A Right to Repair working group was formed towards the end of 2019 to investigate whether Aotearoa needs Right to Repair legislation, to complement an e-waste product stewardship scheme. The group wrote an article on Right to Repair, featured in the March 2020 issue of revolve and which was then republished in the American Association of Public Works magazine in June. In September 2020 the working group produced a report entitled “Pathways to Right to Repair in Aotearoa”, which can be viewed here. An infographic summarising the report’s key points can be found here.
Right to repair makes it easier to get items repaired. Right to repair focuses on electronic goods and vehicles.
Right to repair does not mean a consumer always has the right to repair their own appliance or electronic good. Some electronic goods require a trained electrician (electric shock graphic!).
Right to repair laws can help to reduce the amount of e-waste created. Globally only 20% of e-waste is recycled.
What laws can enable right to repair?
Under the current Consumer Guarantees Act:
An improved Consumer Guarantees Act could:
The current Waste Minimisation Act includes the following:
The Waste Management Act is under review currently and a new improved WMA could:
The working group consists of:
Name | Organisation |
Professor Graeme Austin | Victoria University – Te Herenga Waka |
Hannah Blumhardt | The Rubbish Trip and the NZPSC |
Karen Driver | Envision and the ZWN |
Dr Paul Smith | Consumer NZ |
Peter Thorne | Reclaim |
Vicktoria Blake | BOPDHB |
Sarah Pritchett | Coordinator |
Consumer NZ is also doing work on Right to Repair. They have recently launched a Built to Last campaign.