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The ERA team gathered beside collection trucks

About ERA New Zealand

Bringing humanity into electronics.

ERA is an international not-for-profit technology reuse network. ERA New Zealand is its New Zealand programme, collecting, securing, refurbishing and rehoming retired electronics so they can keep serving people, communities and the planet.

Discover our story
2004
Founded in Calgary
20+
Years of reuse
2026
New Zealand chapter

The people behind the ERA network

An ERA team member presenting refurbished computers ready for a second life
Keeping useful technology in circulation

Our story

It started with one donated computer.

In 1996, Bojan Paduh emigrated from Croatia to Canada with his family. A church group gave him a donated computer, and that one machine changed the direction of his life. It eventually led him into computer science.

Years later, Bojan saw working computers being dumped at a landfill. He began collecting and repairing them himself. In 2004, he founded the Electronic Recycling Association in Calgary because he knew firsthand what access to a computer could mean.

That simple idea has grown into an international reuse network. In 2026, its newest chapter opened in Aotearoa New Zealand, with an Auckland facility and pickup coverage in Wellington and Christchurch.

“At ERA, we believe technology should be accessible to everyone.”

Bojan Paduh, Founder and President

Kaitiakitanga·Guardianship

What we stand for.

Technology has environmental, financial and human value. Our work is designed to preserve all three.

Rows of retired laptops prepared for assessment and reuse
Keep useful devices working
01

Reuse first

A working device should keep working. Repair and refurbishment preserve more value than material recovery alone.

An ERA technician securely destroying a hard drive
Secure data destruction
02

Protect every byte

Secure handling and certified data destruction are built into the journey from collection to final outcome.

A student holding a refurbished laptop donated through the ERA network
Technology creating opportunity
03

Give value back

Viable equipment becomes access and opportunity for schools, not-for-profits and communities.

Milestones

Two decades of reuse.

From one founder in Calgary to refurbishment hubs, donation programmes and community partners across five continents.

  1. Founded in Calgary

    ERA begins collecting, repairing and donating technology in Canada.

  2. Vancouver

    The network opens its next Canadian location.

  3. Recognition and reach

    ERA receives an Alberta Emerald Award and opens a Toronto depot.

  4. A $1 million donation

    Shell Canada donates $1 million worth of technology through ERA.

  5. United States

    The network expands as the Electronic Reusing Association.

  6. First US donations

    Twenty laptops are donated to Southwest Youth & Family Services in Seattle.

  7. Lending a Lifeline

    A laptop lending programme and the annual scholarship competition begin.

  8. Cybersecurity collaboration

    The network collaborated with Gilles Bélanger, a former Quebec Minister of Cybersecurity and Digital Technology.

  9. Australia joins the network

    A Sydney facility opens with pickup coverage in Melbourne and Brisbane.

  10. Aotearoa New Zealand joins

    An Auckland facility opens with Wellington and Christchurch pickup coverage.

The work in numbers

Measured in devices. Felt in lives.

These figures cover the wider ERA network. Each measure shows its reporting period so network history and recent activity remain distinct.

Explore our impact
11,400+
Devices donated across the ERA network since 2018
500+
Charities, schools and not-for-profits supported since 2004
1,000+
Organisations on the network donation waitlist
5
Continents reached through the network
An ERA technician loading recovered electronic components into secure processing equipment

How we work

Secure, accountable and transparent from pickup to placement.

Every device is logged, securely processed and directed towards its highest responsible reuse value.

Explore our services

Where we operate

A 20-year reuse network across five continents.

05

Local teams, shared standards and verified community partners connect retired technology with useful second lives around the world.

ERA team members receiving retired electronics at a community collection event
One networkLocal teams connecting retired technology with new possibilities.
  1. 01
    Oceania

    New Zealand + Australia

    Auckland and Sydney facilities, regional pickups and NZ-wide mail-back.

    Newest
  2. 02
    North America

    Canada + United States

    The network's longest-running operations, spanning thirteen cities.

  3. 03
    South America

    Chile

    Verified education partnerships give refurbished devices another life.

  4. 04
    Africa

    Madagascar + South Sudan

    Technology supports schools, communities and social enterprise.

  5. 05
    Europe

    Bosnia

    International donation partners extend access through local relationships.

Mexico is also part of ERA's international partner network. Explore the network

Careers

Build a useful career with ERA.

As ERA grows across Aotearoa New Zealand, we are looking for people who want their work to keep technology in use and out of landfill.

  • Computer technicians
  • Drivers
  • Warehouse
  • Office administration

Start the next chapter

Put retired technology back to work.

Arrange a pickupApply for technology