Open Day Celebration

On Saturday December 3rd we are celebrating with our community. All our volunteers and supporters are invited to join us.

Together we have given out over 2000 bikes! We have opened a cool new workshop. And we want to farewell Tessa from her coordinator role.

Join us from 3pm – 5pm for a kids bike rodeo and workshop tours.

At 5pm we will be having the official opening and welcome.

From 5.30pm we will be serving kai (vegetarian/gluten-free options available – but please let us know if you have other requirements).

UPDATE: we’ve decided to postpone the hāngī as this requires a bit more certainty than we have this time of year (and with rising numbers of Covid cases again). We’ll still serve up some warm kai but no pre-orders are necessary.

If it rains, we may have to re-schedule or re-locate the open day. Updates will be posted on our facebook page .

Regional Bike Hub Facilitator role

Featured

ReBicycle EkeRua has an exciting new opportunity to join our team. Please share with anyone who may be interested.

Bike hub regional facilitator role available – contract for services

ReBicycle EkeRua is looking for a part-time contractor for our Climate Action Fund (CAF) partnership with USO Bike Ride and Greater Wellington.

The role will be approximately 10 hours per week for 50 weeks initially. Starting ASAP.

The facilitator would work with existing and aspiring bike hubs (libraries, workshops, any bike not-for-profit) to help coordinate and share resources better across the region. Tasks may include: sourcing sponsorship, funding, and bulk purchase deals, redistributing resources, social media, coordinating volunteers or helping set up new hubs.

They will also work with the Pedal Ready team and other partners to coordinate fix up events for the Bike Fix Up Van.

This role is about building relationships, identifying needs and problem solving.

About the CAF Bikes for Everyone project(s):

The overall aim is to improve access to safe working bikes for people around the region, with a focus on low income communities, to lower carbon emissions and improve transport resilience.
Other parts of the project include the Bike Fix up Van – which will aim to deliver 40 fix ups around the region annually and the Eastern Porirua Bike Hub which USO Bike Ride are leading on.

Rate will be $35-$40 per hour depending on experience

Email: info@rebicycle.nz for more info, to arrange a chat or to send in your cover letter and a simple CV/outline of your skills and experience.

Full job description below:

rebicycle-bike-hub-regional-facilitator-jd-final Download

New project and fundraising manager role!

Last year we were very fortunate to get a one-off grant from Wellington City Council’s Climate and Sustainability fund to super charge our project management and fundraising for a year. This new fixed term contractor role will take over the day to day coordination of our workshop, volunteers and bike recipients. But also be responsible for developing and implementing a plan to make us more self-sustaining – through donations, sponsors, partnerships and bike sales.

It’s a big task but an exciting one!

The highlights:

competitive pay $46p/h plus expenses
flexible hours, work from home, about 15-20 hours a week
48 week contract
work with an amazing range of people and all the feel good factors that come with this mahi
a workplace that loves diversity, and values health and wellbeing

A typical day may look like this:

Checking emails and messages and responding to any queries
Updating the bike/recipient spreadsheet
Liaising with contractors or volunteers to arrange bike pickups and drop offs
Preparing for a fix up by matching donated bikes with recipients and prioritising what gets fixed
Ensuring someone (if not you) is available to supervise at a fix up
Promoting upcoming events, supporters, requests, or fundraisers on social media
Talking to potential sponsors, donors, media, or partners to establish ongoing relationships

If you – or someone you know – is interested, please take a look at the role description below. Send your CV and cover letter to info@rebicycle.nz by 17th Feb. We’ll be meeting with people as we go, so get in early!

ekerua-project-manager-2023-jd Download

Big news –

Ngā mihi
A huge thanks from our team to Hopper Home who have hosted our workshop for close to six months. We’ll be there until at least mid-July. We’ve loved being so close to town and in such a vibrant space. Who knows what the future may hold, but we hope to continue supporting your events and mahi!
We also want to thank the Raukawa Community Centre who have looked after our storage container and hosted some pop up fix ups. We love this community so much and you know we’re never far away!

Mid-winter update

Winter is a bit quieter on the bike demand side of things, so we’ve been busy rolling out our Climate Action Fund project and looking for new opportunities. All our updates and news below.
Under Covid Alert levels 3 and 4 our workshop will be closed to volunteers and the public. Under level 2, please check our Facebook page for updates to our workshop hours and ways of working.
Kia haumaru, e hoa mā! | Be safe friends!

Facilitator Role
ReBicycle EkeRua has an exciting new opportunity to join our team.

Bike hub regional facilitator role available – contract for services
ReBicycle EkeRua is looking for a part-time contractor for our Climate Action Fund (CAF) partnership with USO Bike Ride and Greater Wellington.
The role will be approximately 10 hours per week for 50 weeks initially. Starting ASAP.
The facilitator would work with existing and aspiring bike hubs (libraries, workshops, any bike not-for-profit) to help coordinate and share resources better across the region. More info here.

