Community Art Walls
Blank walls are boring. We give our community—especially our rangatahi—the canvas and the paint to tell their stories. From vibrant murals that celebrate our local history to abstract pieces that just make you smile, these art projects transform grey spaces into galleries everyone can enjoy.
Our youth art workshops bring together young people who might never pick up a brush otherwise. Under the guidance of local artists, they learn techniques, build confidence, and leave their mark on Raetihi. The walls speak for themselves, but the real magic is watching quiet kids find their voice through colour.
DIY Maker Workshops
Remember when people actually knew how to fix things? We're bringing that back. Our maker workshops teach practical skills that save money, reduce waste, and give people the confidence to have a go. Woodworking, basic mechanics, upholstery, composting, preserving—if it's useful and hands-on, we're into it.
These aren't stuffy classes with textbooks. They're casual, friendly sessions where experienced volunteers share their knowledge over a cuppa. You'll leave with something you've made yourself and the skills to keep creating. Whether you're building a raised garden bed or repairing a broken chair, there's nothing quite like the satisfaction of saying "I did that myself."
Community Garden Network
This is where Grubby Hands Trust began—turning neglected dirt into productive, beautiful growing spaces. Our community gardens aren't just about vegetables (though we grow plenty of those). They're about neighbors working side by side, kids learning where food comes from, and everyone sharing in the harvest.
We've transformed forgotten corners of Raetihi into thriving food forests and veggie patches. From preparing the soil to planting seedlings to sharing recipes for the bounty, these gardens connect people to the land and to each other. There's something deeply satisfying about eating a salad you grew with your own hands in soil you helped prepare.
Youth-Led Initiatives
Our young people aren't the leaders of tomorrow—they're leaders right now. We support rangatahi to dream up and run their own community projects. They choose the kaupapa, make the decisions, and get stuck in. We're just there to help with the logistics and cheer them on.
From organizing cleanup drives to running fundraisers for local causes, these young people are proving that age is no barrier to making real change. They bring energy, fresh ideas, and a perspective that challenges us oldies to think differently. Watching them grow in confidence and capability? That's what it's all about.
Land & Water Restoration
The Ruapehu District is stunning, and we're committed to keeping it that way for future generations. Our environmental work includes planting native trees, removing invasive weeds, cleaning up waterways, and restoring natural habitats. It's hard yakka, but incredibly rewarding.
We partner with local schools, iwi, and landowners to tackle restoration projects that make a real difference. Whether we're spending a morning picking up rubbish along the river or a weekend planting hundreds of natives on a hillside, every bit of mahi brings our landscape back to health. Aotearoa deserves nothing less than our best effort.
Repair Café & Upcycling Hub
In a throwaway culture, we're rebels with a cause. Our monthly repair cafés bring together people with broken items and volunteers with the skills to fix them. Clothing, appliances, furniture, electronics—if it can be repaired, we'll give it a crack. It's free, friendly, and surprisingly fun.
Beyond repairs, we run upcycling workshops where "rubbish" becomes treasure. Old pallets become garden furniture. Worn jeans become bags. Broken crockery becomes mosaic art. We're proving that waste is just a failure of imagination. Plus, there's something deeply satisfying about keeping good things out of the landfill while building connections with your neighbors.