TAP lab Incorporated is a community led makerspace based within the Te Atatu Peninsula Community Center. We were originally founded in 2016 by a group of individuals who wanted to create a community group where people could come together to work on their hobby projects and gain access to resources and equipment inaccessible by many – along with a wealth of shared skillsets and knowledge. We are a digital makerspace, with the majority of our resources focused on digital fabrication tools such as 3D Printing, Laser cutting, Embroidery Machines and similar tools to help people bring their ideas to life. Part of our mission is to be as accessible as possible; this means all of our resources are made available to the general public for no more than the cost of their operation. This is core to what we offer and helps ensure that anyone is able to make and learn through their projects and our community.
We run a set of weekly drop-in sessions for the public focusing on specific interest areas along with a general open session and several youth STEM programmes. This enables us to be open to makers a minimum of 19 hours a week, and longer for members with 24/7 access. Our regular programmes are complemented through our relationships with Auckland Council as well as local schools and groups through which we have been able to deliver many targeted programmes and events to those groups and the local community.