Interest in a Christchurch Hackerspace?

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Andrew Starr

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Oct 14, 2011, 7:42:08 PM10/14/11
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Hi everyone,

Is there any interest out there to start up another Christchurch
hackerspace along the lines of Spacecraft?

I am an electronics engineer living in Christchurch, and I have an
electronics/physics project I've been mulling over for quite some
time. It would be great to have a place I could go and work on it, in
the company of like-minded people working on interesting stuff.

I realise it's probably going to be difficult locating a suitable
space, but I'm thinking that if we can get a dozen people together,
that should make the monthly rental of a small warehouse or lockup
feasible.

Crossposted on the TVIC forum.

Cheers

Robert Urquhart

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Oct 16, 2011, 12:00:25 AM10/16/11
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Hi all,

spacewise I'm just back from a look around a certain disused large brick
facility on Riccarton road with the initials A.H., and Spacecraft was
going through my mind - there may be some possibilities there but there
are also hurdles to be overcome.

Robert U.

Hippie Tim

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Oct 16, 2011, 12:12:49 AM10/16/11
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I'm well and truly interested and also currently looking for warehouse space for a large art installation to be built over summer.

I also have a warehouse space in mind out in Papanui but it's quite large and also has a few hurdles, but the space has amazing potential and is in no hurry of being used for anything else.

Hippie.

International Arts Megacrew - Temple of Transition: temple2011.org

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follower

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Oct 16, 2011, 12:39:15 AM10/16/11
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On 15 October 2011 21:12, Hippie Tim <fuzzy...@gmail.com> wrote:
> International Arts Megacrew - Temple of Transition: temple2011.org
Slightly off-topic: are you part of IAM? I was at BM this year for the
first time... :)

Slightly on-topic: it would be cool to see something like this
happening again... Christchurch probably needs this now more than
ever...

--Philip;

inertial

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Oct 16, 2011, 12:43:21 AM10/16/11
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Hi Guys,

Lemming from Hackerspace Brisbane here, It's great to see this list becoming active again and I really hope you guys can get it up and running.

If there is anything I can do to help or advice I can give lemme know and I will respond asap.

Cheers,

Lemming
HSBNE President.

P.s. I'm originally from just outside Christchurch (Diamond Harbour) but have been in Australia since 1989.

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Hippie Tim

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Oct 16, 2011, 1:19:47 AM10/16/11
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OT: Yep, spent 3 months building the beast and was one of the leads for the project. Aint home a great place :)

I'm back in the country in mid November and would love to be involved, maybe we could arrange a meeting somewhere sometime with skype in capabilities so those of us who are geographically challenged for now can muck in.

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ke...@manukadesign.co.nz

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Oct 16, 2011, 1:06:09 AM10/16/11
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I would suggest sending an email thru to the Chch Robotics List as
well. You should be able to find their list addy on the site:
http://kiwibots.org/

Kerry

Marek Kuziel

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Oct 16, 2011, 5:29:45 PM10/16/11
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Hi guys,

I've been in touch with Richard from http://www.makers.org.nz/ who is
setting up a maker space in Wellington.

We've discussed a conversion of 40ft shipping container and turning it
into a maker space lab here in Christchurch. The project is in a
scoping stage and I am hoping we could get a bit of funding to get the
project up and running.

One side of the project I would like to figure out is who is going to
"carry a torch" to make the project sustainable in a long run. Apart
from that, there is a few other questions:

- what should be organisation structure? do we need one?
- what about safety in such environment (ie. using tools that should
be operated by persons who know what they are doing)?
- how to control access to the lab?
- how to pay for new tools? donations?
- how to do training for people who have no experience working in a lab at all?

Cheers,
Marek

Marek Kuziel  <ma...@kuziel.infohttp://kuziel.info/
Phone: +64 3 3325949  Mobile: +64 21 1727255
Skype: vshivak  GTalk: marek....@gmail.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/marekkuziel
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marek.kuziel

Charles Manning

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Oct 16, 2011, 6:54:26 PM10/16/11
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These are not independent questions and some also depend on the other
big question: where.

I suggest starting with a definition of the scope first and then that
will define how complex things will be.

If it is on private land then that could answer some of the questions.
Liability would fall on the property owner if it is on private land
and there are insufficient waivers etc in place.

The level of training will also depend on what you consider a lab to
be. A few simple tools is pretty low-key and can be quite informal and
people will donate spare tools. It gets a lot more serious if you have
welding kit, table saws, lathes etc.

Marek

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Oct 16, 2011, 7:46:47 PM10/16/11
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In terms of where for the 40ft container converted into a lab. I am
following up a lead to be able to place the container lab at the
University of Canterbury. It isn't 100% sure we can do this, however,
a lead is better than nothing.

