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Our eco-village is an 'intentional' community. That is to say members have chosen to join the community because they want to work with others towards a shared goal. Our collective aim at Otamatea is captured in the vision statement. To help us to reach this aim we work hard to find the right way to organise ourselves and make decisions.
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Community Organisation |
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To
understand our community you must first understand our land ownership. Our
total land area is about 102ha
(250
acres). On this land we have created
fifteen
2ha
(5 acre)
lots,
31ha
in all. These lots are intended for private ownership by eco-village
members. To have a say in the running of the eco-village you must own one
of these lots or be a family member of the owner. The
71ha which does not lie in lots is owned by the eco-village collectively. The owner(s) of
each section have an equal say in the management of this common land.
To ensure
that the principles of the eco-village are upheld we have created a document
containing Agreements for land use on private lots and community land. The
Agreements are linked to the Title. Some examples of the Agreements are:
- All owners contribute a number of working
hours (presently 3 hrs/wk per section) towards maintenance and communal
projects (road maintenance, tree planting, weeding, etc.
- All the land is treated organically (in
relation to pesticides and fertilizers)
- Buildings will apply sustainablility and
permaculture principles e.g. blending with the landscape, using
materials with the least environmental effect (both locally and
globally), minimising waste.
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Legal Structure |
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These
principles of community organisation are supported by our legal structure. |
The
decision making body for the eco-village is the Community Meeting.
Community meetings are held as needed, but generally every other month, in the community barn. Decisions (in
approved minutes) of the community meeting cover all of the community's
activities and are binding on all community members.
Tasks of the Community Meeting are many and varied. We have adopted a consensus decision-making process. Though this has not always been easy, it has helped us to develop listening skills and become willing to compromise and accommodate other points of view.
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Community Proposals |
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Any landowner can make proposals for consideration at the Community Meeting. Proposals may take the form of, say, a new idea aimed at enhancing eco-village activities or operations, or as amendments to current Agreements. |
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Community Meetings |
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A typical agenda might include:
- Care
and management of community resources.
- Strategic
direction and budgets for community projects.
- Local
and regional environmental issues.
- Announcement
of community and other local events.
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