Our Mission
Toru Education nurtures people, planet, and spirit through experiential learning. We foster resilient and connected communities across Kāpiti, Wellington, the Hutt Valley, and the Wairarapa.
Our name Toru (“three”) connects us to the permaculture ethics of people care, earth care, and fair share — a way of learning that weaves hands, heart, and head together.
What education means to us
At Toru, education is grounded in real places, real relationships, and real practice. It’s not just a course or a classroom, but a way of learning that grows over a lifetime.
A personal journey
Learning unfolds across a lifetime, supported by an intergenerational community that fosters belonging and connectedness.
A community of practice
We learn by doing — developing useful skills, confidence, and relationships that empower meaningful work and contribution.
A companion in times of transition
Toru offers support, creativity, and inspiration for life’s core questions — for anyone in a phase of “What’s next?”, “What matters to me?” or “Where is my energy needed?”.
Toru Trustees
Hella Coenen
Hella has been part of Toru since 2018 and brings a strong background in education, land stewardship, and regenerative community practice. She is passionate about hands-on learning, self-reliance, and keeping traditional, practical skills alive for future generations. Hella helps Toru stay rooted in real places and everyday life, where learning is woven through gardens, households, and communities.
Doris Zuur
Doris has spent more than 25 years shaping community led learning on the Kāpiti Coast through Te Rā School and her work in adult education. She is committed to practical, values based living and enjoys supporting people to design their lives with the same care and observation used in a permaculture garden. Doris finds energy in bread baking, composting, cooking for others, and helping her community grow in ways that are grounded, authentic, and resilient.
Fiona Naismith
Fiona brings experience in community development, social impact, and regenerative practice. Her journey with Toru began in the 2021 modular Permaculture Design Course, where the seasonal site visits and sense of community helped spark the idea for the Toru Trail. Fiona now works with Te Araroa Trust in a role focused on regeneration along the trail. She lives in a reclaimed material tiny home at Tapu Te Ranga and is passionate about connecting people with local action, outdoor learning, and community resilience.
Loo Connor
Loo is a strategic communicator with a background in science communication and storytelling. Her work has explored collaboration, systems change, and the power of narrative to connect people and ideas. After early mentoring from Sir Paul Callaghan and postgraduate study in London, Loo founded The KinShip, a consultancy that helps people and organisations navigate complex issues. Her current work with Quatro Trust and her podcast The Good Energy Project reflect her interest in strengthening community led movements across Aotearoa. Loo brings a thoughtful, creative approach to Toru and enjoys contributing to its locally grounded learning ecosystem.
Emma Ellison
Emma is a community weaver and lifelong learner with a love for connecting ideas and people. Her journey is closely linked with Toru's wider whānau through experiences at Orientation Aotearoa and Hearth Trust, two communities focused on intentional living, collaboration, and practical learning. Emma's background includes residential community work, facilitation, and building her own tiny home. She now lives in Brightwater with her family, where she enjoys hands on permaculture practice and community involvement. At Toru, she supports communication and connection across the network through the newsletter
Denis Grennell
Denis is a much valued educator who has shared his knowledge and perspectives on Te Ao Māori through Toru's earlier permaculture courses. His teaching invited open, engaged conversations and helped many participants deepen their understanding of connection, belonging, and reciprocity. Denis recently stepped back from teaching to spend more time with his whānau and mokopuna and to contribute to the causes he values, including his role as a trustee with Kore Hiakai.
Our Story
Toru began in 2016 as a legal home for a growing range of courses and experiences in permaculture, community learning, and sustainable living.
From the start, we have aimed to grow in a genuinely sustainable way, evolving slowly, organically, and with care. No synthetic fertiliser, only compost!
Learn more about Toru’s original intention in this article by Doris Zuur.
Toru Education is a registered not-for-profit Charitable Trust with tax-exempt status (CC53773).