Right to Repair Bill

If Aotearoa is going to have an economy that competes with the rest of the developed world, we have to make transformational change. For some, that sentence might evoke feelings of distress and anxiety, for others (like us at Go Well) it evokes excitement and hope.  

For far too many decades now, the dominant economic model has been one that is built on the extraction of natural resources from our planet, the mass manufacturing of goods using cheap labour and/or automation, the excessive consumption of these goods, and the eventual pollution created from the disposal of these goods into holes in the ground, open landfills, or into our waterways and oceans.  

It doesn’t take rocket science to understand it’s a system that can’t be sustained. 

Thankfully, there is another way. 

For decades now, there has been a growing movement towards a circular economy.  

Knowing that the systems in our natural world that govern all life on this planet are circular (think water cycle, carbon cycle, rock cycle, life cycle) then it should come as no surprise that a truly sustainable economic system would be one that is also circular. 

The argument is no longer whether that transformation from linear to circular must happen, but how quickly it should happen.  

The biggest challenge of all is that all parts of our society must come together if we are to have any chance of making the transformation required, let alone at the speed the natural laws of our planet require. We need businesses to change their business models and take responsibility for the impacts of every product they produce through their entire life cycle. We need civil society to stop mindlessly consuming and wasting resources and giving their money to business who are part of the problem. And we need governments to set the guard rails (legislation and policy) for business to operate/compete within while also operating within the planetary boundaries.  

At Go Well, we are incredibly fortunate to work with numerous people and businesses who understand all of this and are doing their very best to develop circular businesses while operating in a linear system. But it’s incredibly challenging. Especially given current laws and legislation.  

When it is currently cheaper and easier to buy a new toaster or pair of shoes than it is to have them repaired then most people will choose to buy new and throw the broken item “away”.  

But that’s not how it used to be. The normal used to be that brands would take great pride in the quality of the goods they produced and allowed customers to form strong bonds with their products. It’s an entirely different relationship for a business to have with their customers and it’s on the comeback. 

More and more brands are either offering to repair their products, teaching their customers how to do repairs themselves, or designing their products to be easily repaired.  

But it is still not enough. We need all businesses offering these services and we need all governments supporting this movement with the right legislation.  

This is why we are so excited that the Right to Repair Bill has been pulled from the Member’s Bill ballot. As Gemma Rasmussen of Consumer summarises: –  
(the) bill looks to amend the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA), allowing for the independent repair of goods and making it mandatory for products to be repairable, including the supply of repair information, tools and parts. It also requires a manufacturer to, for a reasonable time, take reasonable action to ensure a supply of parts for goods and the availability of repair facilities. It must also provide consumers with information, software and tools for diagnosing, maintaining and repairing goods. 

The right to repair bill would mean manufacturers cannot: 

– Make repair too expensive – digital information must be free, and all other charges reasonable. 

– Drag the chain on repair – manufacturers must comply with a request for repair information as soon as is reasonably practical and within no more than 20 days.  

It should come as no surprise that as a consultancy that has been advocating for a circular economy since our founding in 2017, we at Go Well are extremely supportive of this bill. If we are to succeed in having it become law, it will be a massive step forward for the entire economy.  

Why such a focus on repairs you might say? Can’t we just recycle? 

Yes, recycling plays a role in a circular economy, but it is the last option because of the energy (and typically water) it requires, and because of the loss of value that occurs. Just think of what it would take to separate all the different materials from a laptop, sort those different materials, and then get those materials back into the manufacturing process. Versus, repairing that laptop.  

Repairing is a vastly more sustainable option than recycling and buying new.  

So, we at Go Well are calling out to all those businesses that have made a commitment to become sustainable, help achieve a circular economy, or become net-zero to support this Bill, as loudly and empathically as you possibly can. You can do this by: 
– contacting their local MP and asking them to support the Bill 
– using their communications channels to advocate for the BIll 
– develop their own repairs policy and /or programme 
– promote the likes of Repair Cafe Aotearoa New Zealand, Repair Network Aotearoa New Zealand, Zero Waste Network, and Doughnut Economics Advocates New Zealand (DEANZ) 
 

At the time of writing the bill is waiting for its first reading in parliament. Following that the usual next course of action is for a bill to be passed to a subcommittee for public consultation. This is when you can submit your feedback on the bill directly to the policies makers. So, we recommend you read it, discuss it, and encourage others to engage with the legislative process. Then when the time comes submit your feedback on the Bill.  

One key aspect of resistance to the repair bills that have been made law in other parts of the world is the increased costs it will place on the buyer of new goods. This especially resonates during a cost-of-living crisis.  

It is a valid concern that must be worked through to ensure such a bill would be equitable and fair for all.  


In considering this it must be remembered that the cost of a product is not just in its purchase price. Councils charge all homeowners to collect the contents of their kerbside recycling and landfill bins. Costs that landlords pass on to their tenants. The price of landfilling is going up, at it can be expected that these increases will continue to be passed on to ratepayers and renters.  

If a product cannot be repaired the customer is often then forced to repurchase the product, potentially making it more expensive overall than a better-quality product that is repairable, but more costly to purchase.  

There is also the likely outcome that if products become repairable then secondhand markets will increase. With an increased ability to repair items then second buyers will have greater confidence in buying second hand (or third, or fourth hand) items. This would likely increase the number of secondhand items available, decreasing their price and increasing their availability. 

There will also be the opportunity for brands to compete on their repairability programmes and prices. Some may pass on the cost while others may absorb it as part of their competitive advantage and showcasing their commitment to achieving a circular economy.  

All these repairs would of course need skilled people to conduct them creating meaningful jobs and business opportunities.  

Regardless of how positive it is that this bill has been tabled, there is no doubt it needs to be consulted on and worked through to ensure it achieves the best possible outcomes for all. We look forward to this consultation phase to hear what others think.  

There is no understating this opportunity to take a giant leap forward to transforming our economy to one that can be sustained. We cannot afford to let it slip.  

Written by Nick Morrison, Founding Director at Go Well Consulting & Kate Lodge, Sustainability Consultant.

Photograph credit: Ksenia Chernaya.