MANGAWHAI’S HIDDEN SURF HUB
Tucked away in Mangawhai’s industrial area, Shapers Collective has quietly become one of the region’s most distinctive and proudly local surf destinations.
Travel, whether to a different country or simply exploring a new town, often reveals unexpected highlights: a hidden shop, a tucked-away gallery, or a place found only by those willing to wander off the beaten track and beyond the obvious. Shapers Collective is one such find, directly across from Mangawhai Activity Zone. It's unassuming from the outside, but instantly memorable once discovered.
Shapers Collective is far more than a surf shop. Operating within the Small Kine Ding Repairs factory space, it’s central to the surrounding area’s surfcraft community. The workshop not only services damaged boards but also produces Occult, Howse, and Duck Creek surfboards. These hands-on services – repairs, contract glassing, and custom paint work – are rarely found in traditional retail surf stores.
Opening in 2024, Shapers Collective was founded on the premise that the showroom would sell only New Zealand–made products. From local artwork to NZ-made fins, leashes, wax, and even a Christchurch-based hat label, Lead Head, every item reflects a commitment to supporting homegrown creators. At its heart, however, the space champions New Zealand surfboard shapers.
The showroom is open to all NZ-based shapers and operates under a unique system, taking no commission from board sales and avoiding mark ups when shapers sell boards from their store. This ensures customers pay the same price they would at the maker’s own factory, but without needing to travel to Piha, Raglan, Whangamatā, or Christchurch. It’s a rare retail structure – one that keeps more income in the hands of the craftspeople themselves.
In a world of mass-produced, often sub-par and ethically questionable imports, Shapers Collective offers a refreshingly local alternative. With a fully functional surfboard factory on-site, the workshop also welcomes shapers on short “working holiday” visits to Mangawhai, giving Kiwi shapers a chance to expand their audience while working in a supportive, collaborative environment.
New Zealand has a long, rich history in surfboard production, and Shapers Collective is committed to ensuring both long-standing master shapers and emerging talent continue to have a place in the global lineup – beginning right here on home soil.
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