Author: Ian Maxwell

This week Gerald and Jim Bob completed one of the largest projects undertaken by the MenShed team. Six Dog Boxes. The Dog Box’s will house dogs that are deployed to manage a range of animal pests across our region. Each has been built from materials that would have otherwise gone to waste. Great stuff Gerald… Continue reading In the dog box

This week Wanaka has hosted the WAO Summit as part of the 2022 Festival for Sustaintability. The Wanaka Community Workshop was an active participant in the Festival. The Workshop hosted a cycle maintenance event early in October. During the Summit the Workshop hosted a session focussed upon reducing waste resulting from construction. Members of the… Continue reading WAO Summit

Every so often folk drop into the Wanaka Community Workshop seeking that something be repaired. Recently the team from the MenShed completed a stand for a peice of garden art. It was an important peice, designed and built by their late Dad. It’s great having the opportunity to make a difference.

A three month trial of a community bus service linking Wanaka, Albert Town Hawea Flat and Lake Hawea is underway. The trial has been developed by Community Networks / LINK. This week the Team at the MenShed operating from the Wanaka Community Workshop received a call for help. Could we construct a light but strong… Continue reading A step up for the bus trial

During this month the Wanaka Community Workshop hosted a couple of training sessions. Each session attracted people in search of advice on how best to maintain their bikes. The sessions were part of a much larger Biketober program of events which run right through the month of October. Biketober is managed and deployed by WAO… Continue reading Biketober

Pact is a Otago based agency supporting people to lead fulfilling lives in the community. In our district Pact supports over 300 adults and youth with intellectual disabilities, mental health issues and young people referred from Oranga Tamariki. Recently the MenShed team hosted our first visit from Pact that included support people along with those… Continue reading A visit from Pact

fabricate is up and running at the Wanaka Community Workshop. fabricate is all about textiles and sewing. Program’s to teach sewing and pattern making skills has commenced. More are planned. Members of our community are are dropping in to undertake their own work and repairs. Its great to see people learning new skills – taking… Continue reading fabricate is on a roll

The Wanaka Community Workshop provides a range of opportunities for our local community. This includes travelers who pass through our town and region. Recent projects undertaken by the MenShed team have benefited from the time and skills of visitors from France. As members of the Workshop during their period in Wanaka our visitors took the… Continue reading A helping hand

Over the last month the MenShed completed a few projects for the Montessori Childrens House in Wanaka. The projects included a table for kids to practice their wood working skills, a cupboard in which to store their wood working tools and finally, a table upon which they can grow plants and seedlings. This week Montessori… Continue reading Thanks

Recently the team at the MenShed completed a work table for the kids at Montessori Childrens House – a pre school in Wanaka. This week a small cupboard was delivered by the team. Mounted on wheels for easy moving about, the cupboard will store the tools the kids can use on the work table. Its… Continue reading Kids nail it

With school holidays the MenShed team at the Wanaka Community Workshop this week hosted a holiday program organised by Kahu Youth. We loved having them. Everyone took away a simple planter box they built from recycled materials. A few lessons were learnt and many took home a little paint – on their clothes.

Grow Wanaka has created vibrant educational hub at their community garden where folk can learn, connect and grow The community garden is located on Outlet Road, Wanaka – just above the Clutha River. Community Networks food security project operating from the Wanaka Community Hub have led the development of food banks and food exchanges across… Continue reading Grow Wanaka collaboration

Over recent weeks the team at the MenShed has designed and built two tables for the MINT Trust. The tables can be adjusted – the tops can be raised or lowered. The tops can also be set at an angle making them suitable for drawing or painting. Construction of the tables has involved fine wood… Continue reading New desks for MINT

Skinks and geckos are lizards – the only two native families of lizard found in New Zealand. Our skink and gecko species have been around a long time – at least 20 million years. They occur only in New Zealand. Some species are restricted to habitats found only in Otago. As these habitats change, our skinks and gecko’s… Continue reading A safe spot for skinks

