17 Tory Street, Wellington: a decentralised urban commons

Sophie Jerram, Murdoch Stephens

Abstract

Emerging from the Occupy movement (2011) in Wellington New Zealand, the Tory Street Open Source Community Gallery existed as an urban commons for five years in a central city shop. It was developed through emergent principles of hospitality, decentralised decision-making and the contribution of​ koha ​ (Maori notion of gift) in lieu of rental. The space retained what Stavrides (2016) might call an open network used by artistic, political, commercial and educational groups without any formal management; except for that coordinated via the software Loomio. In five years the space hosted hundreds of citizen-initiated activities: art and book launches, music evenings, political meetings, theatre events, cooperative food exchange, film screenings, and regular meetings of Polynesian art makers Kava Club. Tory St had an attraction bias toward experimental and more radical political groups, but also hosted municipal events and mainstream businesses.
Original languageEnglish
Publication date19 Nov 2018
Publication statusPublished - 19 Nov 2018
EventISCTE-IUL 2018
Social Soiidarity Economy and the Commons: Envisioning Sustainable and Post-Capitalist Futures
- Lisbon, Portugal
Duration: 21 Nov 201823 Nov 2018
Conference number: 1
https://ssecommons.cei.iscte-iul.pt

Conference

ConferenceISCTE-IUL 2018
Social Soiidarity Economy and the Commons
Number1
Country/TerritoryPortugal
CityLisbon
Period21/11/201823/11/2018
Internet address

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