Ministry of Justice
New Zealand Disability Strategy Implementation Work Plan. 1 July 2005 – 30 June 2006
Overview of Ministry of Justice
The Ministry's 2005/06 New Zealand Disability Strategy Implementation Plan identifies projects to be progressed during the year. These projects will address disability issues that contribute to the achievement of the Government's Disability Strategy. In the 'Desired Outcome' portion of each initiative, a link is made to the relevant Ministry outcome (desired long term state) and intermediate outcome (shorter term state to be achieved within a 3-5 year period) and to a key development initiative or the statement of service performance where this applies. The 'Links to Strategy Objectives and Action' relate to the Government's New Zealand Disability Strategy. Fifteen objectives have been developed for this strategy. Under each objective various actions have been created that will assist the achievement of each objective.
Outcomes
The Ministry has adopted the justice sector (the sector) outcomes and most of the sector intermediate outcomes. The sector outcomes were agreed by the core justice agencies – Ministry of Justice, New Zealand Police, Department of Corrections and the Crown Law Office – in 2003. Details of the Ministry's outcomes and intermediate outcomes follow.
Safer communities- Reduced youth offending
- Reduced offending by Māori
- Reduced violence
- Reduced family violence
- Reduced burglary
- Reduced organised crime
- Reduced theft of and from cars
- Improved access to and delivery of court services, and services for children, youth and families
- The provision of administrative services and support that assist judicial decision making
- Improved public confidence in the Police, court-ordered fines and reparation, and other justice institutions
- Improved relationships between the Crown and Māori
- Improved laws governing family relationships and other private dealings
Role
The Ministry is a large government agency employing approximately 2,640 staff in over 100 locations across the country. It was established from the merger of the former Ministry and Department of Courts in October 2003. The Ministry undertakes three core functions:
- the delivery of services - court-related, electoral and settlement of historical Treaty of Waitangi claims;
- the provision of policy advice; and
- the provision of leadership for the justice sector.
These functions are administered in three Votes: Courts; Treaty Negotiations; and Justice.
Initiatives to be progressed in 2005/06
The following initiatives are to be progressed by the Ministry during the 2005/06 financial year which will contribute to the achievement of the Government's New Zealand Disability Strategy.
1. General Election 2005
Desired Outcome
To improve access to voting at the next general election for voters with disabilities so that, wherever possible, they can vote in private and in secret.
Link to Ministry Outcome: A fairer, more credible and more effective justice system - improved public confidence in the Police, court-ordered fines and reparation, and other justice institutions.
In the Ministry's Statement of Service Performance, Vote Justice, Output Class Three - Management of the Parliamentary Electoral System contributes directly to ensuring fewer institutional barriers to participating in elections.
Description
The General Election is to be held on or before 24 September 2005. During the two weeks following the General Election, the Chief Electoral Office has contracted TNS New Zealand Limited to survey members of the community who live with a disability to:
- ascertain if the initiatives developed during 2004/05 improved access to voting for disabled people; and
- to seek feedback as to:
- what worked
- what didn't work
- further initiatives to be considered in preparing for the General Election in 2008.
Measures and Timeframes
This survey will be undertaken during the two weeks following the General Election. An analysis of data collected will be provided to the Chief Electoral Office six weeks after Election Day and will feed into preparations for the next General Election or By-Election.
Links to Strategy Objectives and Actions
Objective 2: Ensure rights for disabled people - 2.1 & 2.2
Objective 6: Foster an aware and responsive public service - 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5
2. New Zealand Sign Language Bill: updated statement from the 2004/05 plan
Desired Outcome
Deaf people better understand and are better understood in legal proceedings.
Link to Ministry Outcome: A fairer, more credible and more effective justice system - improved access to and delivery of court services, and services for children, youth and families.
Description
The enactment of this legislation will give recognition to New Zealand Sign as an official language. A consequence will be that users will have certain entitlements to conduct legal proceedings in New Zealand Sign. The Ministry of Justice will contribute to the further discussion and development of the New Zealand Sign Language Bill during 2005/06.
Outcome Measures and Timeframes
The Justice and Electoral Select Committee continues to consider aspects of the New Zealand Sign Language Bill. The final shape of the Bill has not yet been defined. It is likely that, when in force, the Ministry will continue to arrange Sign interpreters in certain proceedings when an application has been made for interpreting into New Zealand Sign by a deaf person. How this will be done within the Ministry of Justice and across the justice sector has yet to be defined. The Ministry of Justice will contribute to the further discussion and development of the New Zealand Sign Language Bill in 2005/06.
Links to Strategy Objectives and Actions
Objective 2: Ensure rights for disabled people - 2.1 & 2.2
Objective 6: Foster an aware and responsive public service - 6.2, 6.3, 6.4
3. Property and Facilities
Desired Outcome
By 2015 disabled people will be able to access all courthouse facilities.
Link to Ministry Outcome: A fairer, more credible and more effective justice system - improved access to and delivery of court services, and services for children, youth and families.
Key initiative in 2005/06 - Plan and begin implementation of deferred property maintenance for court buildings and the planned replacement of selected courthouses.
Description
By 2015, all non-compliant court buildings to be replaced or upgraded to become Statutory compliant, Courthouse Design compliant and Operationally compliant.
The Courthouse Design Standards provide that each courthouse be designed in accordance with the Disabled Persons Community Welfare Act 1975, The New Zealand Building Code and New Zealand's disabled access code, NZS 4121.
This covers:
- Wheelchair access from the public footpath and disabled car park into and through the building;
- A minimum of two disabled capable toilet facilities for public and staff.
- The building to contain appropriate fittings as follows:
- Counters and or booths that enable eye-contact level between the public and staff
- Light switches, power outlets, window catches, stairways, lift control buttons, door handles
- Signage that facilitates ease of reading by those with impaired vision
- Voice enhancement equipment for persons with impaired hearing.
The vast majority of court facilities are already compliant in respect of the disabled design standards requirement. However, some of the older buildings will only be made fully compliant with replacement or major reconstruction.
Measures and Timeframes
All Ministry of Justice facilities are planned to be statutory compliant by 2015. There are 89 facilities to be built or undergo major upgrading over the 10-year period. This work is to commence during 2005/06 and progress will be reported in next year's annual progress report and the Ministry's Annual Report.
Link to Strategy Objective and Action
Objective 6: Foster an aware and responsive public service - 6.6
4. New Zealand Action Plan on Human Rights – input to options for Government Response
Desired Outcome
A principal aim of the Human Rights Commission's Action Plan is to increase the understanding of human rights issues (including disability issues) among policy makers and enhance the likelihood that these factors will become integral to the policy process and therefore addressed fully and at an early stage.
Link to Ministry Outcome: A fairer, more credible and more effective justice system - improved laws governing family relationships and other private dealings.
Description
The New Zealand Action Plan on Human Rights (NZAPHR) was presented by the Human Rights Commission to the Government on 31 March 2005. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, in consultation with the Ministry of Justice and other relevant departments, is leading the development of options for the Government's response to the Action Plan. The initial issues for the Government will include consideration of the development of a Government Action Plan for Human Rights. Further specific work on disability issues (as with all other priority actions in the Plan), other than items already on departmental or agency work programmes, will depend on Cabinet's decisions in late 2005 or early 2006.
Measures and Timeframes
Officials are to report back,as appropriate, to the Associate Minister of Justice who will in turn report to Cabinet by 30 November 2005. A project plan will be developed by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in consultation with the Ministry of Justice.
Links to Strategy Objective and Action
Objective 6: Foster an aware and responsive public service (6.1 and 6.2)