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The Waiuku Repair Café is coming back with the catchphrase, “don’t ditch it – fix it.
This time, a bike repair specialist will be available, helping people with any problems their bikes might be having.
The café will also have an electrician to repair small electronics, and a clothing and textile repairer to sew up holes or small tears. Other volunteers will also be available to fix small household items.
As well as being practical, the cafés also educate; they show us how to get the most out of something before dumping it. People learn how to save money and reduce waste simultaneously.
Carrie Harman, the marketing and communications coordinator for Waiuku Zero Waste, says the philosophy behind the café is to keep as many items as possible out of landfills.
“We want to help rebuild a culture where repair is the norm, not the exception – where people feel confident to fix something rather than automatically buying new.
“A repair café isn’t about fixing a toaster or sewing a tear — it’s about connection. People sit alongside a volunteer repairer, talk through the issue, learn something new, and often leave feeling empowered. It’s hands-on, practical learning in a really welcoming environment.
“At the heart of it, repair cafés show that sustainability isn’t just about recycling — it’s about valuing what we already have,” says Harman.
Approximately 80,000 to 100,000 tonnes of electrical waste is generated each year in New Zealand, with the majority of it coming from Auckland. Only two per cent is recycled, and it is the fastest-growing type of waste. This causes significant landfill contamination from toxic heavy metals in discarded electronics.
The repair café will be held at Waiuku Zero Waste, 5 Hosking, Waiuku, on Saturday, February 28, from 10am until 1pm. Repairs are free.
