- Auckland's repair movement is ramping up, five years after Repair Network Aotearoa launched nationally.
- From Repair Cafés to a new repair hub in Kingsland, repair initiatives are expanding across Auckland.
- Through funding, partnerships and community-led action, Auckland Council is helping strengthen and grow a culture of repair.
From volunteer-run repair cafés to a new permanent repair hub in Kingsland, a growing repair culture is helping Aucklanders save money, reduce waste and learn valuable skills.
In just five years, repair has evolved from a grassroots movement into an increasingly visible part of New Zealand's waste reduction and circular economy efforts, with repair cafés, mending workshops and community repair events now a familiar feature across Auckland.
Auckland Council General Manager Waste Solutions Justine Haves says repair is becoming an increasingly important part of Auckland's journey towards a low-waste future.
"Across Auckland, we're seeing communities embrace repair in ways that would have been rare just a few years ago. From local repair cafés to new initiatives from Community Recycling Centres and free workshops that make repair more accessible, Aucklanders are showing there's a real appetite to keep useful items in circulation for longer.
"Auckland Council is committed to supporting that momentum through funding, partnerships and promotion. Building a stronger culture of repair helps reduce waste, supports our zero-waste goals and gives people more ways to get value from the things they already own."
This month, to coincide with International Repair Day and its fifth birthday, Repair Network Aotearoa has opened a permanent repair hub in Kingsland, with support from Auckland Council. Called Repair co-lab, the hub will bring together professional repair services, skills-sharing and learning opportunities under one roof.
Brigitte Sistig, co-founder and executive director of Repair Network Aotearoa, says Auckland is emerging as a leader in the global repair movement.
"Repair is about much more than fixing things. It's about changing our relationship with the products we own. When people learn how something works and how it can be repaired, they become more resourceful, more confident and more thoughtful about what they buy in the future,” says Ms Sistig.
"We're seeing a real cultural shift. Five years ago, many people assumed that if something was broken it was easier to replace it. Today, repair cafés are thriving, businesses are getting involved, and people are actively seeking out opportunities to learn repair skills. Auckland has been at the forefront of that change.
"What's happening here reflects a growing global movement that recognises repair as an important part of tackling waste, strengthening communities and making everyday life more affordable."
Alongside supporting repair cafés and community repair initiatives, Repair Network Aotearoa has helped raise awareness of the growing Right to Repair movement, which advocates for greater access to spare parts, repair information and affordable repair options.
Aucklanders can find upcoming repair cafés, mending workshops and other repair-focused events on the Repair Network Aotearoa website and Auckland Council's OurAuckland events calendar, with repair events hosted regularly across the region.
For more information on the Kingsland repair hub: repair co-lab