Published 24 October 2017

The sharing economy

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.

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 Cardholders 

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