Frequently Asked Questions

The Lotus Eco Village

  • The Lotus Eco Village is comprised of a group of people living in regular households, 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 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

  • Currently 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)

    3 two level homes completed and occupied

  • Construction on eight 2-storey houses has already begun, with the first 5 houses, already completed and occupied, so not long at all!

    Once done (by the end of February 2025), there are a just few minor projects (such as village green & community garden) which once finished will mark the end of the development stage.

    The Lotus Eco Village, will then be fully completed, and thus left to grow organically thereafter!

  • 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.

    Note: Whilst it was developed in May ’21 by the eco-villagers it is meant to be a living document to 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.

    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.

  • We have open days to show people around. 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 the partially completed 2-storey houses.

    Please contact Steph Bradley (steph.bradley@villagerealestate.co.nz or 022 043 2332) for further information or to register for an open day.

  • 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?” - Jackie

  • The Lotus Yoga Centre (LYC) was formed by Eric Doornekamp in Wellington in the 1970’s. Moving to Ruapehu Street in 1985 to create Whare Ora (Place of well-being). The existing homestead villa was used for well-being practices including offering yoga classes and related therapeutic treatments. 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. The Sanctuary (Ananda Loka – Place of Bliss) is a spiritual place that tunes into the natural energy of lay lines.

    In 1989 the Lotus Yoga Centre purchased 89 Ruapehu Street with the intention of creating a Peace Garden and a cottage was placed on site in 2002 to house the Doornekamp family.

    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. Much thought went into how this should happen, and the idea of the Lotus Eco Village was born. Significant infrastructure work had to be undertaken and optimum placement of houses considered.

    Since that time 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 modalities for both village residents and the local community.

    The original villa was removed in 2021 and pleasingly remodeled into a family home in Ōtaki.

    The Lotus Yoga Centre shares the same building as our community space.

  • 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 over 40 residents (eco-villagers) in 24 dwellings, as well as a bevy of local birds and pond wildlife. We are a link between the Nikau Belt and Kaitawa Reserve. Long term residents are Fred and Darby & Joan our 40 year old kererū.

  • Some are on weekend days, others are on a Tuesday morning.

    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.

    Please request this via the agent Steph Bradley (steph.bradley@villagerealestate.co.nz / 022 043 2332) or Liam Martin (liam.martin@villagerealestate.co.nz / 027 684 2030). 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.

Our 2-Storey Houses

  • Insulation

    • 5R batts (ceilings)

    • 4R batts (external walls)

    • 1.8R batts (bottom floor)

    • 75mm acoustic batts (internal walls)

    • 150mm silencer batts (upper floor)

    • Rondo Quiet Stud acoustic installed (upper floor)

    Heating

    • 2kW electric fireplace with flame effect (lounge)

    • 5kW heatpump for heating and cooling

    • underfloor heating in the bathrooms

    Rain Sensor Skylight

    • solar powered & fully automated

    • optimises the temperature of your home via a thermal chimney effect

    • closes automatically when it rains

    Electric Vehicle Charging

    • compliant power point in each and every carport

    • trickle charges your vehicle

    Low E Glass (double glazed)

    • special coating that reflects long wave radiation, significantly reducing the rate at which heat is lost through your windows

    • 2x/4x heat loss reduction (U value) than double/single glazing respectively

    • less glare & UV radiation (less sun damage to furnishings)

    • solar heat stays out (summer)

    • radiant heat stays in (winter)

      Click here to see the graphic of how E Glass works.

    Day-to-day access to community facilities

    • community room with kitchen facilities

    • mail room

    • workshop

    • community gardens

    • village green

    Extra accommodation for visitors

    • Guest Apartment (fully equipped) available for your visitors

    • each dwelling is apportioned approx. 12 days per year for their guests

    Open pipe High Speed internet

    • super fast fibre internet

    • no monthly charge as this is included in the body corporate fee

    • totally unlimited use

    “The 5G internet is actually so good, the latest technology in fibre optic broadband is installed and is included in the Body Corporate fees. What a great surprise to have the WIFI router already set up and ready to go when we moved in!” - Darrell

    High stud ceilings

    • both floors have a 2.7 metre high stud

    • giving you a genuine feeling of space

    Window treatments

    • sheer curtains in the living area

    • sheer curtains with block out lining in the master bedroom

    • honeycomb block out blinds in bedrooms

    • brand new homes usually come completely undressed, however, our homes come complete saving you money and time measuring/sourcing/installing curtains

    Other chattels

    • Belling Ceramic Hob

    • Belling 9 Function Oven (under bench)

    • Robinhood Extractor Fan (31db)

    • Fisher & Paykel standard dishwasher

    • Robinhood supertub in the laundry

  • Yes.

    All the 2-storey houses are 3 bedrooms, have the same floor area (i.e. 142sqm plus 28sqm private decking plus carport) and features, each have their slight differences, angles and vantage points to maximise sun position, views and/or privacy.

    “I bought my house off-plan without really knowing how it might actually look and feel. Gil-Plans, the Architects, have done amazing eco-design work, Ryder Builders, the building team, have constructed the home to a very high-quality level. I have now lived here for 2 years and cannot fault the construction or finish of my home. I am sure the same care and attention to detail will be undertaken in building the townhouses”. G

  • Construction is well under way, with the first 2 houses ready to be occupied by as early as June 2023, and the remaining 2-storey houses to be completed by the end of the calendar year.

  • All 2-storey houses are $1,199,000.

Other Stuff

  • Body Corporate Fee includes:

    • high-speed fibre internet service (unlimited data)

    • rubbish collection

    • mixed and glass recycling

    • maintenance & day to day running of Community House

    • some costs related to shared community meals

    • upkeep of our beautiful environment

    • body corporate administration costs

    • contribution to Long Term Maintenance Fund for planned capital improvements

    Council Rates are paid by the homeowner, and once Unit title is issued will be assessed by Kapiti Coast District Council depending on the value of the dwelling.

    Water rates are billed quarterly however these are not significant as irrigation is provided via our stormwater retention pond.

    The Lotus Eco Village Body Corporate have insurance for land buildings and improvements and this is on charged based on each units utility interest. With regards contents insurance, you will need to arrange this with your chosen provider.

    Your electricity bill will be lower due to the eco-design of your home, in addition, we have teamed up with Meridian to bulk purchase for the entire village which gives us a discount. There are individual check meters for all dwellings.

  • Ownership is on the basis of ‘Unit Title’ which includes the area under your home. The rest of the land is communally owned and will be used for shared veggie gardens, lawn, fruit orchards and bush restoration. As a cohousing community you also have a share in the community building.

  • Generally speaking, an eco-lifestyle isn’t consistent with pets, however, many homes have brought their existing pets with them.

    If you currently have a pet, you can rest assured they will be welcomed into our eco-village. We would expect you to manage their activities.

  • All owners have self-selected to join our community, and there has been no vetting. We each agree to the guidelines and principles of the Eco-Village. We are a ‘group of individuals’ with different backgrounds and thoughts and opinions.

    Overall, we share a wish to be living in community with all that entails, the giving and receiving, the kindness and connection, the support and steadiness to get through difficult times individually and collectively.

    Owners of the 2-storey houses will be on the same basis.