Orama was founded in 1963 by Neville and Dorothy Winger, who bought the 800-acre farmland from the Padderson family with a clear and hopeful purpose. They dreamed of creating a place where people could grow in faith, community, and practical service, and they poured their lives into making that dream real. What began as a Christian conference and ministry centre soon became a place known for transformation, learning, and renewal.
Neville was a man with a big vision and a strong sense of calling. Under his leadership Orama became a hub for many pioneering initiatives. Training programmes for young people, conventions, summer camps, a radio station, a rehabilitation centre, a bible school, and even the printing and distribution of books all grew from the work he helped to establish. People came from across New Zealand and overseas, and many went on to lead movements and ministries of their own, carrying Orama’s influence far beyond the island.