A slice of Hobsonville Point history is being given a new lease on life, thanks to local secondary school students.

Hangar 3 has been dismantled from its former home next to Hobsonville Point Road to make way for planned residential development. But while the historic building may have gone, kauri and rimu from the hangar was saved and donated to four local secondary schools by the Hobsonville Land Company.

At Hobsonville Point Secondary School, four students are recycling their wood as part of a Year 10 enterprise project. They have created ‘Upcycling the Point’ – a business focused on making a range of wooden kitchenware products.

Having canvassed the local community, the students are now busy designing and producing their range, which includes wooden spoons, placemats and cutting boards. A fifth student is using the wood to make pencil holders.

“Using Hangar 3 wood is very special to us,” wrote students in the ‘Upcycling the Point’ business plan. “If people buy our products from

Hobsonville Point, the old Hangar 3 can still be incorporated into the new Hobsonville Point houses to add a meaningful historical touch.”

The limited edition items will be on sale at the school’s Market Day on July 29, which is open to the public from midday to 2pm, and at the Hobsonville Point Farmers Market on August 2 from 9am to 1pm. All proceeds from sales will be donated to KidsCan, a New Zealand charity which supports New Zealand children living in poverty by providing food, clothing and basic healthcare in schools.