Building a community

21 Jan 2015

If you’re passing through Northland this week, watch out for the making of an exciting new outdoor community space in Kaikohe.

With Resene as paint sponsor and led by furniture brand Arco, the space promises to be a beautiful site – including a living plant wall illustrated with botanical medicinal and edible plants, painted by the town’s rangatahi (youth).

The outdoor space has been designed by the rangatahi, based around the Maori myth Tane and the three kete of knowledge, and will also include a series of learning pods.

Arco was created by three NZ designers, whose Arco Workshops aim to create training and employment opportunities for rangatahi through the design, production and sale of beautiful wooden furniture.

Its location in Kaikohe, a town abundant with forestry plantation, means Arco and the community are able to keep materials mostly local.

The Kaikohe Kete Community Build takes place this week, until 23 January. Visit www.arcoworkshops.com for more information.

Published: 21 Jan 2015