The Papermill

This is a very exciting story of a bold and courageous journey for a team of papermakers who

are intellectually challenged. The Papermill delivers meaningful work experience and training for people with intellectual disabilities. The project is creative and challenging and its purpose is to lift self-esteem and develop skills. Our approach is unique in that the people are empowered to own what they do.

A significant tourist attraction; as our visitors learn to make paper by hand they have the unique experience of being taught by and working alongside people whose gifts and abilities are different from their own.

A visit to The Papermill is a never-to-be forgotten experience. The participants are repaying social and financial investment, turning dependency into independence and industry. All involved are setting a national example as to what can be achieved with vision and energy.

Nowhere else in NZ is there a working papermill using completely recycled materials, making totally handcrafted products.

The most important component of The Papermill is its people. They make this project unique and special. The Papermakers are people who are traditionally disadvantaged and who search for their place in life. Here they are empowered and they incorporate their happy, cheerful dispositions into an exciting activity and sweep up anyone who enters the mill into their enthusiasm. People who come into contact with The Papermill and its people are left with

a sense of wonder, humility and real motivation to achieve in their own lives, something equivalent to what the Papermakers are able to achieve in theirs.