The Ministry of Health sought informal feedback from a number of agencies on their approach to the strategy. The examples below, while not a representative sample, show that many agencies are taking up the challenge to implement the strategy at local and other levels.

The Human Rights Commission

The Human Rights Commission has developed a medium-term strategy to address disability issues. This strategy links outcomes to New Zealand Disability Strategy objectives 1, 2 and 5. The commissions strategy emphasises:

• the principles of accessibility, acceptability and appropriateness in its work;
• the need for close consultation with people with disabilities; and
• the need to have staff with disabilities.

The commission notes that disability issues complaints outnumber all other grounds of complaint.

Auckland Disability Providers Network

In June this year the Auckland Disability Providers Network [11] hosted a forum for community-based agencies, including providers of disability services. The Minister for Disability Issues chaired the forum, which focused on the New Zealand Disability Strategy and how it could be applied. Many people with disabilities spoke of their experiences living in and moving around the community.

Subsequently, a network subcommittee has written a Transport Strategy for the Auckland region. This strategy has been endorsed by network members. The Auckland Disability Issues Advisory Group of the Auckland City Council is supporting advocacy around accessible transport issues including the networks transport strategy.

The network had input into an Auckland Mayoral Forum held in July, and worked with the Ministry of Healths Northern Locality Team to hold a forum in October on regional implementation of the NZ Disability Strategy. The network is currently writing a Disability Strategy Action Plan for Auckland in 2002.

Local Authorities

The Auckland City Council Disability Relationship Project has been strengthened by the strategy and is consistent with its objectives. Initiatives within the project, based on consultation with people with disabilities, include:

• ensuring council communications are in accessible formats, with more positive images of people with disabilities;
• disability awareness training for staff; and
• establishing a Disability Issues Advisory Group (DIAG) and contracting a disability advisor. The position of disability advisor is the first of its kind in New Zealand and recognises personal experience of disability as a specialised area of knowledge.

The Auckland Mayoral Forum in July, which the Minister for Disability Issues addressed, provided an opportunity for the Disability Issues Advisory Group and people with disabilities to make planners, compliance officers and services staff aware of the needs of people with disabilities, and the barriers that daily confront them. The forum pointed to the strategy as a framework to overcome these barriers, and called for an Auckland-wide implementation strategy.

Several other councils have established disability committees, and specific disability policies.

Christchurch City Council has produced a policy on Equity and Access for People with Disabilities as part of its efforts to remove the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from participating in, and contributing to, community life. This policy was developed after extensive consultation with the wider Christchurch disability community.

Palmerston North City Council is working to develop a memorandum of understanding with DPA Palmerston North on how they will work together to implement the strategy. Areas of work have included improving:

• accessibility of public buildings;
• social activities for people with disabilities;
• accessible transport, roading, footpaths and walkways; and
• removing barriers in sport, recreation and leisure.

New Plymouth District Council has adopted a policy of a Barrier Free District. The objective of this policy is to make all services, facilities and buildings accessible to people with disabilities. Significant financial resources have been allocated to changing older district facilities that do not have appropriate access.

Rodney District Council has worked with the Rodney Disability Advisory Group for a number of years. This is a local initiative to increase inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities living in Rodney. Local initiatives taken by the council are in keeping with the objectives of the strategy.

Wanganui Disability Expo

 Inspired by the New Zealand Disability Strategy, in June 2001 Good Health Wanganui, Te Korimako Whānau Ora and the Whanganui Disability Resource Centre held an expo of services, equipment and support for disability organisations and people with disabilities living in the region. The expo encouraged people to take up the strategy at a regional level, and the district council, the local District Health Board and the local hospital all indicated interest in developing strategy implementation plans.