Creating a greener future for everyone

Hōhepa Hawkes Bay provides much-needed jobs for people with intellectual disabilities. The jobs involve growing plants for sale to community projects throughout the region.

Last updated:

Creating a greener future for everyone

We look after people with challenging intellectual disabilities.

So we've had our nursery operation, Trees for Hawkes Bay, in operation for about five years now.

So there's a permanent opportunity for employment by the people we support in the role, they spend a lot of time going out, gathering seeds and germinating seeds, and growing plants that are then available for sale to different community projects, or the Enviroschools programme and the likes.

This is an opportunity for a group of people who traditionally have had very little opportunity in the workforce, in fact only about half a percent of people with intellectual disabilities nationwide are engaged in active, paid employment.

Being involved in environmental protection is a sustainable future for everyone, not only from an employment perspective but also from the issues around climate change and uh, we want to be part of that, being engaged in work that people, and community really want.

People with intellectual disabilities don’t often have opportunities for paid work.

Hōhepa Hawkes Bay gives people with disabilities the opportunity to work. Through employment, they gain independence and are able to develop their social skills.

One of the more popular jobs is in the Trees for Hawkes Bay nursery. The workers grow a wide range of plants and then sell them to local community projects.

Growing plants is a great way for anyone to take care of our environment. This project not only creates much-needed jobs but also helps workers feel like they are making a difference to our environment.

We are proud to support this kaupapa through the Community Environment Fund.

Learn about the Community Environment Fund. 

Learn about Hōhepa Hawkes Bay