Workshops
1271 Blair Road, Kotuku, Moana 7872 ; http:// www.tepuawai.co.nz ; 021106366
Kōtuku Spring Workshop
(1271 Blair Road, Kōtuku, 10k west of Moana on the Moana to Stillwater Road)
Noon Saturday 26th October to 1pm, Monday 28 October (Labour Weekend)
Pathways to Survival - come build the revolution!
As modern life as we know it starts to unravel, the climate, degrowth and community resilience movements could provide an important narrative of survival. What are the resistances we encounter and how might they be overcome?
We’ll consider the crises we’re faced with: a harsher and hotter world; conflict and scarcity; the rise of authoritarianism; global chaos…
What can the climate/degrowth/community resilience movement bring to create pathways to survive our predicament?
For example, ways of dealing with national emergencies, planned degrowth, UBI / taxation reform, Tiriti rights and constitutional reform, localism and direct democracy, public ownership of land, energy and infrastructure, transitions to appropriate technology and restorative food growing...
What are the activist structures we need to enable these changes? Such as community resilience networks, co-operatives, radical coalitions at national level, independent media, international networking…
The tools of education and reflection which may enable us to tackle the resistance to change.
We'll look at approaches to action and how we can work together to build the structures we need to make the changes. How do we organise collectively, breaking down the silos? What’s our relationship with manawhenua, with the unions and more? What are key campaigns, the place of street protest and direct action? Can we create a common vision and platform? What about comms, alternative media, webinars, face to face forums?
We'll look at what calls to us in this moment and where our personal energy and excitement for action lie.
If these are the sort of questions running thru your head, come join us in a fun, interactive, creative and collaborative weekend. We’ll share our visions, values and knowledge, use drama to examine the power structures we are entangled in, and deepen our connections with one another - in the lovely setting of an historic school house.
Car pooling will be organised. Cost: $100-$120 (you choose - mainly covers catering). Bring towel and sleeping bag or duvet. Room to camp if this is what you prefer. Detailed programme coming soon.
At Kōtuku we always start with the knowledge in the room and we use a variety of interactive learning tools.
For more info about the workshop topic, contact Torfrida 021 107 3937 or email torfridaw@outlook.com
Registration form
Spring workshop, (October 26-28 - Labour Weekend)
(please copy and paste to Word, fill in form and return to torfridaw@outlook.com or wkcultureby October 13th)
Cost: $100-$120
Name:
Organisation (if applicable):
Address:
Email:
Phone:
I am interested in car pooling: Y/N (underline)– if so, coming from where?
Dietary matters or any health issues we need to accommodate:
Please bring bedding (duvet or sleeping bag) and towel.
Payment by bank transfer to Te Puawai Co-operative Society. 38 9019 0010234 01 with name as reference and SW as code by October 16.
Directions: 1271 Blair Road, Kōtuku, Moana. Blair Road is off Arnold River Road the main road which links Moana with Stillwater, about 10k on the Stillwater side of Moana, signposted with Historic site.
Lunch available on 26th at 12.30pm
Workshop facilitators: Torfrida Orme and Kari Hunter are from Pathway to Survival, a group that emerged from Extinction Rebellion to connect with the wider progressive movement. Anneleise Hall is a longtime grassroots activist now involved in building community resilience networks in the degrowth movement. Leigh Cookson was key co-ordinator for CORSO for many years, and is now Manager of Christchurch School of Music. Paul Maunder is a playwright, film director and cultural activist based in Blackball.
www.doc.govt.nz – jacks mill school
There will be a limit of 15 participants.
Bank account: Te Puawai 38-9019-0010234-01 name as reference
Enquiries about Kōtuku, ring or text Paul on 021 106 3669 or email wkcultur@gmail.com
Directions: Kōtuku is off the Arnold Valley Road which links Moana to Stillwater and SH7. Coming from Christchurch take turn off to Moana at Jacksons. Proceed through Moana. 10k west of Moana, signposted ‘Historic School’, the turnoff to Kōtuku is on your right. Proceed 1k to next intersection and the school is on the corner. From Nelson, travelling along SH7 toward Greymouth, turn off to Moana at Stillwater, drive toward Moana for 15k and the turn off to Blair Rd and the ‘Historic School’ is on your left (just after crossing a couple of one way bridges).
Our kaupapa
In the late 1930s, during Aotearoa’s first social democratic government, Kōtuku, near Moana, became the site of a ground-breaking educational initiative when a progressive teacher at the Jack’s Mill School asked the children to design, build and furnish a model cottage.
Now, in an increasingly catastrophic world, the school becomes a historic site for groups and individuals in Te Wai Pounamu to pursue the work of designing, building and furnishing the house of a sustainable and just future, while acknowledging the already existing whare of tangatawhenua.
Kōtuku operates under the legal umbrella of Te Puawai Co-operative Society and is advised by a support group of representatives from progressive organisations in Te Wai Pounamu
Kōtuku will mount a programme of workshops for activists and those wishing to be active, enabling retreat, connection, reflection, learning, celebration, personal and organisational growth as we create a better world.
Kōtuku will offer workshops for those living on the Coast, especially young people and be available for community use and whanau gatherings orrespite.
Kōtuku is a residential centre in a rural setting, sleeping up to twenty people. It is fully accessible. Camping is also possible.
Kōtuku has a collegial relationship with Kōtare in Te Ika a Maui. We seek networking opportunities with similar groups, both nationally and internationally, with whom we can share goals and tactics and take collective responsibility for the future.
In our brave space, we begin with the knowledge in the room, focus on the practical and move from problems to solutions and are inclusive.
Further Programme for 2024- 2025
Story telling workshop for local rangatahi (11-14 years old): April 22-23. (Facilitators: Jason Johnson, Amy Cunningham and Paul Maunder)
Writers Retreat June 1-3. With tutor input (Paddy Richardson, Jeffrey Paparoa Holman, Paul Maunder)
Building the toolkit: 10.00am Sat 29th June to 3pm Sunday 30th June. Explore the methodology of structural analysis as it is relevant to your group or organisation and practise the tools of cultural work. Plus, enter a space of mutual care and resilience in the late capitalist world with a focus on the hologram. (Facilitators: Sue Bradford, Leigh Cookson, Paul Maunder, Catherine Woollett, Jason Johnson)
Intergenerational workshop for local children and elders. Oct 7&8 (Jason Johnson, Amy Cunningham, Pam McKelvey, Caroline Selwood)
Seeds of Fire: Midday Feb 8 – 3pm Feb 9, 2025. Explore collective memory as we walk through the Pākeha history of struggle in Aotearoa and ask how it informs action now. Followed by a workshop on scripting an imagined demo/rally/action/occupation as a coherent performance (using speech, theatre, story telling, song, artwork and the authentic emotion). It being summer there will be time for a swim. (Facilitators: Leigh Cookson, Paul Maunder, Pam McKelvey).
Open to all West Coast artists and administrators. The aim is to setup a network that can then belong to the Regional Arts Network Aotearoa Network. Advocacy, workshops, website, sharing of resources will all be on the agenda.
Contact: Cassandra at the Left Bank Gallery, Anne at Wetsland Arts Inc or Paul on 0211063669. If people are travelling a long distance they are welcome to stay at Kotuku the night before or the night of the workshop. Lunch will be provided.
Kotuku's address i 1271 Blair Road, Kotuku.