The Lotus Eco Village is comprised of individual households living in their homes, on a common site but with a vision of how a different way of living could be more sustaining individually, collectively, and globally.

We aim to create many of the advantages of the traditional village - such as social contact, proximity to nature, childcare, economic efficiency, and celebration, and combine these with a sense of individual freedom & independence, as well as modern creature comforts, all of which have become important in the 21st century.

The Lotus Eco Village is located on the beautiful Kāpiti Coast, borders the Nikau Belt “wildlife corridor” yet is close to local amenities, including Kaitawa Reserve, shops, eateries and medical emergency centre, the newly upgraded Paraparaumu transport hub (services into Wellington CBD) and schools.

In addition to the picturesque beaches with vistas of the majestic Kāpiti Island there are a plethora of local natural (often free of charge) attractions such as:

• Hemi Matenga Reserve

• Queen Elizabeth Park

• Otaihanga Domain

• Whareroa Farm (walking, mountain biking, horse riding, picnics)

• Ngā Manu Nature Reserve

• Nikau Palm Reserve

• Escarpment Track – 10km cliff walk from Paekākāriki to Pukerua Bay

• Waikanae Estuary Scientific Reserve

• Waikanae River with associated river walks

The Lotus Eco Village has successfully built on their 3-hectare, established site the following:

Community House / Lotus Yoga Centre comprising of:

• Community House (offering a massive open space for groups to celebrate with light commercial kitchen facilities on hand (including scullery) with sit-down seating capability for at least 60 people with large heat pump and even a woodburner (in case of emergencies - note the only one on the property due to eco considerations but available if needed)

• Yoga Room

• Lotus Yoga Centre administration offices & therapy rooms

• The Sanctuary

• Guest Apartment (offering 1 bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, lounge and decking) – this is available for all eco-villagers to use a certain number of days per year for that overflow of family or friends.

Infrastructure for all the dwellings (bridge, roading, services, retaining walls, pond with pumphouse, for the purposes of storm water management, conservation, irrigation & firefighting)

21 single level homes (all sold and all fully occupied).

8 two level homes completed and occupied.

Now the construction of the eight 2-storey houses are complete, the entire project is finished.

The Lotus Eco Village, is now ready to grow organically!

Absolutely not!

We assure you, we are quite normal. There is no specified religious belief. In fact, diversity is openly encouraged and welcomed.

A thriving eco-community that is socially, environmentally and financially sustainable.

Yes, these can be found on the Vision, Guidelines and Communication page.

This was developed in May ’21 by the eco-villagers it is a living document that will evolve along with the needs of the village.

The guidelines are intended to provide a framework for nurturing a diverse & caring community.

Our journey began back in 2017 with build being completed in 2025.

Visit our timeline on our home page.

No.

Your level of participation and input is totally up to you.

That being said, it is highly recommended that you do get involved if you can. Those that do, have found the experience to be deeply rewarding and have developed a great support structure, along with some wonderful relationships and its synergistic benefits.

"A highlight for me is seeing the relationships form between my children and the other villagers. Having my 10 year old invite his 'best friend' (who is in their 50s) to a school function was just lovely" - C

Currently, most eco-villagers attend the meetings that are held quarterly.

Some are on different committees and teams, lots attend the working bees and social gatherings.

For others they contribute to the village in other ways.

To enquire please contact Simon via the contact page to make an appointment.

You will be able to view the Community House and its facilities, walk round the village and chat to current eco-villagers to get a feel of the place and also view House 10.

All properties have been designed with a great deal of fore thought, with an emphasis on minimising any direct eye contact between living spaces of dwellings allowing a unique flexibility and choice, at any time, between sociability and privacy.

Even the 2-storey houses have separation from each other by way of the carports – therefore no shared walls.

“The village is so peaceful and quiet. You would never know there are 30+ villagers living here! People go about their days and many chats are had whilst walking from point A to point B. Or you can be inside your own haven and not see or hear much at all! What more could you ask for?” - J

The Lotus Yoga Centre (LYC) was formed by Eric Doornekamp in Wellington in the 1970’s and moved to Ruapehu Street in 1985 to create Whare Ora (Place of well-being).

Much of the land was turned into organic gardens, with the help of a stream of WWOOFERs, and in 1999 the octagonal Sanctuary was built.

In 2017 decisions had to be taken to secure the financial sustainability of the Lotus Yoga Centre and it was decided to develop the land and the idea of the Lotus Eco Village was born.

The new Community House was built and opened in 2020, including a large yoga studio and therapy rooms. The Lotus Yoga Centre and related practitioners now offer a range of well-being services for both village residents and the local community.

No, not at all.

However quite a lot of the eco-villagers are members of the Lotus Yoga Centre. It's very easy to go to classes when they are on your doorstep!

Currently there are around 65 eco-villagers in 29 dwellings. Our oldest resident is 88 and first village baby was born in November 2025. The average age of residents is in the mid forties.

Other residents include a bevy of local birds Kererū (Darby, Joan & Fred), Tūī, Piwakawaka, Tauhou and many types of wildlife in our pond.

There are regular working bees on weekends, others are during the week.

They are around 2 hours long and eco-villagers attend when it suits them. There's no record kept of who attends what.

"The coming together as a group is always happening whether it's at an organised social event, working bee or an impromptu meal. These times grow relationships and community, it is what we came here for. - F

We became a Body Corporate from August 2023. Our Body Corporate Number is 552212.

Yes, we already have a healthy bank balance.

Yes – of course. These are ready and available to be viewed upon request for those looking to purchase.

Our Body Corporate finances are an open book and very easy to understand.

Every owner is part of the Body Corporate.

From these people a Body Corporate Committee is established, and they manage the legal side of being a body corporate.