Events and workshops

Come and get your creaky or cracked furniture repaired under the guidance of a furniture restoration specialist at our community repair-cafe style event! No more squeaky chairs!

Brought to you by the Waikato District Council Waste Minimisation Fund, and in partnership with The ReCreators!

What to expect

The day starts with a 45-minute talk and demonstration of repair techniques, including:

• Learn how to repair breaks, cracks, splits, and bora.
• The 4 stages of wooden furniture restoration: Strip/ Sand/ Stain/ Seal. 
• A walk through all the repair tools and products.
  

Following this there is 4 hours of repair cafe time where the participants repair their furniture with the help of our specialist. 

Places are limited so book your place NOW. Don't miss out!

Get your tickets!

The Whaaingaroa Repair Café is a free pop-up event where community members can bring in their broken and damaged belongings and local volunteer experts do their best to repair them.

Repairing rather than buying new is a great way to take climate action in your own life – and learn new skills along the way!

By extending the lifespan of these items, we reduce waste and prevent valuable resources from ending up in landfills. In general, replacement parts will not be provided by the repairers. Any use of materials or parts such batteries, zips etc. will be supplied or paid for by the visitor and brought to event.

As a community, we are committed to overcoming the environmental challenges that we face today, from the growing issue of waste to limited awareness or recycling practices.

Join us for a guided tour of Green Gorilla's Huntly Recycling Centre and learn how we can create a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for generations to come.

PS: Attend the tour and you could be in to win one of four $100 supermarket gift cards!

When: Saturday 30 November 2024
Time: Starting at 9am - 12.30pm
Where: 137A Rotowaro Road, Huntly

What to expect

• An introduction - An overview on the importance of recycling and its impact on the environment.
• Guided tour - See the different stages of the recycling process, including collection, sorting, processing, and distribution.
• Interactive demonstrations - Hands-on activities, such as sorting recyclables and observing machinery in operation.
• Fun activities - Face painting!
• Q&A session - An opportunity for an open discussion.
• Educational materials - Participants will be provided with resources to support continued learning and encourage positive sustainable behaviour.

Are you tired of throwing un eaten food away? Then it's time to level up with our Food Lovers Masterclass! You'll learn how to store food like a boss, decode those pesky best before dates, and save enough to buy a yacht (okay, maybe just a canoe).

Tickets: $10, and you get a gift pack worth $40

Book your ticket.

We'll see you on Wednesday 20 November, 6pm-8pm at the Raglan Bowling Club, 19 James Street, Raglan.

Are you tired of throwing un eaten food away? Then it's time to level up with our Food Lovers Masterclass! You'll learn how to store food like a boss, decode those pesky best before dates, and save enough to buy a yacht (okay, maybe just a canoe).

Tickets: $10, and you get a gift pack worth $40

Book your ticket.

We'll see you on Wednesday 13 November, 6pm-8pm at the Elsies Bar & Restaurant, Function Room , 3 George Street, Tuakau

The Whaaingaroa Repair Café is a free pop-up event where community members can bring in their broken and damaged belongings and local volunteer experts do their best to repair them.

Repairing rather than buying new is a great way to take climate action in your own life – and learn new skills along the way!

By extending the lifespan of these items, we reduce waste and prevent valuable resources from ending up in landfills. In general, replacement parts will not be provided by the repairers. Any use of materials or parts such batteries, zips etc. will be supplied or paid for by the visitor and brought to event.

We have partnered with ChemCollect to host a free household hazardous Waste drop-off on Saturday 2 November from 9.30am to 1.30pm in Tuakau.

Items that WILL be accepted:

• Household: cleaners, poisons, solvents, and batteries
• Automotive waste: antifreeze, brake fluids, fuel, motor oil and batteries
• Herbicides, fungicides and insecticides
• Pool chemicals: chlorine
• Paint

Items that WON'T be accepted:

• Asbestos
• Cooking oil
• Electronic waste, including mobile phones
• Explosives or ammunition
• Fertilizers
• Light bulbs
• LPG gas cylinders
• Pharmaceuticals

Register

Registration is essential, drive-up's will not be allowed.

Only those registered will be communicated the location of the event.

Tuakau drop-off: Register now!

The Whaaingaroa Repair Café is a free pop-up event where community members can bring in their broken and damaged belongings and local volunteer experts do their best to repair them.

Repairing rather than buying new is a great way to take climate action in your own life – and learn new skills along the way!

By extending the lifespan of these items, we reduce waste and prevent valuable resources from ending up in landfills. In general, replacement parts will not be provided by the repairers. Any use of materials or parts such batteries, zips etc. will be supplied or paid for by the visitor and brought to event.

Join us for the VERY FIRST repair café in Ngaaruawaahia!

