MenzShed's mighty mission

Every seat in the room was taken at Tuesday’s meeting of Golden Bay Community Board (GBCB) which took place at Tasman District Council’s Tākaka Service Centre.

Public forum

Public forum opened with a request from Steve McMaster, on behalf of Pōhara tennis court users, for renovation and upgrade of the facilities. His main concern was about the state of the pavilion which, he explained, had been seriously vandalised and misused, but there were also issues with loose fencing and the playing surface. He said the pavilion’s current condition was “not a good look” and it was in need of repair. “It’s a community asset; we want to know what the council can do.”

Steve’s request was addressed in a later agenda item concerned with a TDC staff report recommending that council make arrangements to “repair the tennis pavilion building at the Pōhara Recreation Reserve including, removal of internal walls and install a security camera at an estimated cost of $10,000”. Zooming in to the meeting, TDC’s Lynne Hall took questions from the board and explained that the mural would also be restored as part of the repair work. The board agreed to support the report’s recommendations.

A job well done: The last of the consignment of 80 predator traps about to be despatched to Project

From left, vice-chairman Des Molloy, chairman Dave Myall, secretary Nick

Mohua MenzShed is on a mighty mission.

When they formed almost three years ago, they began making predator traps for the Rameka Project from a rented shed at Rangihaeata. When that became financially untenable, they continued operating from members’ private sheds. Now they are entirely focused on building their own dedicated shed on a permanent site.

The A&P Rec Park Committee have indicated supporting a 33-year leasehold on Recreation Park Centre land, pending Resource Consent from Tasman District Council (TDC). Early concept plans have already been drawn up and infrastructure advice given contingent upon satisfying TDC on various consents and attracting the necessary funding. Once the building consent is granted, the group will then uplift the lease.

Meantime, they are actively seeking new members, particularly amongst retirees, plus affiliate members keen to join in the future. An influx of numbers would not only boost the chances of successful funding applications but would also support the small Mohua MenzShed working committee currently finding it “tough” managing new projects.

MenzShed is a worldwide organisation that began as a men’s only initiative, recognising that men have different needs and are less social than women. While not gender exclusive, it focuses on men’s wellbeing and mental health. There are around 120 sheds in New Zealand advocating a particular ethos supported within a well-constructed national body. Within their “toolbox” members can access valuable resources and information, but they say their most important tool is the coffeepot. Sharing time and stories and forming friendships is the key, further enhanced by sharing skills, knowledge and resources on community projects that also fosters their own personal learning.

The work Mohua MenzShed undertakes is a mix of their own projects and those for civic and charity groups. They have already been involved in projects for TDC, Mohua Penguin Trust, Forest and Bird, Project De-Vine Environmental Trust, Project Rameka, and the Workcentre, and they have re-painted the Village Theatre floor. Donations are accepted for some voluntary jobs; others are charged nominally for material costs.

They don’t undertake private jobs due to the ramifications of issues like insurance, and...

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Arnav Toade asked the board for a letter of support to accompany an upcoming funding application to Creative NZ for his Yatra festival. An earlier application to Creative NZ had been rejected which he said had led to “financial stress” but there was an opportunity to reapply in September. Pointing out that the multi-day festival was family-friendly and “a space of creativity” he urged the board to back the event.

The board discussed the matter as a late item towards the end of the meeting and concluded that more information was required – including details of the application and the direct community benefits – before making a decision to support it.

The final contribution was from Bill Wallis who reprised the topic of recreational boating launching facilities at Port Tarakohe – specifically the absence of a suitable landing dock and ramp. “The general public just want to launch their boats safely and have been ignored for a long time,” said Bill. “We need a safe launching facility… I’d like council to consider funding a launching facility.”

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Menzshed

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...won’t compete with other commercial and private tradespeople, or Helping Hands, who have those areas covered. Their strength is that members – with their varied qualifications and skills – can collaborate and support other community groups and not charge the earth. They are in turn supported by donations from other organisations with a similar ethos, such as Rural Service Centre, Trash Palace, ITM, the Quilters Group, Pupu Hydro, and the Presbyterian Ladies Group.

The core group have recently completed 80 handmade and high-tech predator traps for Project De-Vine, whose general manager Sophie Davies says will be installed in and around The Grove Scenic Reserve. These efficient traps are part of the three-year-long Jobs for Nature project, working with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to collect valuable data.

Mohua MenzShed secretary Nick Farr said that the huge consignment, with others helping, was an impressive production line effort.

“We just motored through the work; it was starting to really hit the right stride. It just went superbly.”

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