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.
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However, despite this support, the Government Coalition parties – National, NZ First and ACT ensured the committee recommended the bill not be passed.
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That made it highly unlikely that the Right to Repair Bill would proceed beyond its Second Reading in Parliament, and repairing goods in New Zealand will remain controlled by manufacturers that make it expensive and difficult

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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.”

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The revision-tracked version of the Right to Repair Bill considered by the committee is not publicly available – the Government majority of the committee voted against releasing it.

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

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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.”

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Progress halted at the Second Reading

The Second Reading of the Bill was scheduled for 22 October. However, when the Bill was called for its reading, the Green Party MP (Hon Marama Davidson) who is the principal sponsor of the bill was not present in the House. The bill was removed from the Order Paper (the agenda) and effectively discharged, then. This means the bill would need to be pulled from the "biscuit tin" (ballot box) again and is unlikely to progress unless the Green Party is in government.

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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.

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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.