Repairing rather than buying new is a great way to take climate action in your own life – and learn new skills along the way!

By extending the lifespan of these items, we reduce waste and prevent valuable resources from ending up in landfills. In general, replacement parts will not be provided by the repairers. Any use of materials or parts such batteries, zips etc. will be supplied or paid for by the visitor and brought to event.

Keen to get a sewing kit at home for running repairs?  Pop along and make your own sewing kit.

Free of charge!

Come join a room full of repair inspiration and happy crafters tackling that pile of un-wearables. Learn helpful stitches to repair, and more creative ones through visible mending techniques. A bonus part of repairing is also refashioning, there will be loads of inspiration and examples to look over.

Sarah Sew Love will be hosting you in this 3 hour morning workshop to cruise into your Sunday, soothed by the whirring of sewing machines, slow hand stitching mindfulness, and more of our own clothes returned to the wardrobe to be worn again!

Adults Sewing Class (Age 15+)

BYO machine, but let us know if you don't have one and need to borrow a machine. 

Supplied: 

• Fabric scraps for mending, interfacing, embroidery floss, threads, needles, chalk, pins, irons.  
• Hot tea & treats provided, BYO bevvy of choice!

Get your tickets here

 

How many garments can we repair? It’s a Sew-a-thon!!   Plus join our mini how-to workshops - sewing machine maintenance, darning, basic stitches are more!

Repairing rather than buying new is a great way to take climate action in your own life – and learn new skills along the way!

By extending the lifespan of these items, we reduce waste and prevent valuable resources from ending up in landfills. In general, replacement parts will not be provided by the repairers. Any use of materials or parts such batteries, zips etc. will be supplied or paid for by the visitor and brought to event.

Get your tickets here

Come get sewcial and join a room full of crafters, tackling that repairs pile, getting creative with some refashioning, or start a new project from scratch. 

Sarah Sew Love will be hosting you in this 3 hour evening workshop to wind down the week, hands-on fabrics, connecting with others & learning some new sewing skills. 

Adults Sewing Class (Age 15+)

BYO machine, but let us know if you don't have one and need to borrow a machine. 

Supplied: 

• Fabric scraps for mending, interfacing, embroidery floss, threads, needles, chalk, pins, irons.  
• Hot tea & treats provided, BYO bevvy of choice!

Get your tickets here

 

Join us to learn simple sewing skills including darning, adding a patch, repairing zips and sashiko – the Japanese art of highlighting rips and tears with contrasting thread.

This event is free.

Join Nicola Turner from Mainstream Green for a fun and interactive sustainable wardrobe tour. You'll get a sneak peek into her fashion choices, some good chat about finding your style, and time to have your own personal wardrobe questions answered.

You'll leave armed with lots of easy and practical ways to simplify your wardrobe and be a bit lighter on the planet. You might just save some time and money too.

Once you register you'll receive a Zoom link for the live event at 7.30pm on Monday the 16th of September. If you can't join live, it's all good - we'll share a recording after the event.

We'd love to see you there.

Get your tickets here

 

The Whaaingaroa Repair Café is a free pop-up event where community members can bring in their broken and damaged belongings and local volunteer experts do their best to repair them.

Repairing rather than buying new is a great way to take climate action in your own life – and learn new skills along the way!

By extending the lifespan of these items, we reduce waste and prevent valuable resources from ending up in landfills. In general, replacement parts will not be provided by the repairers. Any use of materials or parts such batteries, zips etc. will be supplied or paid for by the visitor and brought to event.

Join us for an evening of sustainable fashion and style inspiration.

Hosted by professional stylist Caitlin Taylor and renowned sustainability speaker Nicola Turner, get ready to discover real-world tips and practical advice to grow your personal style confidence and curate a simpler, low-impact wardrobe full of clothes you love.

With a passion for keeping it real, Nic will weave sustainable style insights and tips throughout the evening. In her humourous and engaging style, she will show how simple changes to our fashion approach can reduce our impact, save us time and money, and even bring a newfound ease and balance to our lives.

With her celebrated upbeat energy, Caitlin is passionate about using style to grow confidence and empower people.
She will share her '5 steps to style' - a brilliant introduction to style, with a focus on useful tips and tricks for everyday no matter your age, shape, size or budget.

You'll leave the event with a newfound appreciation of the clothes you already own and armed with easy ways to make smart and sustainable style choices. 
Whether you're looking to discover your personal style, simplify your wardrobe, or live a bit lighter on the planet, this event is for you.

Oh and we'll provide some sustainably sourced refreshments and nibbles to add to the vibe. 

Get your tickets here

 

Learn to sew on a simple project, a headband from recycled fabric.

$10 per person – Email syldevlin@gmail.com if you’d like to have a go.

Upcycle and repurpose second-hand clothing, reducing textile waste in landfill.