What Hohepa does

Hōhepa Hawke's Bay (Hōhepa Homes Trust Board) is a New Zealand charitable trust established in 1956 by Marjorie Allan and Sir Lewis Harris, opening its first community in May 1957 in Clive, Hawke's Bay. The organisation supports people with intellectual disabilities across their full lifespan through an integrated anthroposophical model inspired by Dr Rudolf Steiner's teachings, delivering housing, Steiner/Waldorf education (school roll cap 44, ages 7–21), day activities, purposeful work opportunities, health and therapies, and purpose-built eldercare. It is the 3rd largest employer in Hawke's Bay with 640+ staff, and engages approximately 1,000 people across supported individuals, families, whānau, staff, and volunteers.

The trust operates biodynamic and regenerative farms at Clive and Poraiti (Demeter and BioGro certified), producing an annual output that includes 18,000 kg of award-winning organic cheese, 215,000 litres of biodynamic whole milk from a 63-cow herd, fresh produce, native plants, handmade beeswax candles from Takapau Kintail Honey, untreated-wood woodwork, and weavery textiles. The farms double as therapeutic work environments for supported individuals. Native plant production has scaled to over 90,000 eco-sourced plants and trees established across Hawke's Bay through partnerships with the Department of Conservation and Hawke's Bay Regional Council.

The revenue model combines government-funded individualised disability support contracts (the dominant income stream for a charitable trust of this type), donations and grants (Eastern & Central Community Trust, Sutherland Self Help Trust, The Hōhepa Foundation), and social enterprise product sales. Products are distributed through three own retail outlets (Clive, Taradale, Creative Works Napier), a weekly Hawke's Bay Farmers Market stall, and wholesale channels supplying retailers, cafes, wineries, and restaurants throughout New Zealand, with Pak'nSave and Mitre 10 Mega as named distribution partners.

Name

Hohepa

Legal name

Hōhepa Hawke's Bay

Website

https://hohepahawkesbay.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Hōhepa Hawke's Bay is a New Zealand charitable trust supporting people with intellectual disabilities across their lifespan through housing, Steiner education, work opportunities, therapies, and eldercare, supplemented by six artisan social enterprise product lines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Special education
• Biodynamic farming
• Social enterprise products
• Residential care

Headquarters

HQ city

Clive

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Social Enterprise Product Sales: Sale of biodynamic/organic products including cheese, dairy, fresh produce, candles, woodwork, weavery items, and native plants through own retail shops and wholesale to retailers, cafes, wineries, and restaurants
2. Award-winning Organic Cheese Production: Production of 18,000 kg of award-winning organic cheese annually; 215,000 litres of biodynamic whole milk per annum
3. Disability Support Services: Government-funded individualised support services for people with intellectual disabilities including housing, education, day activities, work opportunities, health and therapies, and eldercare
4. Hawke's Bay Farmers Market Sales: Weekly presence at Hawke's Bay Farmers Market (Every Sunday, 8:30am - 12:30pm) at Tomoana Showgrounds

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hōhepa Hawke's Bay is a charitable trust providing lifelong disability support services to people with intellectual disabilities, including residential homes, Steiner/Waldorf education, day programs, work opportunities, health and therapies, and eldercare. The organisation funds its mission through a network of social enterprises that produce and sell biodynamic artisan products (organic cheese, dairy, beeswax candles, woodwork, woven textiles, fresh produce, native plants) through own retail shops, farmers markets, and wholesale channels.

