L'Arche Kapiti

26/05/2026

We are hiring: Community Leader

L’Arche Kāpiti is seeking an exceptional person to replace our Community Leader/CEO of 12 years to lead our faith-based community where people with and without intellectual disabilities share their lives together. Operating on the Kāpiti Coast, we belong to the International L’Arche Federation that has communities in over 37 countries. Our community includes 13 core members across 4 homes and a mix of paid employees and volunteers from NZ and overseas. We are a strong Christian community that strives to live out the core L’Arche values.

The Community Leader is responsible for leading L’Arche Kāpiti in line with the L’Arche International Identity and Mission and the Kāpiti L’Arche Mandate 2026–2030.

Key role responsibilities:
• Ensuring the delivery of high-quality disability support services to all our individual people with disabilities (Enabling Good Lives)
• Building positive, caring relationships with all community members, particularly intellectually disabled people and their whānau
• Leading our Christian-based community and spiritual life, while also ensuring that members of all faiths adhere to the L’Arche mission and values
• Undertaking chief executive responsibilities including strategy development and ex*****on, budgeting, HR functions and employee experience, workplace culture, stakeholder engagement, innovation and change, and strategic communications
• Working effectively with the L’Arche Kāpiti Governance Board, and the International Envoy
• Liaising with and contributing to L’Arche International and the NZ disability sector

Values and Experience:
• Commitment to the faith-based values of L’Arche
• Commitment to contribute to and lead an intentional faith-based community
• Previous leadership experience
• Budgeting, staffing and financial experience
• Previous experience working in the disability sector (an advantage)

Further details are on our website:
https://larchekapiti.org.nz/

If you wish to view the full job description send request to:
[email protected]

Other information to note:
• NZ residency is required
• This role is on-site (no remote or permanent working from home considered)
• The community leader doesn’t live in one of our residential homes
• A police check will be undertaken with the successful candidate

How to apply:
Send your application to: [email protected]

Applications close Friday 12 June.

Your application must include a CV, names and contact details of three referees, and a cover letter that clearly states your fit for leading this type of community.

04/05/2026

Peter Spijkerman 1962-2026

Peter passed away peacefully, held in love, on the 1st of May.

Our hearts are full of grief and sadness at our loss- but also full of gratitude for the gift of knowing Peter. What a remarkable life he’s lived, from his childhood escapades and adventures with his brothers, his Special Olympics achievements (on the founding team and winning New Zealand’s first gold medal, at the World Games in Louisiana, 1983!), all the stories and friendships spanning his years in L’Arche... shaped by Peter’s lively spirit, extraordinary love, distinctive humour, and depth of faith.

Peter’s funeral will take place this Wednesday at 11:00am, at Our Lady of Kāpiti Parish, with refreshments to follow. If you’re unable to be with us in person- this service will be live streamed.

https://kapiti-catholic.org.nz/mass-times/

We plan for the service to be filled with funky shirts, Fanta, fish & chips and all the chocolate. Let’s raise a glass of Fanta together, to Peter.

19/03/2026

See below a great acknowledgment from the Nikau Foundation.

08/03/2026

Over the past year, L'Arche Kāpiti has started an Outdoor Appreciation Programme. See below some pics from a great introductory surfing session today. Thanks to Stewart, Jeanne, John and others for making it possible! Surfs up!

02/03/2026

To all tradies in Kāpiti who helped on the new L'Arche build, THANK YOU! Here's a little video to say thanks. And a big shout out to Haarlem Build, the best builder on the Coast! Sir Mark Dunajtschik and Dame Dorothy Spotswood (our generous funders) walked through the new build yesterday and were so impressed with the craftsmanship. Well done Tristan and your team at Haarlem. Thanks for creating a new build where people with and without disabilities can share life together.

01/03/2026

Thanks to all who came out to celebrate the grand opening of our new build, Raranga House, on Saturday. Thanks to Party Perfect for an amazing afternoon tea. In addition to thanking Dame Dorothy Spotswood, Sir Mark Dunajtschik (our main benefactors) and Haarlem Build, who came in on budget and displaying remarkable craftsmanship, we wanted to find a way to say thank you to all those who contributed to the project. So please watch this fun music video created by Ray at Soulhaven Creative Productions.
A shout out to Gemma Macann as well, who provided the music for it. Whakawhetai ki a koe.

06/02/2026

Lots of folks crave a more connected, purposeful & interdependent life. To be part of “a village”.

