Gisborne is the kind of place where if you need advice or resources, we largely rely on who we know…with any luck, you’ll know someone, who knows someone, who knows someone, who can help! The Rau Tipu Rau Ora (RTRO) co-working space replicates that small community concept by providing a shared working space that enables small businesses and social enterprises to work together, synergistically.
Some of the benefits of sharing space were unexpected, says tenant Jared Johnstone, owner of Tahu, the high-end restaurant and bar at Midway Surf Club. During Tahu’s set-up period, he says, it was helpful to be in the same building as businesses like Coast Build, who were sub-contractors involved in the restaurant build. Jared also talks about how useful it is to have a diverse group of workmates to bounce ideas off. “Working from home can be an isolating experience and can lead to silo thinking. We are social beings”.
Jared noted that working in this environment also creates organic opportunities. Whether he was choosing menus or figuring out the seating, chatting to others in the space gave him a cross section of preferences and enabled him to make decisions to suit a variety of tastes.
Sanne Effmann is a graphic designer who also works in the space creating corporate brand and packaging designs for companies internationally. While Sanne could work from anywhere, including her own home, she says she prefers to separate work from home, and finds that sharing an office is great for networking. The office is available 24/7 which is perfect for Sanne when she has an overseas meeting in a different time zone. With the use of a key card, she can come and go whenever she wants, and there is always a car park, right outside the office.
As I am interviewing for this story Zane Goodwin enters the room and I now have a first-row seat to the organic networking situation we’ve been talking about. Zane is a surfer who recently moved to Gisborne from Piha. He’s just getting his web development business Rise Digital off the ground.
Of course, like a lot of us, Zane loves the fact that here, you can surf before work and be back in the water just after 5. No more sitting in traffic, losing hours of your life each day! Sanne and Zane meet for the first time and find that they each have businesses that could be beneficial to the other, they make the connection and agree to chat later. I can see how uplifting that easy, organic connection and likelihood of support would be for a new resident, but of course, any business owner would appreciate this!
Matene Blandford has been using the office for 6 years now. Rata Forest Management started out with one desk and slowly expanded to seven. Matene likes the vibe of the office and being amongst people who are “giving it a go”. He also mentions the benefit of 24/7 access and great parking. You can’t beat the lunchtime views either, down on the waterfront and if you’re into exercise, the entry to Titirangi is just down the road, easily accessible for a lunchtime hill walk.
The RTRO co-working space manager Harley Dibble is a community projects manager focused on supporting positive social and environmental outcomes. He is the driving force behind Exchange Café, a platforme for exchanging ideas and solutions around climate action in Tairawhiti, is the Tairawhiti Lead for Te Wero ia Wenerei, a project encouraging workers and students to get out of their car every Wednesday for positive environmental, climate and community wellbeing outcomes; and a project led by the Te Weu Trust to establish a citizens assembly in the region focused on climate adaptation. For Harley, it’s sharing office space with like-minded, environmentally conscious people that he really appreciates.
It seems that a variety of businesses sharing space doesn’t just benefit the people in the office, the positive vibe seeps into the wider community too. It’s a win-win for everyone.
On the day I visited the co-working space, the CoastBuild team were being given a send-off morning tea. After five years in the space, owner Tim Scrimshaw is moving his expanded workforce into new premises. Tim spoke fondly of his time in the co-working space, the relaxed environment for his team, and the cost effectiveness of the space for his business.
There were three individuals not in the office when I visited. Mark Burt is a Public Relations and communications consultant specialising in helping NZ brands tell their story in the US, and
Jarred Christison is a talented product designer working for signage and design business George & Willy. Sam Rowland is the Programme Manager for the Sustainable Business Network, whose mission is to accelerate Aotearoa New Zealand’s transition to a regenerative, low emissions, circular economy.
The RTRO Co-working space currently has some desks available. If your business could do with sharing the load on some of those operational expenses, as well as the kinds of benefits mentioned above, get in touch with Niki at RTRO on admin@rtrotairawhiti.nz to find out how.
Story by Aimee Milne Photographs by Thomas Teutenberg