Napier Pottery Club president Peter Hosegood said while the floods were devastating for the club, the silver lining was that it helped the club modernise. Photo / Warren Buckland
Napier Pottery Club president Peter Hosegood said while the floods were devastating for the club, the silver lining was that it helped the club modernise. Photo / Warren Buckland
Members of the Napier Pottery Club in Marewa are no strangers to getting their hands dirty but after the club's facilities were badly damaged in last year's flood, some seriously considered throwing it all in.
"The water level inside the club rooms was around 50 centimetres of muddy water whichcovered most of the equipment and badly damaged two kilns," president Peter Hosegood said.
He said the floods were devastating for the club, which has been going for more than 70 years.
Before: About 50 centimetres of floodwater covered the Napier Pottery Club, badly damaging equipment and two kilns. Photo / Supplied
"On entering the clubroom two days after the flood it was heartbreaking.
"Everything was water logged, all the doors were jammed and a few shelves had collapsed, tipping everything into the water.
Despite the clubrooms being badly damaged, it proved to be a "silver lining" as club members made the decision to renovate and rebuild, "giving them the nudge needed to modernise for the future", he said.
This put it out of action for about four months while repairs were carried out with funding from the insurance claim and a small number of club members pitching in.
After: Now the Marewa-based clubrooms are modern and ready to meet increased demand from people new to pottery. Photo / Supplied
"We opened to members in late February and opened up for classes in March."
And they've been pretty much fully booked since then, running two weekly beginners classes for groups of up to 20 over six weeks.
They have about 40 permanent club members, ranging in age from early 20s to one member in their 90s, Hosegood said.
He's already planning for August's intake as well as the upcoming club open day, on June 20, from 10am until 3pm.
There will be lots of demonstrations and it will be a chance for people to learn more about the club's rich history, he said.
The Napier Pottery Club has been going for 70 years and has a 40-strong membership of all ages, said president Peter Hosegood. Photo / Warren Buckland
Crafting makes for connection
Hastings-based counsellor Kelly Whitewood said there was an increase in people getting back to things that are mindfulness-based, like pottery or arts classes.
She said mindfulness tactics such as breathing can be hard, especially for those who have been through trauma, and object-focused mindful activity helped people relax in a more healthy way.
"For the younger generations because it's all been that internet fast, 'McDonaldisation' - this concept of instant gratification and wanting everything now - there's definitely been a slowing down and relearning how to be since Covid-19.
"It's a move away from instant gratification [...] to wholesomeness and things that last."
Hastings-based counsellor Kelly Whitewood said connection through crafts activities was beneficial for people's emotional and mental wellbeing. Photo / Supplied
She said creating something also gave people a sense of "achievement and esteem".
There's also a feeling of connecting with nature and with others in the class, she said.
"Even when creating something like pottery, there's a nurturing aspect.
While Whitewood's own past attempts at pottery didn't turn out quite how she hoped, she recalled it was a fun experience.
More recently she's enjoyed making her own medicine drum through a Hastings group.
"Any of that crafty connection is really beneficial for our mental and emotional wellbeing."
