Just as banks facilitate the exchange of money, timebanks facilitate the exchange of time. Every hour of work that goes in creates a ‘time credit’, and every time credit can be used to buy an hour of work from someone else.
Every hour is valued equally regardless of the kind of work: an hour of rock removal is worth exactly the same as an hour of rocket science.
Timebanking enables participation in community economies even without much money. The idea proved its worth in the 1980s following Ronald Reagan’s cuts to social programme funding in the United States. Since then, timebanks have sprung up worldwide: the Ibero-American Time Bank Association counted over a thousand of them operating in 2024.
By positioning time above money, timebanking opens the economy to include people who might be short on cash but with time to spend – for example, teens, pensioners, refugees, beneficiaries.
Timebanking also facilitates access to services that aren’t commercially viable. Craft services like mending and fibre processing are common in timebanks, where they don’t need to meet the financial demands of a sustainable and profit-generating business.
Timebanks also support work that the market refuses to pay for, like building neighbourhood relationships, maintaining community gardens, and getting voters signed onto the electoral roll.
At the same time, people offering services get opportunities to advance their skills by having an outlet for them, including skills that the education system does not teach or that the market does not value.
Skill growth and exchange are only half of the benefit: the deeper benefit of timebanks is the skilled, strongly networked community that emerges when people interact in ways that naturally build trust, awareness, connectivity and capacity.
How It Works
- Join the Timebank: Become part of a growing network of people in the Nelson–Whakatū community who share their time and talents. Join here.
- Offer and Request Skills: Members exchange a wide range of services — from tutoring, home repairs, cooking, and gardening to childcare, transportation, and companionship.
- Earn and Spend Time Credits: For every hour you give helping another member, you earn one time credit. You can then use your credits to “purchase” help from others, creating a cycle of generosity and trust.
Timebanking Videos
Our Mission
We will build a network to exchange skills, time and knowledge and, through that network, establish relationships of support and trust. We will draw out the real wealth of both community and individuals by supporting meaningful work.
Our Values
Living within planetary means
We’re part of the natural world, and we contribute to its thriving.
Building a resilient local community
We strengthen community connections, so we can better support each other.
Enhancing wellbeing
We find wellbeing through being part of a kind community.Everyone’s time is valued equally
Our time has equal value and all contributions are worthwhile.
Respect and acceptance of differences
Embracing diversity, we seek to create a safe and accessible community for all.
We are stronger with different backgrounds and experiences.
“Ko te wā te taonga — Time is a treasure.”