Designing Connection with Neighbours
Resources to support your journey to a thriving team and/or community
What’s in this edition
Supporting community-focused housing project innovators
Women Revolutionising Housing online event on Wed 8 April—register to attend
Residential property development course for community-focused housing project leaders and groups
Connection Labs: playshops for groups to increase effective communication and collaboration
Tiny Home Cohousing Eco-Neighbourhood (Top of the South)
The Homefullness Show—new monthly themes with fun challenges and practical resources
The new Patreon Homefullness community—get more value to achieve your goals
My North Island Tour May-Aug—let’s meet up and I’m looking for hosts and WWOOF sites to contribute
The Housing Innovation Society—join us in shifting the needle on collective housing nationally.
Other resources for intentional community enthusiasts
There’s a reason I care so passionately about intentional communities.
I lived in one for nine years. It was meaningful, challenging, and full of learning—but ultimately, it didn’t survive. That experience actually had a traumatic ending but it was not a total failure, because it brought me to understand more about what helps communities truly thrive—and what causes them to unravel. And I really want to help others not go through the devastation I experienced.
Over the past 15 years, I’ve dedicated myself to learning everything I can about intentional communities and collective housing—what works, what doesn’t, and how groups can navigate the inevitable challenges that arise along the way. This has been supported by my learning in Ecovillage Design Education, Permaculture, NVC, and cooperative culture workshops.
Today, I support housing project leaders and groups—whether forming or already established—to grow into resilient, connected, and functional communities. Sometimes that looks like helping a group clarify their vision at the very beginning. Other times it means stepping in when tensions arise, offering facilitation and perspective to help people move through challenges that can feel stuck or overwhelming.
Often, it’s simply about having someone alongside you who understands the terrain.
As one recent client shared:
“Thanks so much, Zola. Your physical presence and follow-up here, along with the guidance, wise and tenderly expressed suggestions and insights you’ve shared, have been valuable to us here at Bindarrabi.”
A participant at a past event I hosted said, “Zola was a passionate advocate for revolutionising the housing situation in New Zealand. She spoke with deep knowledge, and experience and gave hope to me for finding a way forward in my mission to create a rural co-housing community”.
If you’re curious about whether some support could help you or your group, you’re welcome to book a relaxed, no-pressure call:
Upcoming Event 8 April: Women Revolutionising Housing
Our next online learning and networking gathering is coming up soon.
This month’s guest presenter is Megan Walsh, who will be sharing her Housing Pathways App—a tool designed to help people better understand their journey into housing, from finance through to different housing models, including collective housing options.
She’ll also introduce her Community Housing Workbook: From Vision to Legacy, a practical guide for groups creating intentional communities.
These gatherings are a space to:
Learn something new
Connect with other women interested in community-focused housing
Ask questions and receive support around real challenges
Wednesday 8 April | 12:30–1:45 (online) For women only
Residential Property Development Course for Community-Focused Housing Enthusiasts
I’m currently exploring the creation of a curated online course in community-focused housing development and feeling out interest.
Across Aotearoa, more people are stepping forward to lead housing projects that prioritise affordability, sustainability, connection, and care. Yet while there are many professional property development courses available, there are none designed specifically for those who are:
Leading community-focused housing initiatives
Exploring co-housing, eco-villages, multigenerational living, or pāpakainga
Converting or adapting existing buildings
Working outside traditional speculative development models
Wanting to be informed, capable leaders — not necessarily full-time developers
If this speaks to you (as a potential participant or service provider), you can find out more and register your interest here:
Connection Labs & Playshops
I’m now offering Connection Labs—for teams who want to communicate better, collaborate effectively, and navigate challenges with confidence.
These “playshop” sessions can be run as stand-alone modules or combined into a half- or full-day training:
Courageous Conversations
Build skills to communicate feelings, needs, and feedback with honesty and clarity—creating trust, respect, and stronger working relationships.
(Inspired by Nonviolent Communication)
Collective Wisdom
Interactive group processes and cooperative activities that enhance collaboration, decision-making, and shared ownership.
Somatic Intelligence
Body-based awareness practices that develop presence, emotional regulation, and trust—supporting more effective communication and teamwork.
Playing in Another’s Shoes
Empathy-building through storytelling and Playback Theatre, expanding perspective, understanding, and human connection.
Learn more here:
Tiny Home Cohousing Eco-Neighbourhood (Top of the South)
I’m part of a team that is currently co-developing a new housing concept:
a Tiny Home Cohousing Eco-Neighbourhood—focused on affordability, security, sustainability, and connection.
We’re in the feasibility stage and inviting interest from those who feel aligned.
View the presentation:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OquUq1S3O5jkuX0dCjsH80DyT4VjB1x7/viewLearn more & register interest:
The Homefullness Show – New Monthly Themes
The show is evolving!
Each month will now have a dedicated theme—making it easier for you to go deeper into practical ideas, tools, and conversations that help move your housing vision forward.
April Theme: Designing Connection with Neighbours
We’ll be joined this month by Robin Allison, founder of Earthsong Eco-Neighbourhood, sharing how design and community structure can actively foster neighbourliness and connection.
Alongside the episode and this month’s theme, I’ll also be sharing additional resources to support you in strengthening connection where you live.
Listen and subcsribe to the show on your favourite podcast app or on the Common Ground YouTube channel. Your support of the show by sharing with friends and colleagues is greatly appreciated.
Patreon Homefullness Community
If you’d like to go further with the ideas from the Homefullness Show, I’ve created a Patreon member space.
This includes:
Extra resources
Online group meetups
Monthly challenges to support real progress
It’s designed to help you move toward your ideal home and lifestyle with more clarity, connection, and momentum.
Here is the page to become a supporting member
My North Island Tour (May–August)
From early May to early August, I’ll be travelling around the North Island—connecting with intentional communities, housing innovators, and others working toward more connected ways of living.
I’m also weaving in my passions for Playback Theatre, Contact Dance, and vegan activism along the way.
If you’d like to host me, collaborate, or offer a WWOOFing opportunity, I’d love to hear from you: zola@commonground.net.nz
The Housing Innovation Society
I’m part of the committee of The Housing Innovation Society (THIS), a non-profit working to advance collective housing.
Behind the scenes, we’re building:
An online platform
Practical resources
Advocacy efforts to shift how government, finance, and development sectors engage with community-led housing
If you’d like to support this work, you’re invited to become a member:
https://thehousinginnovationsociety.com/
Resources for Intentional Communities
If you’re exploring this path, these two organisations are incredibly valuable:
The Global Ecovillage Network – a worldwide hub with courses, directories, and resources: https://ecovillage.org/
The Foundation for Intentional Community – a broad resource for all types of intentional communities: https://www.ic.org/
If you’ve been sitting with an idea, a question, or a challenge related to housing or community, this is your gentle nudge to take one small step forward.
You don’t have to figure it all out alone—I’m offering a community-focused property development course, the Women Revolutionising Housing network, the Homefullness Show and Patreon Community, Connection Lab Playshops, and a Tiny Home Community in the making. And, my consulting services.
I look forward to meeting, working and playing with you in whatever ways you choose to engage.
Warmly,
Zola
