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Tuesday, 15 September, 1pm-2pm
FREE for members and non-members
Background
How New Zealanders are getting a bad deal on repair – and what the UK shows is possible.
When a washing machine fails, dirty laundry piles up while owners wait weeks for an authorised repairer. Even simple faults can become expensive repairs once call-out fees and labour charges are added.
Yet many common repairs are straightforward. Replacing a door gasket, detergent hose or drain pump doesn't require specialist qualifications – just basic tools, practical skills, and access to the right information and parts.
So why is repair support so difficult to access?
We investigated ten popular washing machine brands in New Zealand, grading each manufacturer on whether owners can access repair manuals and purchase spare parts. We found a pattern of barriers that prevent owners from carrying out simple repairs themselves.
Then we repeated the investigation in the UK using the same manufacturers.
The results were dramatically different. Many brands that restrict repair support in New Zealand provide UK consumers with detailed manuals, online parts catalogues, stock availability and direct ordering.
The barriers to repair are not technical or logistical. Manufacturers already have the systems needed to support repair – they simply choose not to make them available to New Zealand consumers.
About your speakers
Presenter: Dr Paul Smith, Right to Repair Aotearoa Coalition
Paul is a leading voice and researcher in the Repair Movement, advocating for a Right to Repair to keep "durable" products out of landfill and working with businesses and communities to make repair more accessible and economically viable.
Paul’s engineering career has seen him lead product testing at Consumer NZ, educate design engineers at Massey University, and work in the automotive and consumer product industries in New Zealand and the UK.
Facilitator: Brigitte Sistig.png?width=200&height=300&name=Brigette%20(1).png)
Brigitte Sistig is the Founder and CEO of Repair Network Aotearoa Trust, advancing the right to repair and a circular economy in Aotearoa New Zealand. Working at the intersection of community action and policy, she champions the Repair Movement in Aotearoa, fostering a repair culture, waste prevention and community resilience through Repair Cafés and regenerative economic frameworks. Brigitte leads nationwide initiatives, including Repair Festival Aotearoa, to support local communities and advocate for resource stewardship.