Wanaka is a great community. This week members of our community invested their support for the Wanaka Community Workshop by donating machinery. In turn the machinery will be used by the Workshop to support the Wanaka community Our scroll saw has seen great service with its previous owner. Over the last decade over 4000 wooden… Continue reading Saws join the workshop

The MenShed team operating from the Wanaka Community Workshop love making things. That said the team also enjoy each other company. Mostly this takes place over a cup of tea of coffee at the Workshop. From time to time we also get out. This month we had a picnic with the Friends of Bullock Creek.… Continue reading Time for a break

The Upper Clutha is home to an amazing array of insects. Many are unique reflecting our dry and alpine environments. Iconic among New Zealand insects is the Weta. Species of Weta are found among our highest alpine peaks down to forests along the shores of our lakes. Recently the team at the MenShed have been… Continue reading Homes for weta

This month Di dropped in to give the team at the MenShed a hand. She joined JimBob in creating a small table – a table for kids to try out their woodworking skills. A table upon which a hammer may be used, a saw or a screwdriver. Thanks to JimBob, the design of the table… Continue reading A table for kids to hammer

Its great to experience what the Friends of Bullock Creek have established over the years. The restoration of the natural environment and the development of of walkways and informative signage is a joy. The Friends are more than this however. The Friends act as guardians to ensure the natural waters of Bullock Creek and our… Continue reading Bullock Creek extends its boardwalk

Wanaka Backyard Trapping is a community organisation all about giving the local native wildlife a hand. They do this by enabling residents across the Upper Clutha to trap predators in their backyards. Wanaka Backyard Trapping manages a trap library. People can borrow for free traps from the library to target rats, stoats and other predators… Continue reading Trap library making a difference

The Winter snows abound on the hills and mountains above Wanaka. Its great to see large numbers of visitors back in town. It’s not only visitors who ski but locals as well. This includes supporters of the Wanaka Community Workshop. While we are known for working with wood and soon textiles, we do have other… Continue reading Waxing the Boards

fabricate is located within the Wanaka Community Workshop. Fabricate is providing opportunities for members of the community to learn skills associated with textiles and clothing. Its early days for fabricate and final fitting out of the workspace is underway. The team from the MenShed right next door is helping out. This month desks have been… Continue reading fabricate – growing all the time

The team at the MenShed gathers each Tuesday and Thursday mornings. During this time we make stuff – often from recycled materials and always for the community. However during this time there is always time for a brew. Its a great opportunity to catch up and solve the worlds problems. This week we also welcomed… Continue reading Time for a brew

WAI Wānaka is an organisation. An organisation made up of passionate people working toward empowering communities to understand natural waters such as lakes and streams, their environment, and their impact. The team from the MenShed regularly work with WAI Wānaka. This week the team delivered a interactive display board that will be used to help… Continue reading Making a difference with Wai Wanaka

This week the MenShed team from the Wanaka Community Workshop prepared a small seedling tray The tray is the first of a dozen or more that will be distributed to pre schools across the Upper Clutha. The idea is the brain child of Jo from the Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust. Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust is… Continue reading Kids growing

Last week the Wanaka Community Workshop welcomed back MINT. MINT is our local community trust which supports those in Upper Clutha Area with intellectual disabilities. As part of their comprehensive program MINT visits the Wanaka Community Workshop each month. Our team at the Wanaka Community Workshop really appreciates the opportunity to work with MINT. This… Continue reading MINT show their skills

The Wanaka Community Workshop exists to make a difference – a difference for our community, for our natural environment. We very much appreciate it when our efforts are recognised. We especially appreciate it when this appreciation is in the form of donations that support our efforts. Lynn River, the premier supplier of New Zealand workplace… Continue reading Lynn River keeping us safe

A few weeks back the team at the MenShed completed new nesting platforms for the Wanaka population of the rare and endangered Crested Grebes. The platforms were of an enhanced design that reflected experience with the birds over recent years. The platforms were recently placed into Roys Bay near the marina and just offshore from… Continue reading Launch of floating nest platforms

After weeks of planning and effort Fabricate is now operating from the Wanaka Community Workshop. Fabricate brings to the Wanaka an opportunity for the community to create with textiles. The first sewing machines are in place with more to follow. Fabricate is calling for donations to help with their set up. Members of our great… Continue reading Fabricate benefits from a flow of donations

