At Atamai Village, we're building a village in the traditional sense, one bustling with people earning their livings in a variety of trades and occupations. We currently employ a number of people directly in the village planning and construction process. We also have a number of small business operators on site and we have many new businesses starting up.

For those looking to move an existing business into the village, or start a new one here, we can provide assistance through the Atamai Business Center. Some of the assistance that we can provide includes:

• Agricultural land
• Infrastructure
• Some machinery available
• Internet access
• Accounting help
• Website design
• Shared marketing efforts
• Shared sales channels
• A ready market within the village

We have a number of business opportunities ready to go, servicing markets already existing within the village. Contact us for more details.

Economy and finance are recognized as important but limited parts of human social activity. Ideally, they should be firmly embedded and physically constrained within the natural world and socially constrained by principles of equitability and fairness. Their purpose within the village is not to facilitate growth of resource consumption but to act as mediums of exchange for individual claims on the village resources and to improve village well being and health. Atamai Village recognizes that the pending global energy transition will require intensive localization of economic activity as well as decentralization of infrastructure services. As an innovative settlement design, it aims to serve as a model for both. The village facilitates local trade and means to improve it, such as community farms, local exchange and trade systems, and relies on local producers of goods and services for supplies that are not produced in the village.

Atamai Village recognizes that the inevitable energy transition is only achievable by significantly reducing our dependence on imported energy supplies. While the village will be self reliant for basic services, total self sufficiency is seen as neither desirable nor achievable.

Atamai Village strongly supports any economic localization activities in the wider community through joint ventures within standard business practices. To reduce dependence and commuting, the village itself aims to have 60% of the village residents obtain their livelihoods within the village or the immediate surroundings. Water, food, housing and energy, which comprise the most basic needs, will be largely produced and traded within the local village economy.

Once the housing and other physical infrastructure of the village is in place, Atamai Village Limited takes over the ongoing operation of the village infrastructure. This is the land and property-maintenance company wholly owned by the Atamai Village Council, the Incorporated Society, which provides professionally grown organic food as well as essential services like water, electricity and an internet based phone service directly to the village community.

In addition, Atamai Village Council may provide

• Rental accommodation for some families
• WOOFER accommodation
• Apartment accommodation for short or long term rent and for artists-in-residence at negotiable terms
• Visitor accommodation
• Some low- cost housing
• Loan assistance for some families
• Other services decided by the Trust.

Atamai Village fully recognizes the motivational value of traditional business practices and is conducting its economic activity strictly within ethical and transparent business standards. The construction and operating process is audited for carbon use to ensure compliance with its carbon-neutral claim.

Jobs

Project Manager required for the Atamai Village development project. Part-time position for 24 hours a week, starting at $35 an hour. Work with a small team of dedicated people to develop the Atamai Village using a structured project management methodology. Prior project management experience is desirable but not essential, depending on other relevant work experience particularly in managing small teams. Professional coaching and training will be provided by experience project management trainer.

Project Office Manager . This is a part-time 24-28 hour a week job starting at $25/hour. It will involve managing the project books, payroll, banking, financial statements, IRD returns an assist with project reporting. The job also involves general office management, handling public enquiries, organising site tours and secretarial work for the Project Board and the development company and land trust. The position occupant works closely with the Project Manager.

For more details see the Summer Update, or go directly to the document that outlines the new organisation structure and the associated covering letter for contact details.   See Annexes D and I for the descriptions of these two vacant positions.

Livelihoods

Builders needed .   Atamai Villager will shortly be constructing a number of houses and also, ultimately, a village centre with cottages, dwelling units and small commercial facilities. We are looking for builders who understand the vision of Atamai and may have aspirations to become villagers. Experience with building high quality dwellings and premises with low energy, ecological sustainability and local materials would be particularly desirable. We are keen to attract and develop local construction skills within the Village, where Villagers will be strongly encouraged to use skills available within the community. 

 If you are interested, read more on what Atamai is about and call or email Ben van der Wijngaart, Director, Atamai Development Ltd on +64 21125 1419 or abehnors@gmail.com.