About the CAF Bikes for Everyone project(s):The overall aim is to improve access to safe working bikes for people around the region, with a focus on low income communities, to lower carbon emissions and improve transport resilience.Other parts of the project include the Bike Fix up Van – which will aim to deliver 40 fix ups around the region annually and the Eastern Porirua Bike Hub which USO Bike Ride are leading on.If you’re interested in this role, please tell us a bit about yourself.

Our Bike Fix up Van is (almost) go!
Later this week – all going well – we will pick up our brand new electric van! Funded by Wellington Community Trust, this will enable us to significantly lower our emissions.
The irony of a bike charity needing to drive is not lost on us! Already Tessa does as many pick ups and deliveries as possible with her cargobike and trailer combo, but when we’re picking up 8 bikes from Karori, or dropping off half a dozen in the Hutt Valley, a car is sometimes the best option.
Teaser: we’ll be running a drawing competition for the kids to help make our van beautiful and keep an eye on our facebook page for a request for name ideas! Apparently Vanny McVanFace is not original enough!

Bikes bikes bikes
Winter has been slightly quieter but we’re still receiving, fixing up and re-homing a steady stream of bikes. Donations of time, parts, funds and bikes are always welcome. Our container is currently very full so if you can take a few bikes home to fix up, let us know.

After a winter holiday in Naenae, the portable pump track is back at St Anthony’s in Seatoun. Next term we’re hoping to find a spot at Newtown School for it. If you have connections with a Wellington school (preferably Eastern Suburbs) who may be interested, get in touch.

Until the end of October, our workshop is open Wednesdays, from 6-8pm. 234 Riddiford St, Newtown.

Find Out More

https://mailchi.mp/e6d6c42b8bd2/rolling-out-our-big-projects

March 2021 Big News!

Thanks to your support,
ReBicycle EkeRua is about to get bigger and better!

We’ve got two big announcements to make. Neither of these would be possible without our incredible coordinator, Tessa, and the support of our ReBicycle EkeRua whānau, donors, volunteers and supporters. So firstly we’d like to thank you all for helping us build this little project into something quite special!

On the Go Supreme Award winners.
We were very excited and humbled to be awarded the Community award, for outstanding contribution to making communities more people-friendly, at the biannual 2Walk and Cycle conference.
And then completely blown away to also be awarded the Supreme Award, “for their energy and innovation into making active travel a safer and more attractive transport choice for people”.
This is an awesome recognition for our whole team, as it truly is a team effort, and we are incredibly grateful to have so many generous and talented people join us on this important mahi.

Wellington Community Trust climate fund.
Our second bit of news is even more exciting! On Friday we got the very exciting news that our application to WCTs new climate fund has been accepted! This signals a massive step forward for us and our bike library/workshop friends around the region.

Our proposal had three parts to it:
1. Creating a facilitator role, who can help the various libraries and workshops share resources, reach more people, and help create sponsorship opportunities for funding parts and other essentials items.
2. Supporting USO Bike Ride to build a bike hub and cycling culture in Eastern Porirua.
3. Funding an electric “fix up” van and part-time mechanic to run bike fix ups at schools and events around the region.

We hope these projects are going to be a game changer at making cycling a more accessible and acceptable mode of transport, and building resilience in our lower income communities.

Again, it’s very humbling that we’ve been entrusted with this role. We’re very excited to be working with USO Bike Ride and Greater Wellington over the next three years to make these ideas a reality.

Business as usual.
Of course, our workshop has been busy as usual, in the capable hands of Tessa and our new coordinator, Emma, who is helping us out during the busy summer season.
We’ve fixed up and re-homed almost 100 bikes already this year, with 39 going out during March alone!
And since starting this journey, almost 2000 bikes have been donated to us by the generous people of Wellington!
Our bike rodeo has been very busy over summer, attending events in Featherston, Upper Hutt and at schools around Wellington. We’re working more closely with the Pedal Ready cycle skills team to ensure these events have the best possible instructors available to challenge and create fun for tamariki.
The portable pump track has been incredibly popular at Kahurangi School, and the tamariki at Holy Cross and Newtown schools are looking forward to it coming there way later this year.
As always, our workshop is open Wednesdays, from 6-8pm. 234 Riddiford St, Newtown.

ReBicycle newsletter Dec 2020

Haere mai, nau mai!
Kia ora koutou katoa,
We hope our final newsletter of 2020 finds you looking forward to a well-deserved holiday/rest! It’s been a big year for everyone with plenty of challenges along the way. Despite this, we’ve been blessed with a wide range of support, and we were able to add a pump track and e-cargobike to our fleet, as well as continue the dirty work of fixing up bikes.
We want to send out our heartfelt thanks to all of you, for your āwhina (support), your mahi (work), your aroha (love), and your koha (donations).

