Despite Overwhelming Public Support, The Government Will Not Make Repair Easier – Repair Network Aotearoa

More than 95% of 1250 submissions supported the Consumer Guarantees (Right to Repair) Amendment Bill, yet the majority of the Select Committee considering it, chose to recommend it not proceed further.

The Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee report released today confirmed overwhelming support for the Consumer Guarantees (Right to Repair) Amendment Bill. Of 1250 submissions made, more than 95% supported the bill and its general aims. Fewer than 2% of submitters opposed it.

However, despite this support, the Government Coalition parties – National, NZ First and ACT ensured the committee recommended the bill not be passed.

That means the Right to Repair Bill is highly unlikely to proceed beyond its second reading in Parliament, and repairing goods in New Zealand will remain controlled by manufacturers that make it expensive and difficult.

Amendments were proposed, but not agreed

The committee reported that

“during our consideration of the bill, we explored possible amendments and instructed the Parliamentary Counsel Office to draft a revision-tracked version of the bill. We were unable to agree on whether to recommend amendments to the bill.”

We think it is highly disappointing that members of the committee could not respond positively to the public call for easier and cheaper repair.

Recording their differing view, the New Zealand Labour Party and Green Party of Aotearoa said:

“the opposition members support the Right to Repair Bill. We believe that strengthening consumers’ ability to repair goods, and ensuring repair services and information are accessible, will deliver enduring benefits for households, reduce waste, and support local businesses. We also support amendments that make such legislation cross-partisan so that it endures beyond the term of any single Government, and to improve the effectiveness of the legislation for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.”

Clearly, the committee had an opportunity to work together to strengthen the bill and guard against unintended consequences. However, the Opposition recorded serious concerns about the committee. The Opposition suggested the process was not conducted in good faith and was used to keep the committee occupied rather than to improve the bill.

The amended Right to Repair Bill considered by the committee is not publicly available – the majority of the committee voted against releasing it. That means we don’t know what amendments were proposed, and which were unable to gain cross party support.

An opportunity missed, but not gone

The Government has missed an opportunity. Most manufacturers have made it clear through their actions that they do not intend to allow us to repair products we own. So until our Government legislates and forces manufacturers to support minimum levels of repair, we’ll continue to pay the price as too many easily repairable products become landfill.

Public support for the Right to Repair Bill shows the growing strength of the repair movement in Aotearoa. The EU, UK, US and Australia are amongst the countries that have already passed repair legislation, backed by similar levels of public support. Whether some of our politicians like it or not, we’ll keep fighting until we have our right to repair.

The Second Reading of this Bill is anticipated in September at the earliest, at which point the outcome will be decided by Party votes.

Full Select Committee report, August 2025:

https://selectcommittees.parliament.nz/v/6/0581d9ac-1b1b-4174-9d7a-08ddddfd9df0

About Repair Network Aotearoa:

Repair Network Aotearoa (RNA), a not-for-profit trust, is dedicated to cultivating a robust repair culture throughout New Zealand. By empowering a diverse range of stakeholders, including individuals, businesses, and educational institutions, with the commitment to prioritise repair, we foster a nationwide network connected through collaborative projects and advocacy initiatives to extend the lifespan of goods and minimise environmental impact.

What is the Right to Repair

The global Right to Repair (RtR) movement emerged to counter the trend of product manufacturers increasingly restricting the repair and the repairability of their products, in pursuit of business models that rely on continual product replacement. The grassroots movement advocates for regulatory changes that would make product repair cheaper and easier. RtR legislation gives owners access to the spare parts, manuals, and diagnostic information that make repairs possible. It incentivises better product design rather than planned obsolescence (the deliberate policy of encouraging replacement over repair.