Christmas is only a month away, and for many, the pressure is building around meals and event planning for Christmas day, centred around as many presents as possible.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by a perceived need to spend up large on [fill in the blanks] in our efforts to make others happy.   But, in a rapidly changing environment that is requiring everyone to make changes, the Ōpōtiki Repair Café is inviting us to take a pause and approach Christmas with a wider perspective.

Mindful spending means thinking about the items we are buying and asking ourselves questions like “how long will this item last?” and “what will we do with it when it breaks?”.  Other questions like “what do we need?” and “what do others in my community need?” help us to understand what is important.

“Most items on the shelves today are strategically designed not to last, and worse, to be unfixable, so companies can increase their bottom line.  But this is not in our interests, especially at a time when many of us are struggling to make ends meet.  We need things that are built to last or can be repaired, not have to spend money constantly to replace stuff because one small component on a product breaks,” said Katherine Langford, co-founder of the Opotiki Repair Café.

It is also having a catastrophic impact on our environment.

“Sometimes I enter stores like the Warehouse, or Chemist Warehouse, and imagine how much of the stuff in front of me will be in landfill within a couple of years.  It’s mind boggling.  But we have the power to change that – by what we choose to spend our money on, and getting our stuff repaired when it breaks.  Even better, learn how to fix your own stuff.”

Ōpōtiki Repair Café is having its last event for the year on Saturday, from 10am to noon at 125 St John Street (opposite the Bait & Tackle shop).

The community are invited to bring in broken toys (and any other household items) that might otherwise be thrown out, and have them repaired so they can be made available for struggling families at Christmas time.

“It’s quite common for there to be a shortage of toys before Christmas in second-hand stores for example, while they get inundated after Christmas.  So, the best time to take things to these places is before Christmas.  

“Whakaatu Whanaunga Trust may also take toys to give to families leading up to Christmas.”

Ōpōtiki Repair Café is on the look-out for more volunteers who can sharpen knives, replace watch batteries and fix clocks, or provide support on the reception desk. They are particularly interested in training up younger people.

“We have all the equipment for fixing watches and knife sharpening, we just need people willing to learn and to help out for two hours a month,” Ms Langford said. “The benefits beyond the actual repairs are amazing.  Everyone - community members, volunteers and repairers - leaves each Repair Café on a high because they feel connected, useful and empowered.”

She said in the past year the Repair Café had saved about 350 kilograms of waste from landfill, with 90 percent of items coming through the door been repaired or repairable.

“Around the country, Repair Cafes that are part of the Repair Café Aotearoa network have diverted 29 tonnes of items from landfill.  This work is so important for our future and that of our environment. And it’s fun.”

Ōpōtiki Repair Café opens the last Saturday of every month (excluding December).  Skilled volunteer repairers are available to fix small appliances, musical instruments, replace watch batteries and fix clocks, mend clothing, repair toys and woodwork and more.  Morning tea is also provided so people can sit down and have a chat while visiting.  Koha is always much appreciated.

Anyone interested in becoming involved can contact the Repair Café via their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OpotikiRepairCafe/or call 027 288 2105