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Schedule of Events

23 FEBRUARY 2025

Schedule

  08:30 AM to 03:00 PM (Sat/Sun) | 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM (Sat Only)
  Restaurant

The Lotus-Heart

Experience the heart of conscious dining at The Lotus-Heart vegetarian restaurant. Serving nourishing vegetarian and vegan meals, including curries with dosa or rice, burgers, peace bowls, and daily specials, alongside house-roasted organic coffee. Dine indoors or on the outdoor deck, and explore the health store, gift shop, and Gandharva Loka World Music Store on-site. Open 8:30 AM–2.30 PM during the festival.
  09.30 AM to 10:30 AM
Talk

Delight and Surprise: The Next Destination

With over 33 years of daily transcendental meditation practice and nearly three decades of coaching experience, Aaron McLoughlin is dedicated to helping individuals unlock their potential and achieve happiness, bliss, and healing. As an author of three books, a trainer of health professionals in New Zealand and Australia, and a former president of both the NZ Association of Professional Hypnotherapists and the NZ Association of NLP, Aaron combines expertise in clinical hypnosis, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), and the mind-body connection to empower others. His passion for fostering growth and connection extends to his community work, including courageous conversation workshops and volunteering for local groups.
  10:45 AM to 11:45 AM
  talk

Nature’s Healing Intelligence: Vibrational Medicine for Modern Living

Discover the transformative power of New Zealand’s native plants with Patricia Stowell, a practitioner of First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand®. Learn how these vibrational tools can help you restore balance, clear emotional blocks, and reconnect with your true self. Join Patricia at the Wellness Festival for an inspiring session on holistic healing and personal growth.
  12:15 PM to 1:15 PM
talk

Miracles & Meditation: The Art of Being Peacefully Centred

Jeffree Clarkson is a renowned composer and author known for his soothing meditation music and his books on peace, mindfulness, and spiritual wellbeing. For over 30 years, he has been creating music that genuinely stills the mind, helping people across the world find their way to a more peaceful life.
  1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  Talk

The Power of Nature – Essential Oils for Holistic Living

Discover the transformative benefits of pure, ethically sourced essential oils with Jytte and Tremane from Zurma Botanical Oil Studio. Rooted in the principles of kaitiakitanga (environmental guardianship) and respect for Papatūānuku (Mother Earth), Zurma Oils offers sustainable, high-quality products to support your holistic well-being. Join us at the Wellness Festival to learn how these natural taonga (treasures) can enhance your daily life, from creating calming rituals to supporting your physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
  3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
  Talk

The Myth of Normal: How Modern Life Affects the Nervous System and Sleep

Modern life places constant demands on our bodies, often keeping the nervous system in states of long-term alertness that disrupt rest at night. In this talk, Annelies shares how cultural stress patterns shape our biology, why insight alone rarely brings lasting change, and how working directly with the nervous system restores the conditions for natural sleep, calm, and lasting wellbeing.
  4:15 PM to 5:15 PM
  Inspiration

The Femenome: A New View of Women’s Hormonal Life

Jane Catherine Severn has spent 40 years developing a completely new understanding of women's hormonal design, one that goes far beyond reproduction to reveal a system of deep intelligence and purpose. She calls it the femenome®. This talk introduces her pioneering work: how women's hormones behave the way they do, why the so-called "symptoms" of our hormonal life are actually doorways into unrealised potentials in the female psyche, and how understanding this can transform not only how we feel about ourselves, but our place in the world.
  5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
  Inspiration

Breathwork Class – A Journey Into Stillness and Renewal

Elite ultra-runner and meditation practitioner Vajin Armstrong guides you through breathwork practices that calm the nervous system, enhance focus, and unlock flow states. Experience the intersection of breath, stillness, and peak performance.
  9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Talk and Demonstration

Reiki and Access Bars for Wellbeing and Recovery

Jo Boyd: Reiki Master Practitioner Jo Boyd shares how energy healing and Access Bars can support wellbeing through illness and life's challenges. Includes live Reiki demonstrations so you can experience the energy for yourself.
  10:00 Am - 3:00 Pm
  Market

Artisan Market

Experience a vibrant tapestry of local flavours and craftsmanship at our free-entry Artisan Market, featuring organic breads, fresh vegetables, housemade vegan ice cream, artisanal crafts, live music, and children's games—a perfect day out for food lovers and families alike.
  10:45 AM to 11:45 AM
  talk

The Healing Intelligence of Nature: Plant Medicine for Modern Life

In this talk, Michael explores the healing intelligence of nature: how plants have always held the remedies we need, how working with herbs supports genuine lasting wellbeing, and how to navigate the world of natural medicine with discernment and confidence. Drawing on medical herbalism, naturopathy, human nutrition, and diagnostic tools like live blood analysis and iridology, Michael brings a level of knowledge and practical experience that is increasingly rare in the modern wellness world. This is an invitation to understand what nature can do, when we know how to work with it.
  12:15 PM to 1:15 AM
  talk

