Called "Repair Cafe" and held at Alexandra Community House last Saturday, the event invited members of the community to bring in their broken items for 13 volunteers to fix.
Organiser Emma McLean, from Central Otago Reap Education, said she was "really stoked" with the outcome.
A total of 30 items were fixed on the day, including fishing rods, bikes, vacuum cleaners, weed trimmers and clothes.
"It was a great event. We didn’t know what to expect ... and so many people said they will be there next time."
She hoped after seeing the repairs being made before their eyes, people would change the way they treated their belongings.
"The whole idea is looking after what you’ve got and caring for it."
Collectively, the "amazing" volunteers had building, knife-sharpening, electrical, sewing and mending, and jewellery-making skills, Ms McLean said.
Some people came in with just one item, but after seeing the variety of skills on offer, they went home to bring something else in, she said.
It was Reap Education’s intention to host more events, she said.
Repair Cafe was hosted with the help of Central Otago District Council waste minimisation funding.
