Our

Story

Back in 2013 we'd had enough living life the way we had been. We were working so hard, trying to keep up in a race for some ethereal prize we could never win. The target always seemed to be just a little beyond reach, losing its gloss with each passing year. Our marriages were suffering. Our kids were becoming anxious. Our relationships were crumbling. We were actually winning in many ways, according to modern measures of success. But if this was winning, then it wasn't for us because we were far from happy. We understood that we had the choice to carry on as we were, or make a change. We chose change, and started planning what Søren Kierkegaard would call our "leap of faith".

Our Northstar

We were living near Nelson at the time, five couples - all married, raising young families - and through our shared life challenges became great friends. Each of us, feeling there was more to life, searched for ideas on how to make a change through research, travel, and many long conversations. In case you are wondering - yes, we are Christian. And in case you're also wondering - no, we're not a cult, nor fundamentalists, nor are we interested in converting anyone. We're very far removed from those things, actually. It's human nature to want to label things; perhaps our label will be quite boring in reality. Maybe we can expand on a more accurate label later if you are still with us. Anyway, our shared faith helped a lot as it gave us a North Star. People from around the world find their purpose from lots of sources, be they religious, philosophical, having kids, pets, or something they are truly in love with. It's a code to live by. At the core is love. Love gives purpose, meaning and inevitably, a great reward.

Starting Again

Necessity is the mother of invention. We had the need, so we set about creating our reality. Which meant taking control of our lives, and giving our kids the opportunity to control their own futures. After several years of working hard together, we pooled resources and bought Mohaka River Farm. None of us were rich - we'd long since given up our corporate lives so were all making ends meet at that stage and little more. Buying the property was risky and terrifying to us. But pressure makes diamonds and the bond we'd forged through our collective trust in a greater meaning kept us strong when times were tough.

Farm in possession we spent six years getting on track, working hard to forge lives for ourselves here. If you have been to any "developing" country you may have observed the close intergenerational bonds in a family - a child might call numerous figureheads "Ma" or "Pop". New Zealand used to be like this. But, as in most "developed" countries many of the roles the family and community used to perform have been lost altogether or are now assumed by the state. Amongst ourselves, and with the help of family, friends and neighbours we sought to recreate the supportive village of old that raises the child. Of course our own children are our primary responsibility, but can you imagine what an advantage a child has who can confidently call on several sets of trusted adults for guidance on becoming a responsible contributor to society? We didn't all have that gift when we were growing up, but we now live in an an environment that ensures our children do have it.

The Present

Right now, we are preparing the farm for a new phase in its story, one we hope will be long and giving. We have a plan, and have worked really hard the past 6 months preparing the property for a new business model which we believe will stand strong for many years to come. There was so much to factor into our planning. One of the core issues we had to resolve was how we could continue offering a place for the people of Hawke's Bay to come and enjoy some time up here. We love hosting everyone, and see earlier versions of ourselves in so many of the young families who do come up here to stay. Unfortunately the camping ground alone does not pay the bills, in fact we have been losing money on it for several years which forced our hand into changing tack.

Through much discussion, we finally arrived at a plan we believe will meet all our needs, which includes being able to host our friends from the Hawke's Bay area. The camping ground will no longer be here unfortunately, but we will be able to host more in the way of craft fairs and family days. We have spent the past 6 months on earthworks and landscaping, preparing the property for a well needed revamp. We will be reopening in stages, with lots of ongoing work in the background for at least another year, probably more. For the first few months we will be mostly limited to hosting guests who are visiting to enjoy our experiences like guided fly fishing and horse trekking, by late summer 2026 we aim to kick off our next phase which will see another 8 chalets become available for accommodation, and the facilities to host weddings, conferences, family reunions and more. With the resources we have, we want to give our guests the best experience possible can whenever they visit us here.

A Label

If you've read this far we owe you that label we promised earlier. Something which more accurately describes who we are and more importantly, what we are becoming. The last 6 months have not just been about earthworks and planning. We've earnestly been seeking a solution that will meet the potential we feel in the property and in the people who will visit. It's been a time of introspection and reevaluation but it's also been a time to connect with a number of fantastic people both here and abroad. These folk have contributed to the vision and several have joined the team. We now have a diverse collective, all equally committed to making Mohaka River Farm one-of-a-kind. So, although the core group has expanded, it seems we can all sit under the same label. So, perhaps we start by describing the similarities between us and other New Zealand families: we want happy lives for ourselves and our children, we want strong lasting relationships with our spouses, we have jobs and need to pay our way, we want to reach our potential as individuals, we believe girls should be encouraged to reach their potential just as much as boys, we want to be healthy in body and in mind, we want control over our lives, we don't judge people based on their religion, race or creed. Now for what's different: we prefer home schooling for our children, we encourage a bit of modesty in public (hence the girls wear dresses and the lads might stay covered up when taking a dip in the river), we are 100% committed to our neighbors and the community we are a part of which means in good times we often have dinners or birthdays together, while in bad times, we are always around to lend a hand.

We welcome suggestions. For our two cents, if we had to label ourselves we might run with a "heritage-driven community". Or for shorthand perhaps a "family-centred village" or "traditionalist community". Whatever label sticks, we hope you get the chance to come spend a little time up here.

Thank you so much for reading.