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Hibiscus Men’s Shed Development
The development of the Hibiscus Men’s Shed stems from the success of the North Shore Men’s Shed opened in 2013 and from the support of the Chairman of The North Shore Men’s Shed Trust; an Orewa resident who recognised that the rapidly-growing Hibiscus Coast demographic could support a new Shed. With support from the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board, a public meeting held in May led to the establishment of the local Trust.
The Men’s Shed movement in NZ developed from a similar organisation originating in Australia, where there are now over 1500 such facilities. The number in NZ is growing rapidly, with 93 already underway or in operation and mostly affiliated to the NZ ‘Menzshed’ umbrella organisation. The movement has spread throughout the UK, Canada, Denmark and Sweden. These NZ project ‘Sheds’ are all funded by Public, Private, Community and/or Council grants and donations with, in most cases, machinery donated by deceased estates or families down-sizing.
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The Sheds are open to all community members, but primarily target men in retirement; many of whom find themselves with surplus time and often having lost ‘man space’ in downsizing. The Shed will provide a not-for-profit community facility in the form of a workshop to which members can drop in and spend time chatting and working on either personal or community-support tasks, using the machinery provided, and/or partaking of general camaraderie – often forgone once divorced from a lifetime in the workforce, the loss of which can impact on the mental and physical health that workplace human interaction provides.
Since inception, the Hibiscus Men’s Shed Trust has developed a comprehensive strategic plan and engaged with Hibiscus & Bays Local Board and Auckland Council staff regarding a number of local sites in an effort to find a suitable Coast location, with a formal lease application having been lodged. To date, a steady supply of machinery, hand tools, fixtures and fittings have been generously donated by many community folk and are safely stored, courtesy of Guardian Storage in Silverdale, pending construction of our Shed.
To learn more about the Hibiscus Men’s Shed Trust, enquire about membership or discuss an equipment donation, please contact Stuart Johnston, Ph: 424 7854 Mob: 027 492 3357 hibiscusshed@outlook.com
Interested parties may also like to attend a Trust open meeting on 8th December at the Auckland Council Service Centre, Level One, 50 Centreway Road, Orewa, 1.00 – 2.00pm. RSVP to Stuart (above).
Stuart Johnston, Chairman of Hibiscus Men’s Shed Trust
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