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The setting of the village is being beautifully landscaped with ponds, orchards and forests, according to permaculture principles and provides extensive opportunities to produce healthy, organic foods and a variety of other resources for use in the village economy. The permaculture approach will actually enhance both the beauty and productive capacity of the traditional grazing lands on which much of the village is sited. Several thousand fruit, nut and forestry trees have already been planted, terraced gardens prepared, a tree nursery started, spring gardens formed and ponds excavated. The plan for the settlement contains a traditional village square with a café, bakery, library, a multi-use community centre for education, communication technologies, social and cultural gatherings, etc, and some offices. Home- based enterprises compatible with the council zoning will be part of the houses clustered around the square. Other commercial and village- owned operations will be spread over the village commons, including areas for orchards, horticulture, forestry and natural areas for recreation and private reflection. A seed bank, nursery, yoga studio, visitor accommodation and other facilities are part of the village plan. The settlement layout is all about creating a sense of place, locality, belonging and a vibrant community. It is very much a people- oriented village and therefore car- free . We have various innovative and healthy solutions for the transport requirements of the residents - from electric bikes, a mini- public transport system and a car- sharing company for long distance transport. People have more choices in terms of transport than the very expensive option of owning several cars per family. In addition, they will be helping with the issues of climate change and energy constraints in a very positive way. All of the homes and structures in the village will incorporate the latest engineering solutions for smart, passive solar and low energy living. The “layered technology” design used will ensure that continued functioning of essential services will be independent of outside technologies. Atamai Village is a human scale settlement for the 21st century, taking into account all that we know about climate change, carbon-neutral living, energy constraints and the wisdom of looking after our resources, and each other, with ‘common sense’ – which is what “Atamai” means in Maori.
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