Ma tini ma mano ka rapa te whai.
By many, by thousands, the work (project) will be accomplished.

Meri Kirihimete me Ngā Mihi o te Tau Hou!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Workshop hours and Covid operation
Tonight is our last fix up of the year. We will have some shared kai at the end of the evening to celebrate a big year.
We will be back on the 20th of January.

Our workshop has been back in post-Covid normal operation under Level 2 and level 1. There’s QR codes and sign in sheets for those who continue to keep track of their movements and hand washing facilities on sight.
We are open from 6-8pm every Wednesday and welcome any volunteers who want to help out, either fixing bikes or with logistics (e.g. labelling bikes, helping clients, entertaining kids, etc.). Ask for Tessa, Leah or Hils.

We need your help!
Can you spare an hour a month? Time is precious and we know not everyone has time to spare but could you spare an hours pay?
2020 has been a rough year for most of us. And we’re seeing more people struggling. Many families have lost income and are trying to save money on transport costs. We continue to do our best to provide those in need with a good working bike.
To be sustainable we need a few more regular donors. For only $20-50 a month you can help keep our awesome little project rolling. Read more here and please share if you’re not in a position to give right now.

Other ways you can help
There’s a number of ways you can help.
We’re currently focusing on our core business of getting bikes to people who need them, so these are the best ways to help:
Volunteer – We can only give out bikes that have been fixed up and checked. We also need help at fix ups managing donations and giving out bikes, doing admin and occasionally with pick ups or deliveries. Please get in touch if you have spare time or can help in some way.
One off donations – $7-$70: buys one to ten sets of lights to give to people who are commuting by bike. These are rechargeable LEDS that exceed the legal requirements and last about 10 hours on a charge. $30-40: pays for a qualified Pedal Ready instructor to give an hour long one on one lesson to a new rider or group.
Donations of bikes, tools, spare parts (usable) and time!
You can donate directly to our account (no fees charged):
Account name: RE-BICYCLE CHARITABLE TRUST
Account number: 38-9018-0109320-00
Or via Give a Little (some fees but less admin as they email you a receipt directly)
All donations are gratefully accepted. For tax receipts (we’re a registered charity so they are tax deductible) please email us with your details.

ReBicycle EkeRua celebrates reopening with 6-bike donation

One of the first deliveries ReBicycle EkeRua made to celebrate its reopening from the national lockdown was also one of the largest ever made to one family.

Six members of one family – Myint Khing, Htoo Lwee, Phyin Eit Eit, Ngae Ngae, Khing Lay Hytoo and Lwee Myint Htoo – were given a free, reconditioned, recycled bike.

The smiling family (pictured), who live in Porirua, came as refugees from Myanmar to Aotearoa five years ago.

“This is what ReBicycle EkeRua is all about – helping families improve their lives, get out on bikes, and have fun,” ReBicycle EkeRua co-ordinator Tessa Coppard said.

“The lockdown has taught everyone the importance of biking for multiple reasons – fun, family time, exercise, health and transport. “

Myint Khing said the family would use the bikes for recreation, visiting relatives and friends, and going to school.

ReBicycle EkeRua reopened its workshop for fixing donated bikes with the move to Level 2 under restrictions and with a strict safety plan.

Tessa says that with a good prospect of Aotearoa moving to Level 1 soon, the workshop will hopefully again be open to all-comers.

“It’s great we are already back to renovating bikes and getting them out to families who need them, so they can enjoy the same kind of fun many of us have had during the lockdown.”

Ready Set Ride! Runner bike event.

Runner bikes, balance bikes, striders – whatever you call them, they’re a great way for kids to gain balance and agility and get ready for a pedal bike. Plus they’re so much fun.

You may have seen the intense strider races in Japan or the more sedate race pace in Birmingham – rest assured this will be nothing like those!

We’ll have an indoor circuit with some ramps and cones to challenge the kids. They can do as many laps as they want at whatever speed they like. If there are any keen for a proper race we’ll do our best to put one together towards the end of the session. But other than that, this is just a chance to have a fun time on a neat course. There will be a few spare bikes and plenty of spare helmets, but bring your own if you don’t want to miss out. Spot prizes for a few lucky ones and certificates for all participants.

Children must be supervised.
Helmets must be worn and preferably footwear with covered toes
No pedal bikes on the course. Scooters may be allowed during ‘practice sessions’

Upcoming Bike Rodeos

As part of Kia Eke Paihikara Tātou | Greater Welly Bike Fest we are hosting a number of bike rodeos together with our partners at Pedal Ready and local community organisations.

This page will be updated with all the details.

EkeRua ReBicycle

Recycling pre-loved bikes to make cycling accessible for more Wellingtonians