Plant Spirit Medicine and Rewilding the Inner Child

There is a part of you that already knows how to heal. It lives in the quiet beneath the noise, in the place where imagination and instinct meet, where the body speaks in feelings rather than words, and where the natural world has always been a source of comfort, guidance, and belonging. In this talk, Dr Jo Battye invites you to reconnect with that place.
  1.30 PM to 2.30 PM
talk and workshop

Write Your Way Forward

An interactive workshop with Susannah Kenton, where heart whispering meets transformative healing. Susannah will guide you through decluttering your heart space, connecting with Source, and unlocking profound wisdom through sacred journaling. Engage with practices like meditation, breathwork, and EFT tapping to open pathways of consciousness and dissolve limiting beliefs. Bring a notebook and pen to capture this journey towards freedom, fulfillment, and joy. Perfect for those seeking deeper self-awareness and empowerment.
  3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  Sound Instruments & Meditation

Sound Journey: A Journey of Music, Meditation, and Connection

Discover an innovative approach to a sound journey, where live music, guided meditation, and ancient instruments unify to create a journey of sound and stillness. Featuring captivating vocal performances, skilled instrumentation blending gentle guitar, harp, and udu with rich harmonium and handpan sounds, this event offers a unique blend of heartfelt music, Sanskrit chants, and transformative heart meditation. Enjoy a sanctuary for relaxation, inspiration, and connection, and explore the healing power of sound in an inclusive space designed to uplift and ground you.
  3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Talk

Ancient Healing Practices for Your Pet’s Health and Vitality

Lisa Clarke has been working with animals and their humans for 18 years, treating everything from dogs, cats, and rabbits to racehorses, and even elephants in Laos. Her practice is rooted in a deep understanding of the bond between animals and their guardians, and the way emotional and physical wellbeing can flow between them.
  07:00 : 09:00 PM
  Meditation

An Introduction to Meditation

Introduction to Meditation: Curious about meditation but not sure where to start? This warm, practical session offers a genuine introduction with simple, effective methods for bringing more peace and clarity into everyday life. No experience needed.
  7:00 PM : 8:15 PM
  Music & Meditation

Bhajans: A Journey of Devotion and Joy

Experience the uplifting melodies of Bhajans, devotional songs written by Sri Chinmoy. Performed with instruments like the harmonium, flute, guitar, slide guitar, and mridangam, this session invites everyone to participate—sing along, clap, or simply immerse yourself in the collective energy of music and devotion.
  5:00 PM to 6:30 PM

A Sea of Peace: Contemplative Concert

A gentle, profound close to the festival week. A Sea of Peace is a contemplative concert weaving together original music, narrative, and atmospheric sound. A creation story unfolds, accompanied by a rich tapestry of voice, piano, harmonium, drums, bass, flute, and guitar. Between the melodies, elemental instruments like gong, rain stick, ocean drum, and singing bowl evoke the primal textures of earth and sky.
  08:30 AM to 03:00 PM (Sat/Sun) | 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM (Sat Only)
  Restaurant

The Lotus-Heart

Experience the heart of conscious dining at The Lotus-Heart vegetarian restaurant. Serving nourishing vegetarian and vegan meals, including curries with dosa or rice, burgers, peace bowls, and daily specials, alongside house-roasted organic coffee. Dine indoors or on the outdoor deck, and explore the health store, gift shop, and Gandharva Loka World Music Store on-site. Open 8:30 AM–2.30 PM during the festival.
  09.30 AM to 10:30 AM
Talk

Delight and Surprise: The Next Destination

With over 33 years of daily transcendental meditation practice and nearly three decades of coaching experience, Aaron McLoughlin is dedicated to helping individuals unlock their potential and achieve happiness, bliss, and healing. As an author of three books, a trainer of health professionals in New Zealand and Australia, and a former president of both the NZ Association of Professional Hypnotherapists and the NZ Association of NLP, Aaron combines expertise in clinical hypnosis, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), and the mind-body connection to empower others. His passion for fostering growth and connection extends to his community work, including courageous conversation workshops and volunteering for local groups.
  10:45 AM to 11:45 AM
  talk

Nature’s Healing Intelligence: Vibrational Medicine for Modern Living

Discover the transformative power of New Zealand’s native plants with Patricia Stowell, a practitioner of First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand®. Learn how these vibrational tools can help you restore balance, clear emotional blocks, and reconnect with your true self. Join Patricia at the Wellness Festival for an inspiring session on holistic healing and personal growth.
  12:15 PM to 1:15 PM
talk

Miracles & Meditation: The Art of Being Peacefully Centred

Jeffree Clarkson is a renowned composer and author known for his soothing meditation music and his books on peace, mindfulness, and spiritual wellbeing. For over 30 years, he has been creating music that genuinely stills the mind, helping people across the world find their way to a more peaceful life.
  1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  Talk

The Power of Nature – Essential Oils for Holistic Living

Discover the transformative benefits of pure, ethically sourced essential oils with Jytte and Tremane from Zurma Botanical Oil Studio. Rooted in the principles of kaitiakitanga (environmental guardianship) and respect for Papatūānuku (Mother Earth), Zurma Oils offers sustainable, high-quality products to support your holistic well-being. Join us at the Wellness Festival to learn how these natural taonga (treasures) can enhance your daily life, from creating calming rituals to supporting your physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
  3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
  Talk

