Forest Healing Festival, October 2026
By Stephanie, Whangaroa-Kerikeri-BOI Local Timebank Coordinator
Tai Tokerau Timebank held a stand at the Forest Healing Festival in Waipapa, Kerikeri over Labour Weekend. We were in the Sustainability Zone, along with fellow Timebanker Eco-Solutions.
The Forest Healing Festival is described as more than a wellness event — it is a “journey of reconnection with nature, community, and your true self”. People from all over NZ and the world convened in the Puketi Forest for a weekend of workshops, music, healing and connection. I came away inspired and enlightened.
Timebank volunteers Kath, Sandy and myself, and Jo from Eco-Solutions, provided information on Timebank, the Packhouse Market Project and the Textile Recycling Network which diverts clothing and fabric waste from landfills. Festival goers were intrigued to see how textile waste is being made into mattresses, home insulation and building board that can be used instead of interior plywood.
Eco-Solutions had a rack of beautiful clothes saved from Op Shop rejects available for a koha, and provided knitting/crochet needles and wool for people to have a go and bubbles for the kids. We had seeds for a koha and pottery clay to tutu with. We made a little money for Tiaki Taio Trust, but just as importantly saved more items from landfill.
As volunteers, we got to enjoy the sustainability workshops held in our Zone, including composting by Eco-Solution’s Anouk, Deep Ecology, Syntropic Gardening, Creating an Edible Village, Living with Maramataka, Relational Tools for Regeneration Communication and more. And that was only one Zone of the Festival! Another highlight for me was joining in a djembe drumming workshop.
It was a beautiful weekend with a magical atmosphere of peace and connection to both the forest and each other. I think there may be another one planned for March.
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