When something breaks, our first instinct is often to replace it. But what if March became the month we tried to fix just one thing instead?
Repairing doesn’t have to mean being an expert. A broken zip, faulty lamp, torn hem or squeaky bike chain is often simpler to fix than we think — yet what stops many people is a lack of knowledge, skills, or confidence.
So how can you build those skills? YouTube is full of step-by-step videos for everything from replacing a zipper to repairing small appliances. An older neighbour or family member might be delighted to pass on sewing, woodworking or tool skills, and children especially love learning practical “grown-up” jobs — building confidence as well as capability. Do you have a skill worth sharing? Who could you teach something to this month while saving an item from landfill?
Across our community, there are also spaces that make repair easier. The Waiuku Tool Library and Community Workshop provide access to tools and workspace if you don’t have your own, while local Repair Cafés offer friendly volunteers who enjoy helping troubleshoot and fix everyday items alongside you. Waiuku Zero Waste also runs hands-on workshops focused on practical reuse, repair and upcycling skills for home, garden and wardrobe.
Choosing to repair, even occasionally, shifts us away from disposable habits and back toward resourcefulness. And if something truly can’t be saved, recycling it through your local recycling centre ensures materials are recovered wherever possible.