"Blokes and blokesses" now have "The Shed" to work in, after a meeting in Oamaru on Saturday decided to set up a community shed in buildings offered rent-free at the Oamaru Harbour by the Waitaki District Council.
About 30 people attended the meeting, including 10 children who wanted to start on a community project turning a historic fishing boat into equipment for new playgrounds at the harbour.
Organised by Oamaru businessman John Walker, the concept is based on similar community and blokes' sheds set up in other parts of New Zealand.
But both Mr Walker and those at the meeting emphasised it was "gender neutral" - "blokesses" were also welcome.
Mr Walker outlined the project to set up a place where people could gather for friendship and set up work spaces to work on their own projects and be involved in community projects.
Those at the meeting had a wide range of skills, including mechanics, joiners, carpenters, retired farmers, builders, electricians and people who just wanted to be involved.
They also agreed it should be called The Shed and rules be kept simple.
A steering committee of Mr Walker, Terry Gloistein, Don Kendall and Luke Smyth will now work through the process to formally establish the group.
Already, it has been offered tools and plant to equip the shed, including an offer from an Oamaru woman who has donated all her late husbands tools.
Offers of machinery such as saws and planes had also been made.
One of the first tasks will be to get The Shed ready and move in tools and machinery that had been offered.
Mr Walker urged others who wanted to be part of The Shed to contact committee members.
