Looking to learn a new skill, build confidence or try something creative? Across Tāmaki Makaurau, there are plenty of free or low‑cost workshops, courses and community sessions to help you get started. From sewing and cycling to food skills and digital learning, here are some great ways to upskill for free.
Reduce waste, cook smarter and grow your own food
Photo credit: EcoMatters Environment Trust
Whether you want to get creative in the kitchen or learn to grow your own kai, Love Food Hate Waste NZ runs a wide range of workshops throughout the year. Their event calendar features sessions on:
- cooking with leftovers
- meal planning and food‑saving tips
- pickling, fermenting and preserving food
- growing microgreens
- beginner gardening and kai‑growing skills.
Workshops are hands‑on, beginner‑friendly and a great way to reduce waste while saving money.
See more upcoming Love Food Hate Waste NZ events on their website.
Be sure to check out the Love Food Hate Waste NZ Leftover Legends Challenge this March to be in to win a year’s worth of free groceries!
Compost Collective
Learn how to compost, worm farm or use a bokashi system with the Compost Collective’s free workshops. Participants can get 50 per cent off selected composting systems.
Find sessions near you at the Compost Collective website.
Repair, sew and upcycle
Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre
Waiōrea CRC hosts practical sewing, mending and upcycling workshops to help you build confidence with repair skills and creative textile reuse.
Classes are welcoming to all skill levels and focus on keeping items in use for longer.
Stay up to date with upcoming workshops on the Waiōrea CRC Facebook page.
West Auckland Resource Centre
If you have clothes that need a little love - a torn seam, missing button or something you’ve been meaning to fix forever - the Mend/Make group in New Lynn can help. Bring it along and repair it with supportive facilitators and fellow learners.
Check their Facebook page for upcoming dates.
The ReCreators
Across the motu, The ReCreators run accessible, low‑cost classes in woodwork, textile upcycling, crafting and circular design.
Browse community workshops on the ReCreators website.
Repair Cafés
Repair Cafés bring volunteers and community members together to fix everyday items. Learn simple repair skills while getting help with textiles, electronics or small appliances.
Repair cafes are held regularly in communities all around the region – check out Repair Café by DEANZ, Repair Café Aotearoa, Manurewa Repair Café and Orewa Repair Café.
Get active
Learn to ride
Auckland Transport’s free cycling courses help beginners and returning riders of all ages build confidence in a safe, supportive environment.
Browse sessions here on the AT website.
Learn to swim
Many Auckland pools offer low‑cost introductory lessons or assessments to help new swimmers build confidence in the water - at any age. Entry to Auckland Council pools is free for rangatahi and tamariki aged 16 and under, and some pools have free entry for adults too.
More information is available on the Auckland Council Pools and Leisure website.
Learn something new at your library
Your Auckland Council Libraries card unlocks thousands of free online courses, tutorials and digital skill‑building tools including:
Online learning
LinkedIn Learning has a huge collection of online lessons on technology, business, creative tools and more.
You can access it free with your Auckland Council Libraries card from the Auckland Libraries LinkedIn Learning webpage and following the step-by-step instructions.
If you don’t have internet access at home, drop into your local library to use the free wi-fi or to book a computer.
One-on-one support for digital learning
It’s free to Book a Librarian for one‑on‑one support across a range of topics from learning basic computer skills to using digital devices, and much more.
Check out the A-Z of online learning resources on the Libraries website for even more free learning resources you can access from the comfort of home or find hands-on activities you can attend at your local library.
Find a class near you today
Whether you’re mending clothes, learning to ride, preserving food, trying composting, or building digital skills, there’s a free way to get started right here in your community.