Right-to-repair bill ditched
Proposals to change right-to-repair rules have been dismissed by parliament after the politician leading the push for change turned up late for the second reading of her member’s bill.
Marama Davidson, Green party co-leader, introduced the Consumer Guarantees (Right to Repair) Amendment Bill in April before it went to a select committee for consideration.
The draft legislation sought to replace the guarantee as to repair and spare parts in the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) by requiring manufacturers to ensure facilities for repair of goods and parts were available for a reasonable period after the products were purchased.
Manufacturers would also have had to provide buyers, upon request, with information, parts, software and other tools used for diagnosing, maintaining or repairing goods.
The economic development, science and innovation committee received 1,250 submissions on the bill, with more than 95 per cent supporting the plans and its general aims.
However, the committee recommended the bill should not proceed and NZ First withdrew its support despite backing the proposals at their first reading.
This meant the bill was unlikely to secure enough votes to pass into law, but it failed to get a second reading after Davidson missed her chance to speak on it on October 22 by a matter of seconds.
Her late arrival meant parliament moved on to other business and her member’s bill now returns to the ballot.
Davidson told the NZ Herald she “made a mistake” and had underestimated the speed at which a piece of legislation would progress through the house.
“We made immediate efforts to try and fix the mistake, to seek leave to reinstate the bill back into the house, but this was not granted.”
She adds she will not give up on securing changes to the CGA but notes it is unlikely to happen until the Greens are in government.
The automotive industry generally viewed the bill as well-intentioned but too simplistic. The Motor Trade Association said industry and policymakers should instead work together to develop enduring, industry-specific solutions.
