From broken household appliances to torn clothing and damaged furniture, Aucklanders are being encouraged to put down the rubbish bin and pick up the tools as a growing repair movement takes hold across Tāmaki Makaurau.
Five years after Repair Network Aotearoa launched nationally, community-led repair initiatives are expanding across Auckland, helping whānau save money, reduce waste and develop practical skills.
The movement has reached another milestone with the opening of a permanent repair hub in Kingsland, supported by Auckland Council.
Known as Repair co-lab, the new facility brings together professional repair services, practical workshops and opportunities for people to learn how to fix everyday items rather than replace them.
A SECOND LIFE FOR EVERYDAY ITEMS
What began as a grassroots movement has grown into an increasingly visible part of Auckland’s efforts to reduce waste and build a circular economy.
Repair cafés, mending workshops and community repair events are now operating across the region, with volunteers and skilled repairers helping people extend the life of their belongings.
The idea is straightforward: before throwing something away, find out whether it can be repaired.
For households dealing with the rising cost of living, that approach can make a meaningful difference.
Repairing a broken appliance, mending clothing or restoring household items can help families avoid the expense of buying replacements.
It also reduces the amount of usable material ending up in landfill.
NEW KINGSLAND HUB OPENS ITS DOORS
The opening of Repair co-lab coincides with International Repair Day and the fifth anniversary of Repair Network Aotearoa.
The permanent Kingsland facility is designed to make repair services and learning opportunities more accessible.
Unlike occasional community repair events, the hub provides a dedicated space where repair professionals, volunteers and members of the public can share knowledge and practical expertise.
Repair Network Aotearoa co-founder and executive director Brigitte Sistig says the growing movement represents a change in how people think about the products they own.
She believes Aucklanders are becoming more willing to learn how everyday items work, understand why they break and explore whether they can be fixed.
That change is also encouraging people to think more carefully about what they purchase and how long those products might last.
AUCKLAND COUNCIL BACKS THE MOVEMENT
Auckland Council is supporting the growth of repair initiatives through funding, partnerships and promotion.
General Manager Waste Solutions Justine Haves says communities are increasingly embracing opportunities to repair household items, learn new skills and keep useful products in circulation.
The council sees repair as an important part of its wider waste-reduction ambitions.
Supporting repair cafés, community recycling centres and free workshops can help reduce demand for new products while extending the useful life of existing ones.
The approach also encourages residents to take a more active role in reducing household waste.
GOOD FOR WHĀNAU, GOOD FOR PAPATŪĀNUKU
Beyond the financial savings, the repair movement has wider environmental and community benefits.
Keeping products in use for longer can reduce the demand for raw materials, manufacturing and disposal.
The kaupapa also connects with the principles of kaitiakitanga, encouraging people to care for resources and minimise unnecessary waste.
For Māori communities, the emphasis on looking after what we already have also reflects longstanding practices of resourcefulness, sharing knowledge and making the most of available materials.
Community repair events create opportunities for people of different ages and backgrounds to work together, exchange skills and strengthen local connections.
They can also help tamariki and rangatahi develop practical knowledge that might otherwise be lost between generations.
THE RIGHT TO REPAIR GAINS GROUND
Repair Network Aotearoa is also helping raise awareness of the international Right to Repair movement.
The campaign advocates for consumers to have better access to spare parts, technical information and affordable repair services.
Supporters argue that people should have reasonable opportunities to repair products they have purchased rather than being forced to replace them when something breaks.
The issue is particularly relevant for electronic devices and appliances, where the availability and cost of replacement components can make repairs difficult.
Greater access to repair information and parts could help reduce waste while giving consumers more control over the lifespan of their belongings.
WHERE TO FIND A REPAIR CAFÉ
Aucklanders interested in repairing household items or learning practical skills can find upcoming events through Repair Network Aotearoa and Auckland Council.
Community repair cafés and workshops are held regularly across the region.
For details, visit:
- Repair Network Aotearoa: https://www.repairnetworkaotearoa.org.nz/local-repair-cafes
- Kingsland Repair co-lab: https://www.repairnetworkaotearoa.org.nz/repair-co-lab
- Auckland Council events: https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/events/
A CULTURE OF REPAIR IS GROWING
Five years after the national repair network was established, the movement is helping challenge the idea that broken products automatically belong in the rubbish.
With support from local communities, businesses, volunteers and Auckland Council, repair is becoming an increasingly accessible option for households across Tāmaki Makaurau.
For Brigitte Sistig and Repair Network Aotearoa, the goal is to make repairing everyday items a normal part of life.
And with whānau budgets under pressure and growing concern about waste, Auckland’s repair revolution is delivering a simple message: before you replace it, see if you can repair it.
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