amongst the Pakoka Scenic Reserve. This harbour was the landing place of the Aotea waka, which brought the ancestors of the Ngā Rauru and Ngāti Ruanui tribes to Aotearoa New Zealand. This area is an important habitat for native sea and shore birds, known for fertile soils and a regenerating native forest.

The name ‘Hakea’ was given to the farm when no one could explain a strange tree that was found on the whenua (land). Later, it turned out to be a Hakea from the protea family. These trees have beautiful flowers and need fire to spread their seeds. Hakea has meanings of ascending and breath of life.

Over the years, Hakea has become a collective project where creativity is gathered and shared in a variety of forms including art, knowledge, music, self-expression and much more. It is a place for alternative thinking and conscious celebrations.

Our kaupapa (set of values, principles which are the foundations for our actions) is oriented around community building ethics and a value system that celebrates life, personal growth, creative expression, and protection of Papatūānuku.

Kaitiakitanga (Earth Care), Te aroha ki a Papatūānuku: Care of all living systems, our planet, oceans, waterways and forests. This is at the heart of our wellbeing and our identity as guardians of Hakea, the whenua and all that lives and thrives here.

Whanaungatanga (People Care), Te aroha ki ngā hononga: Care for the self, kin and community. We are born to connect and support one another.

Manaakitanga (Fair share), Te aroha ki te tangata: The very essence of respect, caring for and protection of others.

Meet the Team

Merve Yeşilkır

Merve is a scientist by trade and brings an analytical mind to the farm having studied Molecular Biology and Genetics, followed by several research projects in Europe. After completing a Permaculture Design Course in 2017 and recently a Permaculture Design teaching course in 2025, she found her lifelong research project of working with nature. Designing food forests and gardens for people and the land comes naturally to her, and she has gained further knowledge from local Māori on indigenous connection to land and growing food. When she isn’t in the garden, Merve enjoys hiking, being outdoors, sewing, and creative pursuits.

Daniel Maurice Whittington

Dan is a multi-skilled and innovative person. He is a qualified electrician and has experience in engineering. His main focus is creating and designing systems that work efficiently and sustainably. Dan deals with the daily management of Hakea and any infrastructure related topics. He is a natural at problem solving and creating solutions. He enjoys spending time with our animals, surfing, outdoors, dancing and music.

About Our Community

Hakea is held together by a wider land-based community, the people who call this place home. While Dan and Merve may be the faces you see most often, the heart of Hakea is shaped by the residents who live here permanently. Together, we tend our community gardens, share meals and celebrations, and care for the land through our own stewarded sections of land. Each person brings their own strengths, stories, and hands to the work, and their presence is woven into everything Hakea grows, protects, and becomes.

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