Lyttelton Timebank Project

The Lyttelton community is in the process of setting up New Zealand's first Time Bank. Time Banks create social capital by facilitating the swapping of skills/services between members. Every transaction builds community. Individuals and organizations can be members.

The Lyttelton Time Bank is in its formative stage. To help create an awareness of the project a monthly newspaper supplement on community matters was initiated. This was a brilliant idea, but means ongoing work not entirely focused on creating the Time Bank. A positive factor is the existence of a growing network of people in the community. Also helpful is the good track record of the initiating body - Project Port Lyttelton.

The main hurdle for setting up a Time Bank here in is some people's only experience of local currencies being that of green dollars. They are inclined to transfer their "knowledge" (re tax, unequal value of services, lack of range of services on offer) across in a rather closed book manner. For Time Bank success clarity must be demanded.
However those for whom the Time Bank will be relevant are excited by the concept.
The Time Broker discovers what the needs are within the community and sets about finding those skills that will meet those needs.

A bonus of Time Banking is that it takes away a dependency mentality; it values all people and the skills they have. Time Banking rewards volunteering too. An example that the Lyttelton Time Bank is exploring is this: Project Port Lyttelton is about to take on the delivery of the local paper to ensure 100% coverage. Each volunteer delivery person could be given time credits. A local school might enlist senior students to help with the delivery - credits gained for their school could go towards remedial reading or boat handling skills or ...

The system is limited only by our imagination.


For more information, please contact:

Margaret Jefferies
Phone: 03 328 9260
E-mail: Margaret.Jefferies@clear.net.nz