Summarised by Centrist
The Right to Repair bill, which she had championed for more than a year, was due for its second reading but was struck from Parliament’s agenda when Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson showed up late to move it.
Davidson admitted she “underestimated the speed” of proceedings and arrived about 20 seconds too late. Her attempt to have the bill reinstated was rejected.
“I made a mistake,” she said, apologising to supporters who had campaigned for the legislation. The mishap means the bill won’t return unless it’s redrawn from Parliament’s member’s ballot, which is unlikely before the next election.
National MP Tom Rutherford later quipped on social media that while “Labour can’t get basic details right in their policies, their mates in the Greens can’t show up on time and Te Pāti Māori can’t show up at all.”
The bill aimed to strengthen consumer rights by requiring companies to repair products instead of replacing them to reduce waste. It had passed its first reading but faced opposition at select committee.
Editor’s note: In 2024, Social Development Minister Louise Upston failed to appear for the reading of her own bill in Parliament, forcing it to be dropped from the agenda. She admitted she “stuffed up”. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called the mistake “not great,” while Labour called it “a shambles.”
