The Katikati Community Baptist Church is set to launch its own repair café on November 9, telling locals: “Don’t ditch it, let’s fix it!”

This initiative aims to help residents repair broken items rather than discard them, fostering a culture of sustainability and community connection.

Taking place at 2 Wedgewood St, from 9.30am-12pm, the repair café will feature a team of volunteer repair experts ready to assist with a range of items, from toasters and lamps to clothing and bicycles.

Visitors are encouraged to bring along their damaged belongings for a chance to have them fixed at no cost.

Repair Café Katikati spokeswoman Vanessa Hudson emphasised the importance of the initiative in reducing landfill waste.

“We throw away loads of stuff in New Zealand, even items, which often have not much wrong with them and which could easily be used again after a simple repair,” she said.

“Unfortunately, many people don’t know how to repair things like previous generations did, don’t have the tools or can’t find anywhere to take them for repair. Our repair café wants to change all that.”

In addition to hands-on repair assistance, the café will include an IT help station where participants can learn to troubleshoot issues on their smartphones, tablets and laptops.

Hudson highlighted the social aspect of the repair café, noting it offers a unique opportunity for community members to bond over shared experiences.

“If you repair a bike, a vacuum cleaner or a jacket together with a previously unfamiliar neighbour, then next time you run into that person on the street or in a shop you already have a connection, making conversation easier.”

The concept of repair cafés originated in the Netherlands in 2009, founded by journalist Martine Postma. The Repair Café Foundation supports groups worldwide, including the new initiative in Katikati.

Repair Café Katikati will also operate on December 14. For more information, visit: facebook.com/RepairCafeKatikati or email: repaircafekatikati@gmail.com.