Timebanking in New Zealand: Academic and Activist Discussions of its Challenges and Pleasures

Abstract

This ethnographic and participatory action research project explores the emerging movement of timebanking in New Zealand. Beginning in 2004, timebanks have developed in more than 25 locations around New Zealand, drawing inspiration from models in the United States and the United Kingdom. Timebanks are small-scale alternative currency systems in which members use one hour of work as the unit of currency. Members maintain an online account balance, which tracks their earning and spending. Forms of labour commonly exchanged in these reciprocal networks include: music and language lessons, rides to the airport, working bees on members’ gardens, CV editing, cooking lessons, pet care, skype and smartphone tutorials, home maintenance, and projects completed in partnership with community organisations. One of the initial points of interest for this research was the timebanking promotional literature, which has a tendency to describe timebanks as largely self-managing, simple to understand and explain, and likely to be taken up with enthusiasm by the members of a given community once the online software is provided. In contrast to this simplified presentation, ethnographic and participatory action research methodologies reveal the more varied experiences of timebank developers and members. Timebanks encounter, overlap with, and have impacts on existing community ties and informal networks of support. Alternative currencies also emerge and are utilised within existing knowledge about payment, debt, and fairness. Part of the work of timebanking is to reassure members that spending time credits is as important as earning them, because all members’ accounts need to move in and out of a negative balance in order for labour to flow evenly through the network. This work of reassurance, education, and wider dissemination of the timebanking philosophy and practice is one of many jobs performed by timebank coordinators. Most of these coordinators are women, they are sometimes paid, but mostly in voluntary positions. The coordinators also carry out social event organising, networking, fundraising and grant writing, administration support, technical and IT support for members, training and induction of new members, and national and international collaboration with other timebanks. All of this work is conducted within a broader framework of efforts to increase opportunities to exchange labour outside of and beyond capitalism, whilst remaining embedded within it. This project explores in particular the engagement of New Zealand timebanking and its community members with the notions of community, debt, activism, and the contradictions, challenges, and successes of this approach to intentional community building and developing alternative currencies.