22 Jul 2024

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The Aranui Bike Fix Up is more than just a weekly repair shop – it helps bring the community together.

Each week, people head down to test ride bikes, drop off donations, help with repairs, connect with their community or just have a chat and a cup of tea, organiser Steven Muir said.

The free fix up has been running for the last three years on Thursdays from 3pm at the Aranui Baptist Church.

Between five and 10 bikes are donated and repaired by volunteers each session. Donated bikes are fixed up and given to people who need them – mostly local rangatahi.

“We were aware that Aranui doesn’t have many bike shops and was in need of a service to repair bikes or had need for new bikes which is why we started up here,” Mr Muir said.

“We launched initially as a trial, when we found the perfect open space at the church and a container was donated by friends who returned from overseas. We’ve been going ever since.”

“Recently our 1,000th bike was donated, which was an exciting milestone to reach.”

Mr Muir said if people are interested in helping out, the group is always happy to receive donations.

To celebrate the end of another successful year late last year, the Aranui Bike Fix Up made the most of Christchurch City Council’s Summer with Your Neighbours funding.

“We held a community barbeque, which was a nice impetus to get together,” Mr Muir said.

“We often have kids coming to the sessions, but don’t get to meet their whānau, so having this funding helped to make the end of year celebration happen.”

Mr Muir said he will be applying for funding again for this summer.

“Anyone who wants to bring their community together should put an application in, it’s well worth it.”

The Summer with your Neighbours programme aims to bring people together to celebrate the unique and diverse mix of each neighbourhood in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.

Apply for funding for your neighbourhood get together here.

Events can be held throughout the whole summer, from 26 October 2024 to 31 March 2025.