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Hohepa Hawke’s Bay was founded in 1957 by the joint initiative of Marjorie Allen, educator, and Lewis Harris (later to become Sir Lew), local farmer and benefactor.
The present day Hawke's Bay Hohepa Community occupies two sites adjacent to Napier City. The main administration and adult facilities are based at Clive (South end of Napier), while the School and children's homes are at the Poraiti site, which is to the north end of Napier, near Taradale. Organic farming occurs on both sites, each site being approximately 21 hectares (50 acres).
The original Home and School was built in the glorious hills of Poraiti which overlook Napier and surrounding areas. The development at Clive, a coastal based property some 15 minutes drive from Poraiti, was started in 1960 where facilities were extended to include more homes, a farm and workshops.
Since the early days more classrooms, houses, halls and craft studios have been added and further land acquired. Hohepa Hawke's Bay now provides a community setting for about 92 adult residents and 30 children, with close to 200 full and part time co-workers.
Residential life
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Residential life at the Hohepa Hawke's Bay community usually begins at the school, which maintains a curative education programme, based on the teachings and philosophies of Rudolph Steiner. The programme for the intellectually disabled includes the New Zealand Curriculum, and the school maintains close associations with the Ministry of Education. Students remain in the school up to the age of 21, when they may move to the adult programmes (provided places are available) or to the related Hohepa Auckland or Canterbury facilities.
Children and teenagers live in family-like homes scattered on the Poraiti site, where the house parent/family caters for up to six children, with varying support from other workers depending on the needs of individual children or young people.
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The adult community life
The adult community life involves the residents in daily vocational programmes, ranging from craft skills for weaving, feltmaking, woodwork, candlemaking, farming and gardening. Life Plans include plans for personal development and achievement in these vocational areas, with some linked to NZQA accredited courses and certificates. Products from the farm and craft studios may be sold through the on-site shop.
Some residents gain work in the community beyond Hohepa. Participating in the wider general community is also an important part of life, with programmes such as Riding For Disabled, sports programmes and participating in shopping trips all part of regular life. As well as residences sited at Clive, Hohepa Hawke's Bay has several houses around Napier, so that residents can live, with support, in the wider community.
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Obligations and standards of care
Contracts and Legal Agreements with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Development define obligations and standards of care, and regular audits are conducted to check our performance. We maintain well defined policies and procedures, and apply our own internal checking systems, to ensure high standards of care are constantly maintained.
The anthroposophical principles based on Rudolph Steiner’s Philosphy are integral to the practices and life plans, around both social therapy programmes and health.
