17 Tory Street, Wellington: a decentralised urban commons

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.