The Myth of Normal: How Modern Life Affects the Nervous System and Sleep

Modern life places constant demands on our bodies, often keeping the nervous system in states of long-term alertness that disrupt rest at night. In this talk, Annelies shares how cultural stress patterns shape our biology, why insight alone rarely brings lasting change, and how working directly with the nervous system restores the conditions for natural sleep, calm, and lasting wellbeing.
  4:15 PM to 5:15 PM
  Inspiration

The Femenome: A New View of Women’s Hormonal Life

Jane Catherine Severn has spent 40 years developing a completely new understanding of women's hormonal design, one that goes far beyond reproduction to reveal a system of deep intelligence and purpose. She calls it the femenome®. This talk introduces her pioneering work: how women's hormones behave the way they do, why the so-called "symptoms" of our hormonal life are actually doorways into unrealised potentials in the female psyche, and how understanding this can transform not only how we feel about ourselves, but our place in the world.
  5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
  Inspiration

Breathwork Class – A Journey Into Stillness and Renewal

Elite ultra-runner and meditation practitioner Vajin Armstrong guides you through breathwork practices that calm the nervous system, enhance focus, and unlock flow states. Experience the intersection of breath, stillness, and peak performance.
  9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Talk and Demonstration

Reiki and Access Bars for Wellbeing and Recovery

Jo Boyd: Reiki Master Practitioner Jo Boyd shares how energy healing and Access Bars can support wellbeing through illness and life's challenges. Includes live Reiki demonstrations so you can experience the energy for yourself.
  10:45 AM to 11:45 AM
  talk

The Healing Intelligence of Nature: Plant Medicine for Modern Life

In this talk, Michael explores the healing intelligence of nature: how plants have always held the remedies we need, how working with herbs supports genuine lasting wellbeing, and how to navigate the world of natural medicine with discernment and confidence. Drawing on medical herbalism, naturopathy, human nutrition, and diagnostic tools like live blood analysis and iridology, Michael brings a level of knowledge and practical experience that is increasingly rare in the modern wellness world. This is an invitation to understand what nature can do, when we know how to work with it.
  12:15 PM to 1:15 AM
  talk

Plant Spirit Medicine and Rewilding the Inner Child

There is a part of you that already knows how to heal. It lives in the quiet beneath the noise, in the place where imagination and instinct meet, where the body speaks in feelings rather than words, and where the natural world has always been a source of comfort, guidance, and belonging. In this talk, Dr Jo Battye invites you to reconnect with that place.
  1.30 PM to 2.30 PM
talk and workshop

Write Your Way Forward

An interactive workshop with Susannah Kenton, where heart whispering meets transformative healing. Susannah will guide you through decluttering your heart space, connecting with Source, and unlocking profound wisdom through sacred journaling. Engage with practices like meditation, breathwork, and EFT tapping to open pathways of consciousness and dissolve limiting beliefs. Bring a notebook and pen to capture this journey towards freedom, fulfillment, and joy. Perfect for those seeking deeper self-awareness and empowerment.
  3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Talk

Ancient Healing Practices for Your Pet’s Health and Vitality

Lisa Clarke has been working with animals and their humans for 18 years, treating everything from dogs, cats, and rabbits to racehorses, and even elephants in Laos. Her practice is rooted in a deep understanding of the bond between animals and their guardians, and the way emotional and physical wellbeing can flow between them.
  10:00 Am - 3:00 Pm
  Market

Artisan Market

Experience a vibrant tapestry of local flavours and craftsmanship at our free-entry Artisan Market, featuring organic breads, fresh vegetables, housemade vegan ice cream, artisanal crafts, live music, and children's games—a perfect day out for food lovers and families alike.
  3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  Sound Instruments & Meditation

Sound Journey: A Journey of Music, Meditation, and Connection

Discover an innovative approach to a sound journey, where live music, guided meditation, and ancient instruments unify to create a journey of sound and stillness. Featuring captivating vocal performances, skilled instrumentation blending gentle guitar, harp, and udu with rich harmonium and handpan sounds, this event offers a unique blend of heartfelt music, Sanskrit chants, and transformative heart meditation. Enjoy a sanctuary for relaxation, inspiration, and connection, and explore the healing power of sound in an inclusive space designed to uplift and ground you.
  07:00 : 09:00 PM
  Meditation

An Introduction to Meditation

Introduction to Meditation: Curious about meditation but not sure where to start? This warm, practical session offers a genuine introduction with simple, effective methods for bringing more peace and clarity into everyday life. No experience needed.
  7:00 PM : 8:15 PM
  Music & Meditation

Bhajans: A Journey of Devotion and Joy

Experience the uplifting melodies of Bhajans, devotional songs written by Sri Chinmoy. Performed with instruments like the harmonium, flute, guitar, slide guitar, and mridangam, this session invites everyone to participate—sing along, clap, or simply immerse yourself in the collective energy of music and devotion.