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Who we are

Whāinga / Purpose

The purpose of the Repair Network Aotearoa Trust is to foster a repair culture in Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly practical and accessible community repair opportunities, and to advocate for repair services, repair education/training and right to repair legislation.

The primary objectives of the Trust are:

  1. To protect and enhance the environment by providing services and coordination and conducting projects, education and advocacy in the Aotearoa repair space; and

  2. To advance education in the field of sustainable living, environmental protection and community resilience with the focus on repair; and

  3. To provide a national umbrella organisation for organisations and individuals who share the Trust’s vision and objectives.

Meet the Team

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Founder

Brigitte Sistig

Witnessing the development of Repair Network Aotearoa has been a privilege for Brigitte. Engaging volunteers, collaborating across sectors, and campaigning for the right to repair have been instrumental in fostering a vibrant repair community. By championing the economic and environmental benefits of repair, we're building a robust repair culture in New Zealand together.

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Board advisor

Ingrid Cronin-Knight

Ingrid Cronin-Knight is the Chief Growth and Sustainability Officer at WM New Zealand, Aotearoa's largest recycling and waste organisation.  She is accountable for the organisations Porohita strategy (to be circular), which has seen the increase in the organisations collections and processing for recovery and the launch of the Circular Services Division.  Her team provide Sustainability Services to help customers refuse, repair, reuse and recycle materials and lower their emissions.

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Board advisor

Steven Moe

Steven Moe is a Partner at Parry Field Lawyers with a focus on “for purpose” organisations including charities and incorporated societies. He is on the Charities Services sector group, the XRB Advisory Panel and has worked as a lawyer for 23 years. Steven hosts seeds podcast which has a focus on people doing inspiring things which has 400 episodes and another on governance for the Institute of Directors called Board Matters.

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Trustee

Toni Kereama

Toni is a Project Leader within Para Kore Marae Incorporated. Para Kore have been involved in the Right to Repair movement in Aotearoa since 2021 and continue to support and advocate for taonga that have been extracted from Papatūānuku to be well-made, reused and repaired to ensure as little waste as possible.

parakore.maori.nz

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Board advisor

Joanne Waitoa

Ngāti Porou me Ngāti Rakaipaaka engari i tipu ake ahau ki Wairarapa. I am currently a senior advisor focused on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and environmental policy. I have a background in research and have published on Indigenous digital activism, Māori politics, and diverse economies. I am also a trustee for Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa, and serve on the board of Waiwaste, a local food rescue organisation.

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Board advisor

Yoann Ledey

Bringing a rich background in life sciences, strategy, and communication to the Repair Network Aotearoa, trained in France with a Master’s in Life Sciences and another in Marketing and Communication. After starting a career in the private sector, a passion for sustainability sparked a transition to working with Auckland Council’s Environmental Services team. Over the years, supported the growth of the repair café movement across Aotearoa, first with RCANZ and now with RNA.

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Trustee

Yasmin Kidd

​A passionate student of Urban Planning, Yasmin has been an advocate for climate justice, and is hopeful to see our cities become more sustainable and equitable. Inspired by the Repair Café Network, I see these community hubs fostering a connected, resilient urban future in Aotearoa’s cities.

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Board advisor

L'Rey Renata

He uri ahau o Ngāpuhi, Tainui me Ngai te Rangi engari I tipu ake ahau ki Tāmaki Makaurau. I work as a water engineer for GHD, prioritising the health and wellbeing of our wai in the work that we do. L’Rey is also a PhD candidate; her thesis is on ‘Redefining Engineering Best Practice through a Te Ao Māori lens.’

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Trustee

Michaela Martinez

Michaela has been working with New Zealand charities within the not-for-profit space for over nine years. She aspires to lead with kindness, curiosity, and leave the world a better place than she found it. Supporting the kaupapa of the Repair Network Aotearoa in achieving its mission is a significant part of this.

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Board advisor

Sarah Le Claire

Originally a marine scientist, Sarah has worked in waste and resource recovery strategy and operations in the UK for the Jersey government and now in Aotearoa for Auckland Council. Currently Chair of the WasteMINZ Territorial Authorities Officers Forum Steering Group, she is a strong advocate of local government working in partnership with community and private sector to build a sustainable repair culture that is backed up by a framework of national legislation. By working together we can build resilient and connected communities through a repair culture.

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