The Free Store

Overnight the wind eased to just the usual strong Wellington winds. I went out with the small camera, as it looked likely to rain. After the usual start on the waterfront, I headed back into the city streets, and happened to pass through Left Bank Arcade. There I saw an intriguing poster in a shop window (see the extra photo).

Then up to Willis Street and turned to run back to the hotel when I saw this container, read about it (information is attached to the windows), and then got the following information from their website.

The Wellington Free Store was initially set up in June 2010, as an art project on Ghuznee Street, having been inspired by a 2009 project which followed the concept established by the first official Free Store. Set up in 1967 in Haight Ashbury, San Francisco, by the Diggers (a group of ‘left-wing’ community activists) as part of an attempt to create a mini-society that was free of money and capitalist ideology by providing free food, that Free Store also gave away other items that had been discarded but were still in useable condition. 

The Wellington Free Store was re-opened in December 2010 by a group wanting to provide for those in need. During the two weeks leading up to Christmas the Free Store redistributed 3,145 individual food items to just under a thousand people. That success led to the  store remaining open for a full year, five days a week, redistributing 25,000 food items to the 11,000 individuals that came through the store. 

The retail space they were using in Left Bank Arcade on Cuba Street became unavailable, and they were unable to afford market rents. They responded in an innovative fashion; taking inspiration from the plethora of uses found for shipping containers in Christchurch post-earthquake. Using donated materials and labour a surplus shipping container was fitted out, and is being used for the benefit of the community.

The Free Store is a non-profit organisation that daily redistributes perfectly edible surplus food from a number of supplier cafes, bakeries and restaurants in the heart of Wellington City to those that determine themselves as being in need of it. There are absolutely no criteria as to who can or can't receive the food nor about how much anyone can take. Those who do take food are simply asked to take what they need, and to respect the needs of others. The Free Store is inclusive and openly welcomes people from all walks of life to participate - whether by giving or receiving. The Free Store is both an expression of community, and seeks to nurture community.

Their statement of intent:

The Free Store is a simple concept, yet complex at the heart of its purpose. It is a tool for contributing to our sustainable city. It is a welcoming home for those that are in need. It is a work of art, inviting the contributors and recipients to both take part. It is an initiative that is run by the people, for the community, with so much potential. Help us make The Free Store all that it can be: we all have some surplus to give.

Opening Hours
211 Willis Street
Wellington CBD
Mon-Fri: 6pm till all the food is gone.


The container occupies the street front corner of the land occupied by an inner city church