Lyttelton's Community Makerspace, Te Puna Auaha

Later this year, the old Post Office site in Lyttelton, across the road from Super, will become the home of Te Puna Auaha, a community-led sustainable makerspace for everyone. Within its container walls will be a plastics recycling centre, makers workshop and Lyttelton’s Library of Tools and Things​. It will be a multi-purpose creative hub built for the community, by the community. You, your children, your grandchildren, even your grandparents will have a space to safely make, mend, learn and interact.

Donate to Te Puna Auaha today to lend a helping hand to our future: a more resilient, capable, and sustainably-educated community in Canterbury. Our region has proven its resilience time and time again, but imagine what we could do with a better decked-out toolbox. 

The backstory

Te Puna Auaha has been in progress since 2018, and has been steadily gathering supporters, equipment and ideas since its inception. Until January, the biggest piece of the puzzle was missing: its location. A site has been secured thanks to Lyttelton Port Company – the old Post Office site on Norwich Quay is confirmed to be the future home for this creative working space.

This very crowdfunding campaign was set to go live the very same week that COVID-19 hit the headlines and changed our worlds. Like most, we've been figuring out how to adapt to this time. It was agreed to continue on and plan to use this time to run an online platform for mending and DIY as well as a platform for local artists, watch this space to find out more as the month progresses.

The community making it happen

The project wouldn't be possible without all the generous gifts from the community. The pieces to the puzzle are already there, we need you to join us and connect those pieces together, and give the community something to look forward to post COVID-19. 

• Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke gifted the project its name, Te Puna Auaha. It means the pool/spring of creativity and innovation. 
• Lyttelton Port Company are the local legends who sorted the site.
• Lyttelton Library of Tools and Things and Linwood High School have teed us up with the tools.
• Fulton Hogan and Lyttelton Port Company each donated a container to the cause.
• Orion Energy are working with us to connect power to the site.
• Tradies for Charity are chipping in for the fitout.
• Your contribution to this successful Boosted campaign means we can put it all to use. 

Keen to participate? 

The biggest impact you can have right now is to donate to this campaign. But,​ there are a tonne of other ways you can get involved too.

• Share your skills with us on Boosted to help us raise the funds.
• Contribute building materials, tools or labour.
• Share your ideas/aspirations for this project.
• Become a match donor and double everyone's impact (that could be you or your business... get in touch).
• Sign up to our e-news to keep up to date.
• Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

The more we raise on Boosted, the faster we can get ahead. To kickstart, we're looking to raise $10,000. This will cover: 

Why might you support this great community project? This makerspace will:

• Give you access to the everyday tools you need (waterblaster, anyone?) 
• Open the doors to specialist equipment such as 3d printers and lathes. 
• Provide education for the community on sustainability and craft. 
• Give the community a new place to gather and connect. 
• Improve your health and hauora, wellbeing.

Make this space with us by donating today. 

This crowdfunding campaign is hosted on Boosted, New Zealand's only crowdfunding platform dedicated to the arts, run by the Arts Foundation. All donations by NZ income earners are eligible for a tax credit at the end of financial year.