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Mō mātou
About us
Kia ora!
A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand is part of the A Rocha global family of Christian environmental conservation organisations working together to live out God’s calling to care for creation and to equip others to do likewise.
The name ‘A Rocha’ is in Portuguese (meaning ‘The Rock’) references the first A Rocha field study centre that was set up in 1983 in the Algarve estuary in south Portugal.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, A Rocha was established in 2008. We seek to inspire, educate and enable communities to care for their local environment. Our three focus areas are:
- Restoring ecosystems – Practical conservation for healthier and flourishing ecosystems and communities.
- Growing the next generation of kaitiaki – Connecting people to nature to inspire them to care and advocate for our taiao.
- Fostering sustainable communities – Inspiring and empowering communities to take action for sustainability and adaptability.
Read more about A Rocha’s journey over the years since 2008.
Or get an overview of A Rocha’s work through our Annual Reports.
Pae Tawhiti | Our Vision
Ecosystems restored and communities across Aotearoa actively caring for the earth.
Pae Tata | Our Mission:
To protect and restore ecosystems through community-based conservation, developing environmental leaders and taking practical actions.
Ngā Takohanga | Our Commitments:
We are committed to the five commitments (5Cs) central to all A Rocha projects around the world.
- Christian – We follow Jesus Christ, through whom God created the world, and through whom we respond to God’s call to care for creation.
- Conservation – We protect and restore nature and are committed to the whenua, moana, roto and awa of Aotearoa, recognising the role of mana whenua as kaitiaki.
- Community – We invest in good relationships through our commitment to God, one another and the creation. We nurture community because relationships are the foundation of long-lasting conservation work.
- Cultural Diversity – We celebrate the insights and perspectives offered by our diverse cultures. We prioritise the importance of Māori as tangata whenua of Aotearoa, in accordance with our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We acknowledge that tangata whenua have a special cultural and spiritual relationship with the taiao in Aotearoa and seek ways of working that integrate te ao Māori in our conservation practice.
- Collaboration – We seek to work in partnership with anyone who shares our vision, because together we achieve more than we can alone.
Ā Mātou Tāngata | Our People:
We have a committed board of trustees, a dedicated team of national staff and project team members, amazing local group leaders, and a network of remarkable volunteers working across the country under the A Rocha umbrella. Find out more about our people.
Ō Mātou Hoamahi | Our Partners:
Our funders, partners and supporters make it possible for A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand to carry out practical conservation and education & engagement initiatives throughout New Zealand. We are grateful for both the ongoing and historical support and partnerships. Find out more about our partners.
© 2023 A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand
Charity registration: CC36274
[email protected]