Done.

We had such a cup-filling day at the Puhinui Domain Orchard Neighbours Day this weekend. We loved: 🟤having honest kōrero about what it really takes to grow community-led orchards on public land 🟤reflecting on how powerful it is to back kaupapa where the community energy is already there 🟤the incredible planning, innovation and manaaki from @therootscreative and @audoakl 🟤the coolest water station we’ve ever seen (nice one @waikarekomene ) 🟤sharing our love of sourdough with lots of interested neighbours (and surprisingly, a lot of kids!) Big thanks to everyone who got stuck into the working bee and came along to be part of it. We're already looking forward to the next one.

In the mood for something simple and soul‑nourishing this Saturday? Join us for Neighbours Day at the Puhinui Domain Orchard Saturday 9 May, 10am-2pm Puhinui Domain, 50 Plunket Avenue, Papatoetoe There’ll be a community working bee in the orchard and time to share kai together, (including fresh smoothies made from the fruits of our labour). Learn how pollinators support the orchard, pick up practical fruit-growing tips, and spend time outdoors connecting with people, place and food. Done will also be sharing how to make sourdough bread. At its heart, sourdough is a regenerative food - it grows through care, strengthens over time, and becomes more valuable the more it is shared. We'll even have sourdough starters on hand to take home. If you ask us, it sounds better than Saturday sports. Nau mai, haere mai – all are welcome 🌿

We’re drawn to kaupapa where people notice what’s missing and commit to building something better. That’s what we see in Aotearoa Permaculture Workshop’s new Foundation Programme. Education shaped by decades of teaching and practice, guided by integrity and long‑term thinking, and grounded in place. This is the final week of APW’s campaign for early backing, which enables the course to go live sooner and begin reaching people in practical, meaningful ways. Community‑backed education like this is a long‑term investment in resilience, and that’s why we’re proud to support it. Join us in the first cohort and please share with those who are ready for the next step in their resilience journey. Link in bio →

If you’ve been waiting for the next step in your resilience and regenerative design learning - this is it. Our friends at APW are launching their new Laying the Foundations course - years in the making. The course is ready and now needs community support to see it through its final stages and into the world. If this kind of learning speaks to you, consider backing the launch - or sharing it with someone who should know about it. 🔗 Link in bio

Some experiences take time to settle. Ngā Aho Wānanga-ā-Tau was one of them. Over summer Sam found she kept returning to the kōrero, the laughter, the learning - and the sense of connection that will carry us into 2026. She's written a reflection on the weekend and what it meant to her. You can read it via the link in our bio.

Te Ara Tukutuku, co-designed by the @audoakl in partnership with Mana Whenua, and Toi Waihanga, has won the Future Projects: Urban Design category at the World Architecture Festival! Being recognised among such outstanding international projects is a real honour, and a reflection of the strength, vision, and collaboration behind Te Ara Tukutuku. We’re so proud to be part of the amazing team that is Toi Waihanga, contributing to the kaupapa through regenerative practice support and Mana Whenua coordination. Find out more about Te Ara Tukutuku via the 'Good News' link in our bio.

A very warm welcome to Briar Fleming, who brings a wealth of experience and regenerative thinking to our team at Done! Briar is a development professional and regenerative practitioner with over a decade of experience in the built environment. Her mahi bridges land development, sustainability strategy, and community-focused design, driven by a deep commitment to strengthening the connection between people and place. Her journey includes shaping large-scale residential projects at Fletcher Living - such as Te Tau Waka at Hobsonville Point and the Three Kings Quarry regeneration - as well as co-developing the division’s sustainability and biodiversity strategies. Briar holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and Arts, and her expertise spans engineering, infrastructure, property, environmental advocacy, and design. Her leadership is grounded in collaboration, cultural responsiveness, and a passion for creating places that truly connect people and whenua. A perfect fit for our Done kaupapa! We’re excited for what's ahead and so happy to have Briar on board - please join us in welcoming her to the team.

