Party makes right-to-repair pledge
Labour is promising to introduce right-to-repair legislation for vehicles if it forms the next government after November’s general election.
The move would force original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide independent mechanics access to the same manuals, software and tools to fix cars that franchised dealerships receive.
Arena Williams, Labour’s consumer affairs spokesperson, announced the policy at Midas Manukau in Auckland on October 5.
Details of the party’s plan came hours after the latest edition of Autofile magazine reported that leaders in the vehicle repair and used-imports sectors are campaigning for rules to make technical information from OEMs widely available.
Williams says Labour aims to deliver motorists a better deal at the mechanic and at the pump as part of its bid to tackle the rising cost of living.
“Modern cars are computers on wheels. But too often the local mechanic can’t access the data and software they need to fix them,” she adds.
“Labour will introduce a right-to-repair law so independent mechanics get fair access to the repair information and tools they need to compete with dealerships.
“Australia has already done it. Independent mechanics there are on average 25 per cent cheaper than dealerships, and their right-to-repair scheme has increased revenue for independent repairers by around A$2.5 billion [about NZ$3.1b].”
Williams also cited a 2023 survey by the New Zealand Choice of Repairer Industry Leaders Group, which found 80 per cent of independent workshops say they turn away work because they can’t access the repair information they need.
She notes a number of independent mechanics have helped her work on the details of Labour’s right-to-repair policy over the past two years.
She says the proposal would give local mechanics what they need to win more business by providing more competition and choice in the automotive market.
Williams also announced Labour would introduce rules to make it easier for small retailers to set up petrol retail operations, noting the Commerce Commission has found local fuel prices fell by about 3-6 cents a litre when a new unstaffed station opened nearby.
To read more about the New Zealand Choice of Repairer Industry Leaders Group’s call for right-to-repair rules, check out the October edition of Autofile magazine.
