Six Months In – Come and See What’s on the Shelves
We’ve just reached six months of trading as a community Resource Recovery Centre — and what a six months it’s been.
Step onto the shop floor and you’ll see what this place is really about. It’s constantly changing. No two visits are the same. And that’s all thanks to the people who bring items in, and the people who come through the doors looking for something a little different.
We’ve had some incredible contributions from local businesses. A local company recently brought in paint — and lots of it — giving new life to surplus stock that’s now heading home with community members for their own projects. A plumbing business cleared out years of PVC offcuts, and we can barely keep them on the shelves — they “fly out the door” to makers, fixers, and DIYers. And when a building company removed a house lot of windows, they chose to bring them here — turning what could have been waste into opportunity for someone else’s build or renovation.
That’s the magic of this place.
Of course, none of it works without the people behind the scenes. Our staff and volunteers sort, test, clean, and display items every day, making sure the shop is welcoming, practical, and full of possibility. Our trustees, past and present, have helped guide and grow this vision into something the whole community can share.
And then there’s you — the browsers, the buyers, the curious visitors. The ones who pop in “just to have a look” and leave with something unexpected. Every purchase helps keep resources in use and supports this growing community space.
We’re also grateful for the ongoing support from local council staff and the wider network of resource recovery centres across the district. It’s a team effort, and we’re proud to be part of it.
If you haven’t visited in a while — or at all — now’s the time.
Come in and have a wander. You might find paint for your next project, materials for something creative, or exactly the thing you didn’t know you needed.
Six months in, the shelves are full, the doors are open, and there’s plenty more to discover.
See you soon.
Tracey Bell - Wāhi Tukurua Chairperson
