I am pleased to present the 2009 report on government agencies’ implementation of Whakanui Oranga, the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

Like previous years’ progress reports, this report provides information on achievements over 2008/2009 and on the actions departments are planning to implement over 2009/2010 and beyond. These planned actions provide a summary of departmental plans for action on disability issues.

I am aware many people in the disability sector have expressed impatience at the pace of the Disability Strategy’s implementation. While lots of good things have happened, people want more progress, and they want it to happen more quickly. This Government is committed to providing leadership and accountability for progress on disability issues. We have signalled this through our establishment of the Ministerial Committee on Disability Issues, of which I am chairperson, and our appointment of an Associate Minister for Disability Issues, Hon Pansy Wong, to work alongside me.

The New Zealand Disability Strategy is all about ensuring disabled people, and their families, have the same opportunities to participate and contribute as other New Zealanders. They are not passive recipients of charity. They are capable citizens who, like non-disabled citizens, have rights and responsibilities and expect to contribute to society.

The Ministerial Committee on Disability Issues believes we can make better progress through focusing our actions on the three major influences on what disabled people can do: their personal circumstances, and those of their whānau and friends who support them; the accessibility of the world we live in; and the degree to which specialised disability supports work for them.

The actions in this report are organised according to these areas of influence: resourceful citizens; an accessible New Zealand; and modern disability supports.

Even in difficult economic times we must be able to make progress towards achieving the vision of the New Zealand Disability Strategy. We cannot make real social and economic gains as a country without addressing the challenges that face New Zealand’s disabled citizens. As people with disabilities will tell us, “Nothing about us without us”.

Mauriora!

Na Hon Tariana Turia
Minister for Disability Issues