Community work

Supporting local

Our community

We are a socially responsible non-profit enterprise and consider the economic consequences, as well as the social and environmental implications of our activities.  With this in mind we are working to make a positive impact in our community in a number of ways:

  • Education and Training
    Often for gender or cultural reasons, the majority of women | wāhine have missed out on learning woodworking and related skills. Alongside offering hands-on experiences of power tools and machinery in our women-only classes, in 2024 we set up a Women Empowerment Fund to raise money in order to offer workshop participation to women | wāhine from a variety of backgrounds such as those who have needed the help of Women’s Refuge or refugees starting a new life in NZ.
  • Empowerment and well-being
    Being able to create or fix something is remarkably empowering.  The skills we share are not only of practical use, but also highly supportive of mental well-being.  This has long been recognised by organisations like the International Mens Sheds Organisation including in New Zealand.
  • Environment
    We partner with local Auckland groups including Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao for whom we build items to support their mission to create urban spaces where native species can thrive and BirdCare Aotearoa who provide care and rehabilitation for sick, injured and orphaned wild birds.
  • Community Groups
    We support local community groups including SPiCE (Sandringham Project in Community Empowerment), and Kakamai Brownies by building items such as community pantries | pātaka kai or hosting events where young girls can experience using power tools.
  • Women in Trades
    We’re passionate about empowering and guiding more women to pursue trades. Through sharing our knowledge and experiences, we not only teach women woodworking skills but also cultivate a community where they become role models, inspiring others and demonstrating that anyone can succeed in this field.

Why so many women still lack practical skills

Many societies still view woodcrafts and trades like carpentry as “men’s work.” These entrenched stereotypes begin early; many teachers and caregivers still don’t encourage girls to consider trades as a career choice, instead steering them toward “softer” or more traditional roles.

This trend continues in woodworking spaces such as ‘Sheds’, where women still find themselves on the outside looking in. Many ‘Sheds’ in New Zealand | Aotearoa are still male-only or operate in ways that unintentionally exclude women, even when housed in public or community-funded buildings. For women | wāhine, their needs are often different.  Many require structured, guided, hands-on support rather than the passive, drop-in model common in men’s sheds.  The social dynamics can also feel intimidating, especially for beginners who are still building confidence with tools and machinery.

Having women-centred sessions creates the safety, focus, and encouragement that help women | wāhine learn and build confidence to ‘go it alone’. This doesn’t replace or diminish men-only spaces, it simply recognises that community facilities can serve everyone. By sharing the same buildings on different days or times, sheds can remain welcoming for their existing members while also opening doors for women who deserve equal access to practical skills.