Initially established in Christchurch as a response to the mass demolition of damaged homes, Rekindle repurposes wood waste to make high-value furniture while equips young people with skills and jobs. Rekindle is now looking to expand through a social franchising model.
Juliet Arnott
Rekindle’s mission is to support communities to utilise their wood waste fully.
The first Rekindle workshop was set up in Christchurch in 2012. As a result of the devastating earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, there are approximately 7,000 homes in Christchurch that are due to be demolished.
Rekindle is developing employment opportunities and actively promoting craftsmanship, skill sharing and appreciation of the reuse of timber by working with Christchurch communities to transform wood that would otherwise be dumped.
Christchurch
Rekindle is currently working to streamline production in their Christchurch furniture workshop and develop sales and marketing strategies. They are also in the process of consolidating the supply of wood from within the residential demolition process in Christchurch by establishing a salvage team that trains young people in pre-construction skills. Rekindle will also be establishing a design collective, to facilitate a community focused on design using wood waste.
