People have always shared possessions, and new technology is giving us lots of new ways to organise how we share. From cars, to toys, to skills, strangers are cooperatively reinventing the ‘sharing economy’.
Here are some of the local groups helping you save money, reduce waste, and build communities through sharing.
Looking for straight up giving? Check our No Throw Guide.
Everything
Wellington Timebank: Earn, spend and trade time credits on nearly anything
Freecycle: Give and request unwanted items to and from other members in your local area.
Neighbourly: Connect and share with your local neighbourhood.
Ask Give Share: Share time, skills, transport and old or unused goods.
Transport
Smart Travel NZ: Carpooling in your region, free rides
Mechanical Tempest: Assisted DIY bike rescue
Mevo: Electric car share service
City Hop: Car share service
Wunder Bike Wellington: Bike share service
Hardware
Freecycle: Make offers or requests
Menzshed: Men sharing skills, space and tools and working on practical skills
Newtown Tool Library: A growing collection of tools to borrow, use and return for other to use
Food & Gardens
Common Unity Project Aotearoa: Lower Hutt based urban farm, growing food, skills, and community.
Community Gardens in Wellington city: directory of community gardens in the area, for growing, composting, and community
Community Gardens in Hutt and Upper Hutt: directory of community gardens in the area, for growing, composting, and community
Wairarapa Eco Farm: Community supported agriculture in Masterton, with drop-off locations in Wellington city. Become a paid member and get fruit + veg boxes each week.
Kids
Toy libraries: Borrow and bring back to swap for new stuff.
Playcentres: Parent-run early childhood centre cooperatives
Gurgl: A kids' clothing library aiming to reduce waste and fast fashion
Homes
Wellington Curtain Bank: free curtains for Community Services Card holders
Cohousing: A growing movement in New Zealand of intentionally clustered private dwellings with shared facilities and neighbourhood life.
Information
Sustainability Trust's library: A free library centred on sustainability and environment.
Public libraries: National treasures, don't forget to use them!
Creative Commons: Share images and information
Our free library has more than 600 books, DVDs, magazines and other educational
resources. They cover a range of topics, including sustainable and ethical living, climate change, energy, politics, food, gardening, ethical living, DIY and crafts, social justice and the environment.
Whether you rent, flat, or own your own house, there are lots of ways you can make your home more efficient, healthier, and cheaper to run. Efficient resource use is good for you, good for your wallet, and great for the planet.
A growing number of schools are putting litterless lunches policies in place to reduce the waste that goes to landfill. Here are some tips to get on board whether it's your school or home policy.