On Oct 17, 11:54 am, Charles Manning <cdhmann...@gmail.com> wrote:
> These are not independent questions and some also depend on the other
> big question: where.
>
> I suggest starting with a definition of the scope first and then that
> will define how complex things will be.
>
> If it is on private land then that could answer some of the questions.
> Liability would fall on the property owner if it is on private land
> and there are insufficient waivers etc in place.
>
> The level of training will also depend on what you consider a lab to
> be. A few simple tools is pretty low-key and can be quite informal and
> people will donate spare tools. It gets a lot more serious if you have
> welding kit, table saws, lathes etc.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Oct 17, 2011 at 10:29 AM, Marek Kuziel <marek.kuz...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi guys,
>
> > I've been in touch with Richard fromhttp://www.makers.org.nz/who is
> > setting up a maker space in Wellington.
>
> > We've discussed a conversion of 40ft shipping container and turning it
> > into a maker space lab here in Christchurch. The project is in a
> > scoping stage and I am hoping we could get a bit of funding to get the
> > project up and running.
>
> > One side of the project I would like to figure out is who is going to
> > "carry a torch" to make the project sustainable in a long run. Apart
> > from that, there is a few other questions:
>
> > - what should be organisation structure? do we need one?
> > - what about safety in such environment (ie. using tools that should
> > be operated by persons who know what they are doing)?
> > - how to control access to the lab?
> > - how to pay for new tools? donations?
> > - how to do training for people who have no experience working in a lab at all?
>
> > Cheers,
> > Marek
>
> > Marek Kuziel  <ma...@kuziel.infohttp://kuziel.info/
> > Phone: +64 3 3325949  Mobile: +64 21 1727255
> > Skype: vshivak  GTalk: marek.kuz...@gmail.com
> > On Sat, Oct 15, 2011 at 12:42 PM, Andrew Starr <ajst...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Hi everyone,
>
> >> Is there any interest out there to start up another Christchurch
> >> hackerspace along the lines of Spacecraft?
>
> >> I am an electronics engineer living in Christchurch, and I have an
> >> electronics/physics project I've been mulling over for quite some
> >> time. It would be great to have a place I could go and work on it, in
> >> the company of like-minded people working on interesting stuff.
>
> >> I realise it's probably going to be difficult locating a suitable
> >> space, but I'm thinking that if we can get a dozen people together,
> >> that should make the monthly rental of a small warehouse or lockup
> >> feasible.
>
> >> Crossposted on the TVIC forum.
>
> >> Cheers
>
> >> --
> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Spacecraft" group.
> >> To post to this group, send an email to chch...@googlegroups.com.
> >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to chchspace+...@googlegroups.com.
> >> For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/group/chchspace?hl=en-GB.

Andrew Starr

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Oct 16, 2011, 7:51:46 PM10/16/11
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Hi Kerry, excellent idea - reposted on the list last night

On Oct 16, 6:06 pm, ke...@manukadesign.co.nz wrote:
> I would suggest sending an email thru to the Chch Robotics List as  
> well. You should be able to find their list addy on the site:  http://kiwibots.org/
>
> Kerry
>
> Quoting inertial <inert...@gmail.com>:
>
> > Hi Guys,
>
> > Lemming from Hackerspace Brisbane here, It's great to see this list becoming
> > active again and I really hope you guys can get it up and running.
>
> > If there is anything I can do to help or advice I can give lemme know and I
> > will respond asap.
>
> > Cheers,
>
> > Lemming
> > HSBNE President.
>
> > P.s. I'm originally from just outside Christchurch (Diamond Harbour) but
> > have been in Australia since 1989.
>
> > On 16 October 2011 14:39, follower <follo...@rancidbacon.com> wrote:

Andrew Starr

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Oct 16, 2011, 7:59:08 PM10/16/11
to Spacecraft
Hi Marek,

It sounds to me like there are 2 different, but likely complementary
ideas here: a social-type space for low-key activities such as
electronics,software and craft, and another space for full-on
mechanical workshop type activities. I'm mostly interested in the
former but if there is sufficient support I think the 2 spaces could
complement each other to a large degree.

Dave Mateer

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Oct 16, 2011, 3:11:30 PM10/16/11
to chch...@googlegroups.com
Hi Andrew and everyone

I'm one of the organisers of the .NET Users group in Chch... Jade helped us out with space for a while, but they are moving buildings.  We've got a meeting at HP's place next week.  Other ideas for venues are:  NZi3 building at the uni.  Give me a bell/email if you want me to look into it for you.

Cheers

Dave 



Quoting inertial <iner...@gmail.com>:


For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/chchspace?hl=en-GB.



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Andrew Starr

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Oct 16, 2011, 8:01:35 PM10/16/11
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Hi Tim and Robert,

What hurdles do you have in mind regarding your respective spaces? Are
they financial, physical, other?

