About

Objectives

  • To foster the enjoyment of crafting projects in wood
  • To promote safety and safe practices in all woodworking activities
  • To share skills and knowledge freely among members and the community
  • To provide training through one on one guidance as well as workshop events
  • To promote the Guild's activities via annual shows
  • To develop skills and enthusiasm for woodworking through the schools programmes

History

The genesis of the Guild began in 1986 when Ken Sagar and Jack Bennett decided to form a woodworkers club in Tauranga and on the 17th of April 1987, the inaugural meeting was held in the St Johns Ambulance hall. Subsequent meetings were held in Lindsay Dunstan's packing shed on Cameron Road and then to Bay of Plenty Polytechnic in 1988, the Bible Chapel in Otumoetai and then clubrooms in Pemberton Park. There was clearly a need for a dedicated facility, and in 2014, construction began of our present workshop at 3 Cherokee Place, Mount Maunganui which was completed in May 2015. The Guild has been a registered Incorporated Society with Charitable Status since September 2012.

 

Site Prep.

Excavation of our current Workshop site got underway in September 2014.

Erection

Erection & fixing of the frames for Stage 1 began in October 2014.

Internals

Work on the Stage 1 building internals was underway in December 2014.

Review

With the building envelope complete, members did an inspection.

Fitout

Equipment and machinery was installed and the workshop was ready for use in May 2015.

Past Projects

Toys for Christmas

We have helped Santa Claus with his production for many years. Toiling away in their individual workshops, members have produced a great variety of toys to light up small faces on Christmas morn.

Otumoetai historic Pa Site Gate Project

The Guild undertook restoration work of the 'antique' main gate and constructed an associated picket fence at the Historic 'Otumoetai Pa' Site, which is located at the beginning of Levers Road in Tauranga.

Sawmill Visit

From time to time members make day trips to interesting sites. Here are some pictures of a day trip Guild members made to Scotts native timber sawmill at Oropi and then at Graham Keheley's farm at Oropi in 2014.