Did you know Aotearoa is home to an indigenous carnivorous sundew? Neither did we! Check out this glistening gem of te taiao (Drosera auriculata, if you want to get technical). Quietly thriving on a grassy slope in Upper Eskdale Reserve - untouched by mowers. Our team, learning through Kaipātiki Ecohubs' Hands on Ecology Course, let out whoops when Char’s experienced eye spotted them. Everyone was soon sprawled on the ground, marveling at these discrete beauties. Take a closer look and spot the tiny spider that became kai. It’s a reminder of what we miss when we rush - and what we gain when we’re present in nature. It’s also a reminder of the incredible mahi our community restoration groups do every day. We also saw: ** Kumerahou flowering ** Nīkau thriving in the dark, healthy core of the reserve ** Towai growing from tanekaha leaf litter - a beautiful example of mutualism ** Edge effects: as light increases, so do weeds like blue morning glory, honeysuckle, and even a rogue rubber plant way up in the nīkau fronds. This is why we do what we do - humans as part of te taiao, not separate from it. Huge mihi to the @kaipatiki.project team and @uruwhakaaro for protecting this special place.

We've been learning by doing, through a Hands-on Ecology Course run by @kaipatiki.project and @uruwhakaaro . Last week’s focus was on building maramataka through tohutaka. It was a grounding day out in taiao in spent alongside community restoration specialists and guided by the wise and wonderful Charmaine Bailie. We slowed down, tuned in, and deepened our own understanding of maramataka by observing the rhythms and signs nature offers. We noticed feisty, active Tūī, blooming kōwhai, spotted many taonga of the bush, saw tuna in the awa, and identified pest plants too. At Done, we love learning in place - connecting with those doing the mahi, and growing our knowledge of regeneration principles, te ao Māori, and ecological rhythms. These experiences help us stay grounded, informed, and more rounded in our delivery. Kia ora rawa atu to the wonderful tīma and te taiao for your lessons!

Ngaa mihi nui Levi Brinsdon-Hall for inviting us to join the planting at your Manurewa High School food forest last week 🌱 We’ve been connected with Levi and the kura for years, as neighbours to Te Puhinui regeneration and Te Aka Raataa mahi. It was incredible to see how much the maara has flourished — and how many students, whaanau, and local businesses came together to help plant 600 trees on the day. People like Levi are local champions, thriving with the support and aroha of their community. Have a think about how you might get involved too 💚 @insta_abundance

Every 3 months, our friends at Manurewa Repair Café have skilled volunteers to help you repair and restore your beloved items. They can look at small home electricals, woodworking projects, blades for sharpening, small metal work, sewing, tech, and general handy person tasks! 📍38 Holmes Road, Manurewa 📅 10am - 1pm, Saturday 13 September 🖨Bring in your stuff ☕️Grab a cuppa while you wait 💬Have a yap with the community 👀Watch and learn from the volunteers 💰Save money on buying replacements! Let's reduce what goes into landfill with the Manurewa Repair Café! If you're able, please bring koha to help keep this programme running.

🥾 Boots-on-the-ground, and committed to Te Puhinui 🌱 Recently, we had the privilege of connecting with the Puhinui Empowered Communities roopuu to waananga about how we’ve been showing up to support the health of Te Puhinui awa and its wider catchment—what’s been happening, what’s coming up, and how we can best support each other. We were reminded (again) just how incredible this community is. Some recent highlights include: ✅ Sitting alongside a skip bin all day while locals dropped off moth plants—catching them before their pesty pods could pop. ✅ Facing up to and reporting truck drivers who dump waste directly into the awa and parks. ✅ ‘Building a relationship’ with the local mower to identify tricky-to-mow park areas that could be planted instead. If you’re looking for people who embody community action, look no further. Ngaa mihi to everyone out there doing the quiet, gritty, powerful mahi. Your commitment is what makes the difference. 💫 Beautification Trust, Uru Whakaaro, Sustainable Business Network, PACIFIC VISION AOTEAROA, Manukau Business Association, Ōtara Waterways and Lake Trust, Jamie Te Huia Cowell, Auckland Urban Development Office, Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities, Auckland Council Healthy Waters, Sustainable Schools, Parks & Community Facilities, Sustainable Coastlines, Te Pu-a Ngā Maara, Tootara Heights Bush Guardians, The Cause Collective NZ, THE ROOTS CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS LIMITED