Operated by Vuwzineclub, Lucky Drop offers a rotating selection of student and locally made zines at the push of a button.
Vuwzineclub is a creative community of students and staff dedicated to producing and sharing zines. These small, self-published works span poetry, comics, photography, illustration, and short stories. While Lucky Drop is a relatively new arrival on campus, it has deep roots in Wellington’s creative scene.
The machine was originally gifted to Wellington Zinefest by artist Bronwyn Halloway-Smith, who helped kickstart its transformation into a zine dispenser. It was later redesigned and adapted by former Zinefest committee members Robin Wolf and Liam Goulter.
“Bronwyn loved everything we were doing,” says Robin, now a co-founder of Vuwzineclub. “One of her conditions was we keep the name Lucky Drop, which we honoured. I painted it in a 70s groovy style.”
Modifying the vending machine to dispense zines wasn’t straightforward.
“I spent quite a bit of time figuring out how to make it work,” recalls Liam. “Zines had to go in plastic bags so pages wouldn’t catch in the coils. And they needed some weight. I had to add wrapped lollies to help them drop properly.”
Since its debut, Lucky Drop has appeared in multiple public spaces across the city, including the French Art Shop, Mashuko Gallery, Wellington City Libraries, and the National Library as part of ComicFest. Over time, local artists have redesigned the machine, each leaving their mark on its evolving identity.
In 2023, as Wellington Zinefest transitioned to a new committee, Lucky Drop was passed to Robin, who brought it to the University and introduced it to the newly formed Vuwzineclub.
Today, the machine offers zines by students and local creators for a small fee. Proceeds support the club’s activities and materials.
“We’ve been trying to get more people to donate,” says Robin. “Dylan Horrocks, one of the lecturers and a well-known comic artist, has contributed. We’d love to have more students and local creators get involved.”
The Kelburn campus often hosts regular zine-making events in collaboration with library staff, including Emma Cullen, who has been instrumental in keeping the machine running. Robin says the machine has helped boost the club’s visibility on campus.
“Students often come to our stall on club days and say they saw the machine. It’s a great way to get people excited about zine-making.”