Changes are nearing completion at the Wanaka Community Workshop. A new space has been created. The space is known as Fabricate and will focus upon working with textiles – sewing, stitching, upholstery etc. It’s going to be great – a whole new opportunity for our community. Fabricate is the brain child of Sue and Claire… Continue reading Fabricate Wanaka well on its way

For members of the MenShed its great to see projects they have worked on serving their intended purpose. Over recent weeks three food banks have been delivered – to the Wanaka Community Hub, the Wanaka Recreation Centre and at Lugate. Each provides an opportunity to share local produce and to reduce the cost of feeding… Continue reading Food banks delivering

At times one just needs a break. While its sunny, its also cool – the first snows have fallen in Wanaka. Time for mid year Christmas! This week the team at the Menshed had an extended tea break – complete with cake and a rather dubious Christmas tree. Its great to get stuff done but… Continue reading Mid Year Christmas

The Friends of Bullock Creek recently completed an extension to their walkway. The walkway enables easy access to this wonderful ecological gem located within the urban area of Wanaka. The Friends have over the years been the catalyst behind the restoration and protection of Bullock Creek and the fresh wayer springs which are its source.… Continue reading Easy walking at Bullock Creek

A few weeks back the Wanaka Community Workshop hosted Wanaka Backyard Trapping – an agency promoting the trapping of pests by local land owners. Wanaka Backyard Trapping introduced the concept of a trap library – traps that people may borrow, much like people borrow books from the library. The traps have been a roaring success.… Continue reading Trap Library for Backyard Trapping

The Wanaka Community Workshop has been operating for about a year. Starting off small, one of our initial projects was the fabrication of gnome houses. Each was then painted by kids from Duke of Edinburgh and William Pike then erected adjacent to the children’s pump cycle track in Bremner Bay. It was a great project… Continue reading Gnome’s at Bremner Bay

All stormwater that falls upon land across the Upper Clutha eventually drains into our Lakes and Rivers. Stormwater is not pure. It picks up and takes with it materials and chemicals that our natural waters can do without. Furthermore many of us directly pour liquids we no longer want for ourselves down the stormwater drain… Continue reading Fish, eels and birds with a message

The newest member of the New Zealand’s network of lilliput libraries stands just outside the main public entrance to the Wanaka Recreation Centre. Lilliput number 305 is managed by staff at Wanaka Library. Since established Lilliput 305 has been busy – on average 23 books every day are being withdrawn. A few weeks back, the… Continue reading Lilliput 305

Recently the team from the Men’s Shed have been working with the Department of Conservation piloting a new design for traps. The traps are intended for Norwegian Rats which reside on islands within Lake Wanaka. The islands are also home to rare Weka – curious birds with long beaks. The new traps are longer. They… Continue reading Weka friendly traps for our island sanctuary’s

The Wanaka Community Workshop continues to benefit from the donation of materials and equipment. Our community is strong and its humbling to receive these gifts. Building materials are often dropped off at the Workshop in Gordon Road but the team from the Mens Shed also collect from sites across Wanaka. A great sign of success… Continue reading Donations make a difference

This week the team at the Mens Shed were preparing for the next visit by the MINT Charitable Trust to the Wanaka Community Workshop. The MINT Trust support those in Upper Clutha Area with intellectual disabilities. Each visit to the Wanaka Community Workshop involves practicable work assembling an item that can be taken home. The… Continue reading MINT’s next visit

This week members of the Mens Shed working from the Wanaka Community Workshop completed a job for the Friends of Bullock Creek. Bullock Creek emerges from ground water springs and runs through Wanaka entering the Lake adjacent to Dinosaur Park. The stream is a treasured natural icon of our town. Over many years the Friends… Continue reading Board walk for Bullock Creek

It makes a difference to grow your own vegetables – a taste difference for us and its easier on the planet. This week the team from the Mensshed operating from the Wanaka Community Workshop built a structure to house a raised garden. The new garden will serve a number of our elder residents of Wanaka.… Continue reading Produce from the garden