Product overview

Hōhepa Hawke's Bay is a charitable trust providing disability support services through a network of social enterprises. The organization operates a unified portfolio of artisan product offerings: candles (handmade beeswax), cheese and dairy (award-winning organic cheeses, yoghurts, biodynamic milk), fresh produce (biodynamic vegetables), native plants (nursery-grown), weavery (textiles), and woodwork (handcrafted wooden products). These products are produced by people with disabilities as meaningful work opportunities and sold through retail shops, farmers markets, and to wholesale customers. The social enterprises support the organization's core mission of providing quality support for intellectually disabled children and adults.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Candles Handmade beeswax candles produced at Hōhepa Creative Works studio, made from 100% locally sourced beeswax from Takapau Kintail Honey. Range includes star pyramid, star pillar, cone, egg, bell, birthday, dinner, globe, and cafe candles. Sold through retail shops, farmers markets, and wholesale.
• Cheese & Dairy Award-winning organic cheeses, yoghurts, and biodynamic milk produced at the Hōhepa boutique cheesery. Range includes Danbo, Cumin, Fenugreek, Vintage Danbo, Blue Cheese, Mozzarella, Halloumi, Feta, Ricotta, Quark, Herb Quark; Natural and Greek yoghurt; and biodynamic pasteurised milk in reusable glass bottles. Annual production is approximately 18,000 kg of cheese and 215,000 litres of milk from 63 dairy cows. Sold through own retail shops, farmers markets, and wholesale to retailers, cafes, wineries, and restaurants across New Zealand.
• Fresh Produce Biodynamic and organic fresh fruit and vegetables grown on Hōhepa's farms in Clive and Poraiti. Produce supports the internal community kitchen and is sold through the Hōhepa Clive and Taradale retail shops.
• Native Plants Native plants and trees grown from seed at Hōhepa's Poraiti nursery using eco-sourced seeds, supplied for restoration projects and environmental initiatives. Over 90,000 native plants have been established across Hawke's Bay through these efforts. Sold through own channels and supplied to conservation partners.
• Weavery Handcrafted textile products including blankets, scarves, ponchos, and bags created at the weavery workshop located in the Creative Works studio in Napier. Sold through Hōhepa Creative Works store and stockists across New Zealand.
• Woodwork Wooden toys and furniture made from natural, untreated wood, handmade by the people Hōhepa supports in the Clive woodwork studio. Sustainable wooden items sold through own retail and wholesale channels.
• Residential Homes & Disability Support Services Lifelong individualised support for children, adults, and elders with intellectual disabilities, including housing, day activities, work opportunities, health and therapies, and eldercare. Delivered through purpose-built homes in Napier, Taradale, and Poraiti to approximately 1,000 community members.
• Steiner School (Special Education) Steiner/Waldorf Curriculum-based school for children and young adults aged 7-21 with intellectual learning support needs, with a school roll cap of 44 students. The curriculum emphasises whole-child development including physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18,000 kg of award-winning organic cheese produced per year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Mitre 10 MegaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHardware retailer partnership for woodwork products and materials supply
• Pak'nSaveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGrocery retailer partnership for distribution of Hōhepa's dairy and produce products
• Band Design StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWebsite design and digital services partner supporting Hōhepa's online presence
• Department of ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for native plant projects using eco-sourced seeds from Hōhepa's nursery, contributing to environmental conservation across Hawke's Bay
• Hawke's Bay Regional CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional council partnership for wetland and riparian planting projects, biodiversity initiatives, and sustainable land management

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Idea Services: Wellington-region disability support provider (now part of Te Whatu Ora / NGO network) delivering residential, day and vocational services for people with intellectual disabilities. Comparable residential and day-services portfolio to Hōhepa's core offering.
• Camphill Communities: Global network of intentional communities supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, also based on Rudolf Steiner's anthroposophy. Most directly comparable peer given shared Steiner methodology, biodynamic farming and lifelong community living model.
• CCS Disability Action: Long-established New Zealand disability support organisation providing information, advocacy, equipment and community services. Comparable mission and target population, though with a different service emphasis (advocacy and equipment rather than residential community).
• The Lume Trust: New Zealand charitable trust providing residential and day services for people with intellectual disabilities based on Rudolf Steiner principles. Highly comparable as a fellow anthroposophical disability provider operating in New Zealand.
• L'Arche: International federation of communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities live and work together. Closely comparable to Hōhepa's inclusive community model, although founded on a different philosophical tradition.
• IHC New Zealand: IHC is New Zealand's largest disability support organisation, providing residential, vocational and community services for people with intellectual disabilities. Highly comparable to Hōhepa in mission and service mix, though operating at significantly greater national scale.
• Open Home Foundation: New Zealand charitable trust providing residential care, social work and disability support across multiple regions. Comparable as a charitable, community-based residential disability provider, although with a different philosophical orientation.
• Spectrum Care: Auckland-based disability support provider offering residential, respite, vocational and community services for people with intellectual disabilities. Comparable service portfolio to Hōhepa, although serving a different region.
• Lifewise: New Zealand charitable organisation providing disability support, housing and community services, including social enterprises. Comparable integrated disability and social-enterprise model to Hōhepa, though primarily Auckland-based.

Others

• BioGro New Zealand: New Zealand's leading organic certification body, of which Hōhepa is a certified producer. Relevant peer in the sense that it defines the certification framework Hōhepa relies on for its cheesery and farm positioning, rather than being a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hohepaHB
• Facebookfacebook.com/HawkesBay.Hohepa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hohepahawkesbay-homes
• Instagraminstagram.com/hohepahawkesbay
• Xx.com/hohepahawkesbay

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hohepa