All around Māpua, men are building and fixing bits and pieces at home on their own - and now they want a MenzShed, or at least a space where they can build one.
Colin Walker is typical of many of the 30 or so men who met recently to discuss the idea, with a garage half-filled with tools, a workbench, and skills gleaned from decades of using them.
“I grew up with power tools, and my father was a great handyman. Now I’ve got more tools than space to put them.”
He built his first boat at 14, while Hamish Ballantyne has constructed several sheds over the years, and Fred Cassin has built a few houses.
They are part of a group seeking to establish a MenzShed where they can share skills and work alongside others in a social setting.
The idea grew out of the Old Farts Friday Forum - a men’s coffee group – where the suggestion of a MenzShed sparked interest.
“It will bring together a whole lot of skills,” Hamish says.
As well as providing a space to work on projects, those with skills will be able to teach others. Women won’t be excluded and may have a dedicated workshop day – and Hamish’s wife is a keen starter.
Social connection is at the heart of MenzSheds, which began in Australia in the 1990s to support men’s mental health, especially among older and retired men.
“When you’re working, you communicate with others,” Fred says. “But when you stop working, that all stops.”
Richmond and Motueka already have MenzSheds. Now Māpua men want their own -first they need to find a shed, or a space to build one.
