A Mount Maunganui man is hoping to set up a woodworking sanctuary where retired men can keep their minds active and their skills honed.
Keith Dickson would like to see a Men's Shed in Mount Maunganui and he's got a plan that could make it happen.
"I believe there is a need for a Men's Shed in Mount Maunganui. There are so many men who are shunted into little units where there's nowhere for their tools or a workshop space. I could see it happening to me," Mr Dickson said.
"The Mount has got the highest concentration of old fellas, some who end up lonely, depressed or even suicidal so this would keep these fellas busy and give them something to do with their time."
He applauded the success of the Men's Shed at the Historic Village, which opened in October 2010, but said it was hard to access if a person did not have a car. He said the bus service was "quite a hassle" on weekends and it put men off travelling into Tauranga to spend time at the Men's Shed city venue.
So he organised a meeting for this Saturday at the Mount Maunganui RSA at 11am for people to find out more about the local Men's Shed idea.
"The first step is to have this meeting where I can see if there is a demand for it. Then I'd set up a trust, sort out a committee then ask for funding then we would look for a suitable building.
"There are a few possible options but that's something to discuss in the future."
Woodworking was a hobby for Mr Dickson, who worked as an electrician and a photographer during his professional life.
He said his father was a "very good craftsman" and had passed his skills down to him. He enjoyed creating ornamental wooden objects but did not have a place where he could do it. So he put flyers up around the Mount Maunganui RSA Village, where he lived, to gauge a response from the community.
"I think there's a need for it. There's a lot of older guys out there or widows who have sheds that are full of tools but they don't want to sell them at a garage sale for a pittance, but I'm sure they would donate them to this cause," he said.
"[The Men's Shed] is a good way for men to hone their woodworking skills and be in the company of others. It's just a neat thing to be a part of."
He was not sure how long it would take to set up and said it was a journey that continued to evolve.
"It is for people aged 65 and older but in the future it could be open to youths that haven't got a father so they could come down on a Saturday morning and hang out with old fellas and get involved with projects. I think that would great."