Permaculture in New Zealand

PiNZ Education & Practice Committee (PEPC)

Table of Contents

The Permaculture Education & Practice Committee (PEPC) is a group of permaculture educators. They are an education sub-group of the Permaculture in New Zealand [PiNZ] committee tasked with supporting permaculture education in Aotearoa/New Zealand and connecting to the committee.

Updates and information on their work will be at a quarterly online hui and in the PiNZ newsletter.

Quarterly online hui

Coordinated by the PEPC Chair

  • Regular agenda items:

    • Affiliated teacher applications are assessed and approved

    • Diploma application assessed and approved

    • Complaints related to education are discussed and resolved

Objectives of PiNZ Education & Practice Committee (PEPC)

To promote and facilitate permaculture education in Aotearoa/New Zealand by encouraging and networking:

  • The teaching of Permaculture Design Courses [PDCs].

  • Teacher training and the sharing of teaching resources and materials.

  • The sharing of information to the PiNZ committee about design projects and programmes that demonstrate permaculture in action.

  • The sharing of information to the PiNZ committee about activities and properties that demonstrate the principles of permaculture.

  • Advanced permaculture study and research, including the sharing of knowledge and practices of other places and bioregions.

  • The facilitating and reviewing of permaculture diplomas and affiliated teacher applications.

Functions of PiNZ Education & Practice Committee (PEPC)

  • To provide a forum for the exchange of teaching materials and information on courses and educational activities.

  • To encourage the permaculture community to utilise www.permacultureglobal.com to maintain records of PDC graduates in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

  • To facilitate teaching training for permaculture teachers.

  • To facilitate the exchange of information on permaculture design projects and programmes in Aotearoa/New Zealand, and elsewhere.

  • To promote permaculture study and research.

  • To promote and manage the awarding of Permaculture Diplomas in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

  • PiNZ Education & Practice Committee (PEPC) maintains a register of mentors available for the coaching or mentoring of Diploma candidates and sends this to the PINZ committee to add to the website

  • PiNZ Education & Practice Committee (PEPC) maintain a register of all Diploma Holders and Affiliated Teachers for Aotearoa/New Zealand.

PiNZ Education & Practice Committee (PEPC) Meetings

The PiNZ Education & Practice Committee (PEPC) members will meet online quarterly and face-to-face at the permaculture hui every year for decision-making and to assist in the management and awarding of diplomas. The quorum for any meeting shall be 5 (five) members (in attendance in person or online).

PiNZ Education & Practice Committee (PEPC) Decision-making

Decision-making will be by consensus. Consensus will be agreement about what decision should be made by the PiNZ Education & Practice Committee (PEPC) in accord with its objectives and functions. If there is some dissent, the person(s) dissenting are responsible for taking the initiative to resolve the issue(s) or difference(s). If there is still dissent after a further round of discussions, and agreement by all can not be obtained, then the decision will be taken to the PINZ committee by the PiNZ Education & Practice Committee (PEPC) coordinator for review.

Membership of PiNZ Education & Practice Committee (PEPC)

Any PiNZ-affiliated permaculture teacher may be a member of the PiNZ Education & Practice Committee (PEPC) by actively participating in the PiNZ Education & Practice Committee (PEPC) group. Membership implies an acceptance of the objectives of PiNZ Education & Practice Committee (PEPC), and a willingness to act for the furtherance of these objectives.