From Makerspace Offcuts to Opportunity
What if today’s scraps could become tomorrow’s creative project? At the Makerspace within Te Āhuru Mōwai, that idea has come to life one plywood offcut at a time. In partnership with Enviroschools, materials once destined straight for landfill are being reused as tools for creativity in early childhood centres.
The Makerspace’s busy laser cutter generates a steady stream of plywood scraps. Instead of throwing them away, the team collects the offcuts in a dedicated bin, ready for Kristi Whittaker, ECE Enviroschools Facilitator to pick up and redistribute throughout the Enviroschools network.
Stew Wilson, Makerspace Specialist, says the collaboration is a natural fit. “We are always looking at ways to reduce waste in the Makerspace. Knowing our offcuts can inspire creativity in early childhood centres instead of heading straight to the landfill makes it a win. It’s about seeing potential where others might see scrap.”
Kristi Whittaker agrees. “This partnership shows tamariki that sustainability isn’t just a concept it’s something we can practice every day. By reusing these materials in projects, children learn that resources have value and that caring for the environment can be hands on, imaginative and fun.”
One standout project saw children use the offcuts to help create reusable paper mâché Christmas ornaments embedded with vegetable seeds. After the festive season, families were encouraged to soak the decorations in water, sprout the seeds, then plant them in the garden extending the life of both the artwork and the learning.
Centres involved in the project included Lytton Street Tui Early Learning (Feilding), Massey Childcare, Albert Street Tui Early Learning (Palmerston North), and Learning Adventures Ashhurst. The seed-embedded ornaments were also shared with the wider community at the Hakeke Street Community Christmas in the Park Day in Whanganui.
By turning scrap into opportunity, this simple collaboration nurtures creativity and environmental awareness in the next generation across the Manawatū District and beyond.
Photo of an early childhood teacher showing children how to use the offcuts to create reusable paper mâché Christmas ornaments embedded with vegetable seeds.
Photo of the Makerspace offcuts ready to be repurposed as a creative project.
The Makerspace laser cutter is a computer-controlled machine that uses a concentrated beam of light to cut or engrave various materials.