Arthur, one of the remaining members of Mahana, shares his reclusive life, his battles with other residents, and his hopes of seeing the valley returned to its past glory
Mahana was established on 1978 in the wake of Nambassa, one of the enormous hippy festivals held on the Coromandel Peninsula. The broader hippy movement was already rolling toward its conclusion, as several thousand gathered in the valley for a three-day celebration of free love, peace and music.
This film about Nambassa, Dirty Blood Hippies, calls it New Zealand's "last gasp of the hippy dream". But the gasp birthed something. A group from the festival gathered. The root of all human problems, they agreed, lay in ownership of land. They decided to buy a section of land, and set it free. The valley was bought for $40,000, and placed in freehold. It was one of the peninsula's only fully open communes: anyone could turn up, sign their name to the rules, and move in.
In its heyday the valley housed more than 60 permanent residents, 27 children. In the summer months it might swell to 120. They named it Mahana—which members today say is roughly translated to mean warmth in Māori, but was actually drawn from the name of a rock-opera that had toured the hippie circuit back in '76.
The houses are still there, dotted through the bush. About 20 people live here, and some of the homes sit empty.
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Arthur, one of the remaining members of Mahana, shares his reclusive life, his battles with other residents, and his hopes of seeing the valley returned to its past glory
Mahana was established on 1978 in the wake of Nambassa, one of the enormous hippy festivals held on the Coromandel Peninsula. The broader hippy movement was already rolling toward its conclusion, as several thousand gathered in the valley for a three-day celebration of free love, peace and music.
This film about Nambassa, Dirty Blood Hippies, calls it New Zealand's "last gasp of the hippy dream". But the gasp birthed something. A group from the festival gathered. The root of all human problems, they agreed, lay in ownership of land. They decided to buy a section of land, and set it free. The valley was bought for $40,000, and placed in freehold. It was one of the peninsula's only fully open communes: anyone could turn up, sign their name to the rules, and move in.
In its heyday the valley housed more than 60 permanent residents, 27 children. In the summer months it might swell to 120. They named it Mahana—which members today say is roughly translated to mean warmth in Māori, but was actually drawn from the name of a rock-opera that had toured the hippie circuit back in '76.
The houses are still there, dotted through the bush. About 20 people live here, and some of the homes sit empty.
No items found.
No items found.
Previous Article
Next Article
Arthur, one of the remaining members of Mahana, shares his reclusive life, his battles with other residents, and his hopes of seeing the valley returned to its past glory
Mahana was established on 1978 in the wake of Nambassa, one of the enormous hippy festivals held on the Coromandel Peninsula. The broader hippy movement was already rolling toward its conclusion, as several thousand gathered in the valley for a three-day celebration of free love, peace and music.
This film about Nambassa, Dirty Blood Hippies, calls it New Zealand's "last gasp of the hippy dream". But the gasp birthed something. A group from the festival gathered. The root of all human problems, they agreed, lay in ownership of land. They decided to buy a section of land, and set it free. The valley was bought for $40,000, and placed in freehold. It was one of the peninsula's only fully open communes: anyone could turn up, sign their name to the rules, and move in.
In its heyday the valley housed more than 60 permanent residents, 27 children. In the summer months it might swell to 120. They named it Mahana—which members today say is roughly translated to mean warmth in Māori, but was actually drawn from the name of a rock-opera that had toured the hippie circuit back in '76.
The houses are still there, dotted through the bush. About 20 people live here, and some of the homes sit empty.
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