The Papermill Charitable Trust started in humble beginnings back in 1989 with a used baby bath rescued from the tip, plastic fish containers, children’s sand buckets and an ancient wringer washing machine.

It was Rhondda Rutherford-Dunn’s vision under the auspices of the IHC to provide meaningful skill based activity to increase the self-esteem of intellectually challenged people as well as providing vocational opportunities.

The Papermill moved a few times between 1989 and 1992 before settling into a purpose built site with large gardens at The Blue Goose in Otaika where it remained until 2012 and is now in another renovated to purpose building at 38 Kamo Road in Kensington.

With the support of the then Northland Business Development Trust the Papermill formed The Blue Goose Papermill Charitable Trust in 2003.

The Papermill is first and foremost about the people, The Papermakers, providing individualised creative training to its participants. We currently have 20 Papermakers

The Team at The Papermill