The potential for organising periodic ‘Repair Café’ events in Kaikōura is currently being explored by parties associated with the Kaikōura Community Shed with support from Te Hā o Māturanga and Kaikōura District Council.
‘Repair Cafés’ are community led events where people come together to fix broken items and share associated knowledge and skills. In doing so the repaired products are diverted from landfills, money is saved and social connections within the community are strengthened.
The ‘Repair Café’ concept originated in Europe, but has become a world-wide movement, with events now taking place in more than 75 locations in New Zealand alone.
A key requirement for a repair café is establishing a group of local volunteers who are able to help repair different types of items or are otherwise willing to assist in running the events.
The type of ‘fixing’ skills provided by repair café volunteers typically include those related to machinery, bikes, clothing, toys, furniture, other household items and in some cases simple electrical appliances. The range of repairs provide by a repair café is dependent on the capabilities of the volunteer fixers.
Fixers do not have to be high-level experts, just practically capable ‘handy’ people who are willing to help others with relatively straightforward repairs and can recognise the limits of their skills and appreciate that in some cases a repair may instead require a professional specialist.
The workshop facilities and people of the Kaikōura Community Shed will be available to assist in the repair of items where this is needed.
In addition to those doing the repairs, other volunteers will be needed to help in the overall organisation of repair café events.
The commitment required of volunteers need not be great; repair shop events may be relatively infrequent (perhaps every 3 months or so) and may not offer all types of repair every time.
Interested in being involved?
If you are interested in helping establish a Kaikōura Repair Café or want to learn more about what would be involved, you are invited to attend initial discussion sessions which are being held at the Kaikōura Upper Room (above King Tide Restaurant) at the following times:
- 6.30pm Thursday 18 June
- 3.00pm Sunday 28 June
If you are interested in being involved but are unable to attend either of the sessions above, we would still like to hear from you, and you can call Dave on 0272 622224 or Martin on 03 319 5552.
