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Seamstresses, electricians, bike mechanics, woodworkers and clockmakers were kept delightfully busy at a Repair Café held on October 11, applying their skills to breathe new life into well-loved items, and keeping them out of landfill. Brought to the community by Mangawhai Shed and environmental advocates Sustainable Kaipara, the biannual event first launched in 2023. Since then, Shed founder and chair Stephen Mackay says he has seen a noticeable shift in the local mindset, from a culture of disposability to one of care and preservation. “There’s always a buzz in the Shed when people arrive with their treasured items, hoping for the kind of loving attention our team is known for,” he says. Repairs ranged from toasters and lamps to favourite dungarees, shorts and toys. The woodworking team restored everything from a rocking horse to a tray made during someone’s school days.
