Time banking system launched in Motueka

November 15th, 2013
[by David Armstrong]

A group of Motuekans have set up a time-banking system called Community Shares for sharing and trading skills and hours, and have already signed up about 40 people to take part.

Community Shares Motueka was officially launched at a packed function on Wednesday night at Community House, with a highly interactive presentation involving a trading game and a website demonstration.

The world's expert in alternative currency and trading software systems, UK-based Matt Slater, was present to explain the website foundation, which he has modified so that for the first time globally it allows trading in both alternative dollars and time banking.

Under time banking, participants use time working on jobs as payment (COmmunity SHares, or COSH), rather than cash. You earn time credit (hours) for work you do for others, and then use them to buy another member's time to get services you need.

As a remarkable example of its use, the Christchurch port of Lyttelton had a busy time bank operating before the earthquakes, and the network of people involved became the focus of early response when the conventional local economy staggered under crisis. Now 20 per cent of Lyttelton residents are members of their time bank. (Full information here.)

The Motueka system is based on modifications Matt Slater made to his software platform that enables members to trade also in the long-standing local currency TALENTS and Nelson's Community Shares network, and soon will also work with Golden Bay's similar HANDS system.

The Motueka time bank concept was developed by a team of about seven people over the past six months ago, researching the various alternative trading currencies available and choosing the best fit and software for Motueka.

She says Community Shares means "having our needs met from within our own community, getting help with things we can't do and strengthening our local community".

"Also skills that are often taken for granted are valued, especially non-market skills like parenting, basic home help and care giving. Friendships form between people of different backgrounds who would not have otherwise have met. Young people earn time to spend as they wish.

The community becomes more inclusive, valuing everyone and their unique contribution. In other areas where time banks exist, a stronger community has formed around them, especially valuable in times of crisis and need."

Anyone of any age in Motueka and surrounding areas (out to Marahau, Tapawera, Upper Moutere and Mapua) can join. It is free, and new members receive two COSH to get them going.

To join, or to find out more about the system, go to www.communityshares.co.nz and click on Community Shares Motueka.

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