On Oct 16, 5:12 pm, Hippie Tim <fuzzy.d...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm well and truly interested and also currently looking for warehouse space
> for a large art installation to be built over summer.
>
> I also have a warehouse space in mind out in Papanui but it's quite large
> and also has a few hurdles, but the space has amazing potential and is in no
> hurry of being used for anything else.
>
> Hippie.
>
> International Arts Megacrew - Temple of Transition: temple2011.org
>
> On Sat, Oct 15, 2011 at 9:00 PM, Robert Urquhart <r.a.urquh...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
> > Hi all,
>
> > spacewise I'm just back from a look around a certain disused large brick
> > facility on Riccarton road with the initials A.H., and Spacecraft was going
> > through my mind - there may be some possibilities there but there are also
> > hurdles to be overcome.
>
> >  Robert U.
>
> > On Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:42:08 +1300, Andrew Starr <ajst...@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
>
> >  Hi everyone,
>
> >> Is there any interest out there to start up another Christchurch
> >> hackerspace along the lines of Spacecraft?
>
> >> I am an electronics engineer living in Christchurch, and I have an
> >> electronics/physics project I've been mulling over for quite some
> >> time. It would be great to have a place I could go and work on it, in
> >> the company of like-minded people working on interesting stuff.
>
> >> I realise it's probably going to be difficult locating a suitable
> >> space, but I'm thinking that if we can get a dozen people together,
> >> that should make the monthly rental of a small warehouse or lockup
> >> feasible.
>
> >> Crossposted on the TVIC forum.
>
> >> Cheers
>
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> > "Spacecraft" group.
> > To post to this group, send an email to chch...@googlegroups.com.
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to chchspace+unsubscribe@**
> > googlegroups.com <chchspace%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com>.
> > For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/**
> > group/chchspace?hl=en-GB<http://groups.google.com/group/chchspace?hl=en-GB>
> > .

Robert Ramsay

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Oct 16, 2011, 8:41:32 PM10/16/11
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Hi Marek,

I'm not sure if you're thinking of placing the container in an empty lot, or making moving it around the city (serving different neighborhoods), but either way I'd have a chat with the GapFiller group [1]. They have a lot of experience putting on gatherings in those spaces (security, power, toilets, dealing with landowners), and could probably help.

They also have a list of empty sites in Christchurch; the kind of place you could drop down a shipping container.

I also remember Pete (@aupajo) being really excited about this video [2]  showing a multi-purpose, transforming room, which might be one solution to the problem of wanting two different spaces -- especially if on e was only used sporadically.

Rob

[1]: www.gapfiller.org.nz
[2]: http://img.youtube.com/vi/Lg9qnWg9kak/defualt.jpg

--
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w: www.rob.ramsay.cc
t: @robramsaynz
e: robert.ramsay.nz@gmail.com

Marek

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Oct 16, 2011, 8:51:40 PM10/16/11
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@Andrew, yes, sounds like we're talking about two separate ideas.
Proper lab is what I would like to do.

@Rob, thanks for the links! Gapfiller sounds promising. Moving a 40ft
around the city isn't that difficult. I have experience in that.
Access to services is a different story so their experience would
really help.

Marek

On Oct 17, 1:41 pm, Robert Ramsay <robert.ramsay...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Marek,
>
> I'm not sure if you're thinking of placing the container in an empty lot, or
> making moving it around the city (serving different neighborhoods), but
> either way I'd have a chat with the GapFiller group [1]. They have a lot of
> experience putting on gatherings in those spaces (security, power, toilets,
> dealing with landowners), and could probably help.
>
> They also have a list of empty sites in Christchurch; the kind of place you
> could drop down a shipping container.
>
> I also remember Pete (@aupajo) being really excited about this video [2]
> showing a multi-purpose, transforming room, which might be one solution to
> the problem of wanting two different spaces -- especially if on e was only
> used sporadically.
>
> Rob
>
> [1]:www.gapfiller.org.nz
> [2]:http://img.youtube.com/vi/Lg9qnWg9kak/defualt.jpg
>
> --
> *Rob Ramsay*
> w:www.rob.ramsay.cc
> t: @robramsaynz
> e: robert.ramsay...@gmail.com

Richard Fortune (MakerOrgNz)

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Oct 16, 2011, 9:30:37 PM10/16/11
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Just a short reply, the idea of two spaces (or more) makes absolute
sense. The closer to the city center the better for social spaces.
Obviously where space is required, such is the case with more
industrial spaces, then the cheaper rents/spaces outside the city
perimeter make the most sense.

The cargo container is part of a wider (ideally national) project,
where we can setup a maker "spore" in a given location and use it to
grow the maker movement there. I'm particularly interested in ChCh due
to the fact that a well equipped maker space could really help down
there right now. Either through helping further resilience or act as a
focal point for doer's such as yourselves who gravitate towards these
kinds of spaces. The trick here is to lead by example. The container-
space is just one robust and somewhat portable response to this.

Please feel free to get in touch if this project is of interest to
you.
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