| 111 Hohepa nurturing body, soul, spirit Currently, Hōhepa Canterbury is supporting 182 adults with intellectual disabilities and providing tailored services to meet individual wants and needs. COMMUNITY Hōhepa Canterbury T T Kim Newth As Hōhepa Canterbury approaches its 60th anniversary milestone in 2025, this vibrant community of people with intellectual disabilities is both looking back with pride and looking forward with a strategic eye on the future. Hōhepa Canterbury is one of four Hōhepa communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. The first was founded in Hawke’s Bay in 1957. Hōhepa Canterbury was established a little later in 1965. Inspired by the teachings of Dr Rudolf Steiner and his principles of anthroposophy (‘wisdom of the human’), Hōhepa has a special character that seeks to promote physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Their vision is that ‘every life is fully lived’. Currently, Hōhepa Canterbury is supporting 182 adults with intellectual disabilities and providing tailored services to meet individual wants and needs. “Our oldest person is in their mid-70s and we also have 20- and 21-year-olds coming straight from school,” says Jacqueline Campbell, Hōhepa Canterbury’s Community Engagement Manager. “We really pride ourselves on giving people an individual programme, working with them to learn what they want to do and supporting them to achieve their idea of a fully lived life.” The community’s main city base in Barrington Street, Somerfield is pleasantly landscaped with gardens and mature trees. Homes for people with disabilities take up much of the campus, along with the Artemis Activity Centre and Hōhepa Hall that provide the community’s social, activity and therapy services. A second campus – on a 40-acre farm at Halswell – provides additional homes, the Gaia Activity Centre and a mini farm garden called Maara Hua Whenua, (‘fruit from the soil’). “We also have a new space called Melrose Farm, near Halswell Quarry Park where we run a day programme. “The Artemis Centre can get quite noisy and busy whereas Melrose Farm is a bit gentler. It is a good option for people who want to connect with the environment and landscape in a beautiful space that’s also nice and quiet.” Hōhepa Canterbury’s day services are extensive, encouraging participation in a wide range of educational, sporting, cultural and community activities and with various therapies available to support wellbeing. Most in-house activities are based at the Somerfield campus in the Artemis Centre. Activities out in the community include learning at Ara, supported employment, voluntary work and various outings. Supporting people to live good lives and to live as independently as possible is a core commitment. “We own 22 properties and rent 30 on top of that. Some people may only need a few hours of support a week while others may need full-time care.” Over the past six decades, Hōhepa Canterbury has been a home for many. A recently launched digital platform called Recollect is helping to capture and preserve precious memories from the past. “To be able to tell the story of Hōhepa in a visual way like this is really exciting - it’s very much living history. We invite people to contribute any photos or videos that have been collected over the years. T T to page 112 We have been proudly supporting Hohepa Canterbury 319 Brougham Street, Christchurch P: 03 365 0907 M: 027 439 7825 Email: info@pyeelectrical.co.nz www.pyeelectrical.co.nz CONNECTING YOU TO THE RIGHT SOLUTION Construction siteworks • Asphalt • Concrete • Excavation Paving • Driveways • Patio’s • Tennis Courts PROUD TO HAVE PROVIDED ASPHALT AND CONCRETE SERVICES TO HOHEPA CANTERBURY 0800 277 425 • 03 358 8888 • office@austingroup.co.nz CONTACT US FOR A FREE QUOTE 03 384 9630 www.thetreepeople.nz Since 2004, The Tree People are your local tree experts with a commitment to excellence and extensive experience in arboriculture across residential, commercial and urban settings. Offering a comprehensive array of services, including: • Pruning • Removal • Health Care • Vista management • Risk Assessment • Hedge trimming • Planting • Transplanting • Emergency Response • Preservation
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