WasteMINZ



2024 Aotearoa Repair Summit

Thursday 17 October; 11am; Webinar; FREE for WasteMINZ members and non-members

To celebrate International Repair Day, we will be hosting the 2024 Aotearoa Repair Summit on Thursday 17 October.  With representatives from across the industry, hear what is happening in the repair space from a political, business, community and educational perspective.  We will be joined by 4 speakers including Dr Paul Smith – Right to Repair Coalition, Jessica Saul – University of Canterbury, Meghan Cooper – Rotorua Lakes Council, Ben Kepes  –Cactus Outdoor with the session facilitated by Brigitte Sistig – Repair Network Aotearoa.

Bought to you by the Repair Network Aotearoa and the Right to Repair Coalition. The purpose of the Repair Network Aotearoa Trust is to foster a repair culture in Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly practical and accessible community repair opportunities, and to advocate for repair services, repair education/training and right to repair legislation.

​​Speakers

Dr Paul Smith wants to see no more ‘durable’ products being sent to landfill. He advocates for a right to repair and works with businesses to develop practical solutions that make repair more accessible and economically viable.  Most recently, Paul transformed Consumer NZ’s independent product testing to include repair and durability measures and championed repairability labelling. He has also worked in automotive design and educated design engineers at Massey University. 

Paul represents the Right to Repair Coalition Aotearoa at this webinar.

TITLE:  Are we any closer to repair legislation in Aotearoa?

Presentation Blurb:  Over the last year, two petitions and a Member’s Bill calling for change have reached the Beehive. Does that mean we can expect to follow the EU, UK, US and Australia in enacting repair legislation? And will that mean stuff will become more repairable? Dr Paul Smith of the Right to Repair Coalition Aotearoa will summarise where we’re at (spoiler… we’re not as far along as we need to be).


Jessica Saul is dedicated to fostering a learning environment that encourages connection, collaboration, creativity, and joy. She strives to empower the UC and wider communities to become lifelong learners, building resilience to tackle challenges both big and small, from mending clothes to designing rocketships. 

Jessica has been recognised for her ongoing efforts to promote sustainable practices. She received the Protecting Our Planet Award in 2022 and the Diny van Bussel Award for Manaakitanga in 2021. 

Jessica is Kairuruku Wāhi Auaha | Engagement and Learning Librarian | UC Puna | University of Canterbury Libraries.


TITLE: Repair and resilience: A UC library initiative


Presentation Blurb: UC libraries play a critical role within their communities, supporting and encouraging the acquisition of practical skills, problem-solving, and creativity. We foster a space for sharing skills, restoring belongings, and repurposing broken items. How do we support these acts of community, learning and teaching? Through the Te Rua Makerspace and Repair Cafes.


Meghan Cooper is a Waste Minimisation Officer at Rotorua Lakes Council.  Earlier roles have included work in public health and education settings, disability support and injury rehabilitation.  Across this experience Meghan has been tackling behaviour change for more than a decade.  In addition, she is a mother to boys – working hard to shape some great men for the future.                          


TITLE: The role of Council in shared opportunities for Repair Cafés

Presentation Blurb: In her role as Waste Minimisation Officer at Rotorua Lakes Council, Meghan has been involved in the kick-start of a Repair Café in Rotorua and in supporting the handover of this into community ownership. This segment will look into some of the great opportunities and learning this approach has provided.

Ben Kepes is a professional board member and the co-founder of Cactus Outdoor, a New Zealand-based outdoor equipment and apparel brand that has a global reputation for building the toughest products on earth.

TITLE: The real route to sustainability - gear that wears in, not out
Presentation Blurb: Consumers need to think about the impacts of their consumption. Not just the price, but also the environmental and social aspects of the things they chose to buy. We believe that buying products with longevity engineered in, and ones that can readily be repaired, is the best way to reduce our impact on people and the planet, and to drive better economics.

Panel Facilitator

Brigitte Sistig is the Founder of Repair Network Aotearoa (RNA). She is a creative and committed grassroots community leader who enjoys working collaboratively and networking collectively. Her vision of the RNA ecosystem engendered a solid foundation across multiple sectors in New Zealand and the international Right to Repair Movement. Brigitte actively works toward enabling communities, businesses, and government to co-create a repair culture in Aotearoa.



Register now!

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