L’Arche Kāpiti is offering a three-four bedroom family home to rent (just off Tongariro St), as part of our intentional community - where people with and without intellectual disabilities share life together.

Whilst a family with an intellectual disability or neurodivergence is preferred, we are open to any family who wants to live a different kind of life. We don’t have any set-in-stone expectations, but we imagine the right kind of family would be excited by some or all of these things: to share some meal times and cups of tea through the week, and parties through the month (we have many!); to share your passions and gifts with us – maybe you’re great at music, or art?; and be open to receiving our gifts in return – friendship, laughs, maybe the occassional baked good...

The newly built home is called Raranga, which means “to weave” - so we are looking for a family who genuinely wants to join us in weaving life together, in meaningful and mutually transforming ways.

You’d be surrounded by a pretty cool group of people! We have support workers from Aotearoa, the UK, Canada, Philippines, South Korea, Germany, France & India, and our community goes from ages 19-73 😊 You’d have lots of supportive aunties and uncles around. You would also have a view over our gorgeous vegetable gardens with mature fruit trees, which you can help yourself to.

For a family with an intellectual disability, we envision releasing one of our volunteers to support your day-to-day life, (if that would be a help to you), for up to twenty hours a week. We would imagine it similar to an Au Pair type experience, with L’Arche helping to cover the volunteer’s costs.

The mission of L’Arche is to make known the gifts of those with intellectual disabilities, and to be a sign of hope in the world. You can find out more about us at larchekapiti.org.nz

If you’re reading this and feel super keen(!), or just cautiously curious to hear a bit more... get in touch with Candice Wilson (Community Leader), on 027 307 2477 or via e-mail [email protected]

Ngā mihi nui.

06/02/2026

Lots of folks crave a more connected, purposeful & interdependent life. To be part of “a village”.

L’Arche Kāpiti is offering a three-four bedroom family home to rent (just off Tongariro St), as part of our intentional community - where people with and without intellectual disabilities share life together.

Whilst a family with an intellectual disability or neurodivergence is preferred, we are open to any family who wants to live a different kind of life. We don’t have any set-in-stone expectations, but we imagine the right kind of family would be excited by some or all of these things: to share some meal times and cups of tea through the week, and parties through the month (we have many!); to share your passions and gifts with us – maybe you’re great at music, or art?; and be open to receiving our gifts in return – friendship, laughs, maybe the occassional baked good...

The newly built home is called Raranga, which means “to weave” - so we are looking for a family who genuinely wants to join us in weaving life together, in meaningful and mutually transforming ways.

You’d be surrounded by a pretty cool group of people! We have support workers from Aotearoa, the UK, Canada, Philippines, South Korea, Germany, France & India, and our community goes from ages 19-73 😊 You’d have lots of supportive aunties and uncles around. You would also have a view over our gorgeous vegetable gardens with mature fruit trees, which you can help yourself to.

For a family with an intellectual disability, we envision releasing one of our volunteers to support your day-to-day life, (if that would be a help to you), for up to twenty hours a week. We would imagine it similar to an Au Pair type experience, with L’Arche helping to cover the volunteer’s costs.

The mission of L’Arche is to make known the gifts of those with intellectual disabilities, and to be a sign of hope in the world. You can find out more about us at larchekapiti.org.nz

If you’re reading this and feel super keen(!), or just cautiously curious to hear a bit more... get in touch with Candice Wilson (Community Leader), on 027 307 2477 or via e-mail [email protected].

Ngā mihi nui.

07/11/2025

Check out this amazing video from our friends in L'Arche GWDC on loneliness not being inevitable. Our teams watched it as part of Formation this week and were really moved. It sparked some excellent discussion. Thank you to those who created it.

Loneliness, friendship, and belonging—discover why loneliness isn’t inevitable in our 7-minute short film “On Loneliness."😔➡️🤝 *Watch the film, then share ...

20/09/2025

Are you looking for a new adventure in intentional community? L’Arche Kāpiti is hiring! We have a one-year opening for a live-in House Leader in one of our homes--a place where people with and without intellectual disabilities share daily life together--beginning in October, 2025. You’d be joining flatmates who love (among other things) baking and Bananagrams, surfing and cinema, cosy chats, walks, and cafe cuppas.

If you’d be keen to expand your L’Arche journey in Aotearoa New Zealand, we’d love to hear from you! To apply or learn more, please send your CV and a cover letter to assistcoord1[at]larche.org.nz. Applicants from overseas, please ensure that you qualify for a Working Holiday Visa with Immigration NZ. More info on our website (see link in bio).