Whanau is the Maori word for family, but it is more than that. It is about hospitality, aroha (love), generosity and caring for those who are in your household.
The farm is owned and operated by Wiki Walker and Cedric Hockey. Two teenage children, Te Hira Pou and Takoha Cooper and Bexley our miniature french poodle, make the permanent whanau who live on the farm. There are animals that have lived here for a long time which have also come into this whanau. These include Swissy the milking cow, her daughter Sophie, Sidney the gander and his side kick Walter. The rainbow valley farm whanau are a blend of Maori and European ancestry which makes a rich and unique mix of language and culture.
Cedric also owns Sir Cedrics Back Packers accommodation in the South Island. Another driving force for Cedric to acquire the farm was to offset the ecological footprint of his businesses and tourism in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Whanau Ethos
The whanau ethos is that beyond being owners of the property, our responsibility is as kaitiaki (care takers, guardians) and kaingaki (cultivators) of the land. Our belief is that the ecosystem is governed by natural laws which we have to accept, we can’t change them. We can learn more about them and change the way we live according to the laws of nature. Sustainable development is about discovering the rules and principles to have a sustainable relationship with the ecosystem to meet human need. The spirit and principles of the farm enable the whanau to live by this ancient belief.
