The right to repair: How to design new laws

Abstract

To complement a recent article in this journal examining the shortcomings of New Zealand law (see Zaw, Win Thandar, 'The right to repair', NZLJ (June 2022), pages 164-168) this article examines what reforms should be undertaken to enable right to repair measures. The aim of this article is to determine how to design a new right to repair law in New Zealand, alongside a discussion of overseas approaches. Ideally, a right to repair law would require manufacturers to provide spare parts, diagnostic information and repair tools. To implement a right to repair law in New Zealand, this article suggests possible amendments to different areas of law such as consumer law, intellectual property laws and the law of contract.