Ministry of Defence

1. Introduction

The Ministry of Defence works closely with the New Zealand Defence Force to promote and improve New Zealand ’s security and defence interests. We also work closely with other government agencies that deal with external security, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. We take a “whole of government” approach to security issues.

The roles of the Ministry of Defence, which are founded on section 24 of the Defence Act 1990 are to:

• Provide timely, high-quality advice to help the Government make well-informed decisions about the defence of New Zealand and its interests.

• Conduct audits and assessments of the New Zealand Defence Force and the acquisition activities of the Ministry of Defence.
• Arrange for the acquisition of significant items of military equipment needed to meet New Zealand Defence Force capability requirements.

We are a small organisation of approx 60 staff.

Further information about the Ministry of Defence can be obtained from our website: www.defence.govt.nz, and in particular the Ministry’s Statement of Intent. This further explains how the Ministry works towards supporting New Zealand ’s security objectives and contributing to the security of other countries (our high-level outcome). To achieve our intermediate and high-level outcomes we aim to have top-quality people, relationships and processes. Strong capability within the Ministry requires an understanding of and promotion of a Ministry responsiveness to disability issues.

Level 1 activities: Universal responsiveness to disability issues

Accessible government information		Achieved/ available	Planned this year	N/A
Agency’s websites
	Meet e-government Web-Guidelines 2.1	Yes
	Tested for accessibility for disabled people	Yes
	Adapted to increase accessibility to disabled people	Yes
	Downloadable files available in HTML, not only PDF		Yes
Other publications and public information available in alternative formats. (eg key information available in easy-to-read English, Braille, NZSL video clips, captions on TV adverts, etc)				N/A
Agency makes available alternative forms of contact (ie phone and fax numbers, email addresses, etc)		Yes

Accessible government buildings and sites		Achieved/ available	Planned this year	N/A
All agency’s buildings and sites meet statutory and regulatory access requirements (eg NZS 4121)			Yes
Agency’s buildings and sites have Building Code compliance certification			Yes
Agency’s buildings and sites audited for accessibility by Barrier Free NZ Trust			Yes
Agency’s buildings and sites accessible.
	Frontline staff receive training in disability responsiveness			Yes
	Reception areas accessible		Yes
	Counters lowered for wheelchair users		Yes
	Telephone staff familiar with using NZ Relay service1	Yes
	Other accommodations (please list) (eg signage, accessible lifts, hearing loops, etc)		Yes Accessible lifts

Accessible government services	Achieved/ available	Planned this year	N/A
Service policies and procedures include reference to disability issues (eg policies on the use of New Zealand Sign Language Interpreters)			Yes
Information / data on services provided to disabled people is recorded			Yes
Service staff receive disability responsiveness training			Yes
When contracting for new or up-graded IT applications and environments, contracts include a requirement to ensure accessibility by disabled users			Yes

Responsive government employment practices		Achieved/ available	Planned this year	N/A
Human Resource policies and procedures include EEO issues for disabled people		Yes
Recruitment and selection of vacancies responsive to disabled people (eg vacancies advertised to the widest possible audience, vacancies list alternative forms of contact – phone, fax, email, etc)		Yes
Human Resource staff familiar with EEO issues for disabled people (eg staff receive disability responsiveness training, staff familiar with the Disability Perspective Tool Kit2, etc)		Yes
Disabled staff are supported
	Individual assessments of workplace accommodations or support are provided (eg work station assessments)	Yes
	Accommodations provided to disabled staff (eg work station adaptations, special equipment, New Zealand Sign Language interpreters, etc are provided)	Yes
	Disabled staff provided with opportunities for career advancement	Yes
	Agency supports a disabled staff network group			Yes
	Internal agency newsletters promote the positive presence of disabled staff people			Yes
	Other support provided to disabled staff (please list)

Information and data on disabled people is collected		Achieved/ available	Planned this year	N/A
Information on agency’s responsiveness to disabled staff people
	Number of disabled people employed (we recommend you use the State Service Commission’s EEO disability information)	1
	Data on disability related accommodations, adaptive equipment, etc, provided by your agency			Yes
	Number of disabled people employed under the State Service Commission’s ‘Mainstream programme3.	Nil		Yes
Information on agency’s responsiveness to the disabled public
	Information and data on agency’s contact with the disabled public is recorded (eg consultation with disabled groups)			Yes
	Information / data on agency’s disabled client group recorded			Yes

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1. For information on NZ Relay service
2. The Disability Perspective Tool Kit is available on the Office for Disability Issues’ website
3. Information on the State Service Commission’s Mainstream Programme