What we’re about
A Fab Lab (or makerspace) is a hub for digital fabrication technology for the whole community. Think of a high-tech Mens Shed or a new kind of public library. Fab Lab Masterton opened in the historic Wairarapa Times Age Building on the Masterton Town Square. It moved in 2017 to UCOL Wairarapa Campus, to Lakeview School in 2018, and is now hosted by Masterton District Council in a new space with the Library in Queen Street.
Fab Labs contain 3D printers, laser cutters, computer-controlled routers, electronics & coding capability, and teaching in-house and from the global makerspace network.
There are 1200+ Fab Labs in the world (fablabs.io). The first Fab Lab opened in 2000 at MIT in Boston, USA. Fab Labs share information and expertise openly. Got an idea? You can make it. Shoes, buildings, a robot arm, an app for your smartphone... it's about unlocking the secrets of the technology we CONSUME, and being the next CREATORS of it.
Our Fab Lab is a little unique. It‘s the first in a provincial area of New Zealand. Since April 2016 it has provided curriculum-aligned 3D printing, laser cutting & software learning to students and teachers. For Wairarapa’s 47 individual schools, Fab Lab is providing teaching and equipment resources they can’t access on their own.
Equally, our citizens and businesses can bring their ideas and curiosity to the Fab Lab in open sessions and directed courses. Existing businesses can develop new ideas, and new businesses are born and incubated in Fab Labs. It starts with any and all people finding stuff out by making things.
