Upper Hutt to establish a Menzshed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, 11 March 2015
Upper Hutt to establish a Menzshed
Following support from the community, Council and Rotary look at potential sites for a Menzshed in Upper Hutt.
UPPER HUTT, Wellington NZ, 11 MAR 2015—The Upper Hutt Rotary Club is working alongside Upper Hutt City Council and other interested parties to establish a Menzshed for Upper Hutt City. TheMenzshed concept is reputed to have started in Australia around 2000 and has grown significantly in both Australia and New Zealand over the past fifteen years.
The Menzshed was initially for blokes who through retirement or retrenchment had lost the contact they had with workmates and the structures of working life, and from that separation had developed feelings of isolation. The Menzshed provides a men-friendly space where blokes can get together, share stories, knowledge, and skills—finding new workmates and enjoying each other’s company.
“Many of the Menzsheds in New Zealand undertake projects within the community and support community groups by using the shed’s resources and the men’s skills to meet community group needs,” says Mike Ryan, Upper Hutt City Council’s Director of Community Services. “For example, the list of projects undertaken by the Henley Menzshed in Masterton ranges from repairing toys and playpens for child centres to making deck chairs for fundraising auctions and repairing donated furniture for a hospice.”
“The concept is outstanding and there is a groundswell of support for this initiative from many within the Upper Hutt community,” states Phil Kidd from the Upper Hutt Rotary Club. “We are currently looking at potential sites for the establishment of a Menzshed, this could be either an existing building or land on which a suitable building could be located.”
The potential for Menzshed activities is enormous and some sheds also provide other activities and events, such as cooking and baking lessons; tutorials on arc welding, wood turning, and tool sharpening; and other programmes that the men determine will be of benefit.