About Us

At Kōanga our mission is to help restore the health of our people, our communities and the health of our planet. We are creating these online learning opportunities to inspire and support our global community of friends and family to be the change we all wish to see in the world!

Kay Baxter and Vitor Crispim founded the online education project of the Kōanga Institute In early 2019. Together they have a shared passion for regenerative living, gardening, and education. Kay holds a wealth of knowledge and Vitor is an educator and cinematographer who helps to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

Kay Baxter co-founded the Kōanga Institute and has been an organic gardener for over 50 years. She has also been a pioneer of Permaculture within New Zealand and has been teaching Permaculture Design courses for over 35 years. Through her passion, hands-on experience and intensive research she has built up a vast amount of knowledge in the areas of soil regeneration, home gardening, seed saving, nutrient-dense food production and the links between regenerative food systems, ecological and human health. 

In 2017, Kay was awarded a New Year’s Eve Honour from the Queen for her services to sustainable agriculture and heritage seed saving. Earlier in 2020 Kay Baxter joined the Edmund Hillary Fellowship, she is a member of cohort 6. Within Kōanga’s online education framework, Kay is our educational manager, course writer, designer, and co-director.

Vitor Crispim is passionate about promoting cultural and ecological change through environmental education, shamanic arts and storytelling. He is dedicated to working with indigenous communities from South America and Aotearoa to make the cultural heritage of our people available to the youth.

In early 2020 Vitor also joined the Edmund Hillary Fellowship and through his work with Kōanga and EHF has become the youngest person in NZ with a Global Impact Permanent Residency Visa. Within Kōanga’s online education framework Vitor is a vision holder, educational consultant, cinematographer and production manager.

Now is the time, we are the ones we’ve been waiting for!