Wellington set to lose its only Menzshed

After five years of caring for the older men in our city, the City Menzshed faces extinction. It has to move from its earthquake prone building in Frederick Street and has nowhere to go.

A Charitable Trust, the City Menzshed has the specific task of caring for those men who have lost touch with their families and now live alone and isolated. It also cares for the many men, and nowadays women too, who find that retirement brings not respect, but a society that thinks they are of no further value.

The City Menzshed helps and cares for these people by providing companionship and an opportunity to show they can still make a useful contribution to our city. They do this by making and repairing toys and furniture for childcare centres, schools and community groups.

Engineer and property developer Maurice Clark has generously let the City Menzshed use a building that he owns, the Old Chinese Mission for the past four years at no rent. Now the tightening health and safety issues around earthquake prone building mean this arrangement must come to an end.

The City Menzshed has made numerous approaches to the Wellington City Council and to various other authorities that hold unused buildings in Wellington, but none have been able to help.

In other parts of New Zealand nearly fifty Menzsheds have been established with help from local Councils and businesses. These include larger cities such as Auckland, Hutt City, Christchurch and Whangarei. The capital so far has been unable to help.

Secretary of the City Menzshed, John Shrapnell, says, “I’m sure if we were a sports club wanting club rooms they soon be found. Instead we’re a just bunch of old people who are apparently beyond their use by date”.

© Scoop Media