Rule 13. Information and research (Article 31 Statistics and data collection)

Since 1996, information on disability has been collected in our national five-yearly Census. Following each Census, Statistics New Zealand (the national statistics department) conducts two sample surveys of people with disabilities identified in the Census – a Household Disability Survey and a Residential Disability Survey. This information is used to identify progress made in achieving the New Zealand Disability Strategy. In addition, individual departments collect information about disability.

In 2004/05 the Office for Disability Issues developed a set of measurable indicators to provide information on outcomes for people with disabilities. These indicators will assist with work on the New Zealand Disability Strategy Progress Review. They range from public understanding and knowledge about disability, participation and achievement in all forms of education, participation in employment and governance roles, to access to the built environment and access to a range of community and support services.

In 2005, the Ministry of Social Development’s Centre for Social Research and Evaluation published a research report Disability and work participation in New Zealand: Outcomes relating to paid employment and benefit receipt. The detailed findings on the adverse effects of disability on employment is helping to sharpen the Ministry’s policies and programmes to achieve greater participation in employment amongst people with ill health and disabilities.

Rule 14. Policy-making and planning (Article 29 Participation in political and public life)

Policy papers to the Cabinet Social Development Committee (a committee of Government Ministers), and other Committees where relevant, must include a disability perspective, they must consider the implications of any advice provided for people with disabilities.

Rule 15. Legislation (Article 12 Equal recognition before the law, Article 13 Access to Justice, Article 5 Equality and non-discrimination, and Article 23 Respect for Life and Family)

This Rule is also reflected in New Zealand Disability Strategy Objective 2 ’Ensure rights for disabled people.’

Over the past 30 years, major legislative statutes have incorporated requirements and rights for people with disabilities. In protecting the rights of people with disabilities, along with all New Zealanders, the Human Rights Act 1993 provides an avenue of recourse where they are not upheld.

Rule 16. Economic policies (Article 4 General obligations)

“With my work in the retail sector I am dealing with people every day and the only barrier I can see is with the attitude of some customers. The staff are really supportive and help me to do my job well; not only that, they are good friends.”

The Ministry of Social Development’s Sickness and Invalids Benefits Strategy focuses on broadening and strengthening the support offered to clients receiving a Sickness or Invalids Benefit so that more people with disabilities can participate in paid work. Where previously these benefit clients were considered incapable of working, we now recognise their potential to work. While still paying benefits, new forms of support are provided to those people who want to work towards achieving employment and independence. Developed in response to feedback from people receiving Sickness and Invalids Benefits, the strategy helps the Ministry of Social Development meet the objectives of the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

New Zealand has also made considerable effort to address the costs of disability. The Disability Allowance and the Child Disability Allowance provide reimbursement for ongoing regular costs incurred because of a disability. Other supports are also available. The Office for Disability Issues is currently working on a review of long term disability supports involving 10 government agencies to find better ways of providing this support.

Rule 17. Co-ordination of work (Article 33 National implementation and monitoring)

The Office for Disability Issues serves as government’s focal point on disability matters. The Office is supported by the Disability Advisory Council, a consultative forum of people with disabilities and their families that advises on emerging issues, and gives advice and feedback on the implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

Rule 18. Organizations of persons with disabilities (Article 29 Participation in political and public life)

Government recognises, respects, and works with a number of organisations representing people with disabilities. These include umbrella groups, consumer and advocacy groups, service providers (including health and other professionals), groups representing parents and families, and education and employment specialist groups. As a priority our focus is to work with people with disabilities themselves, rather than provider organisations. We are investing in building the capability of organisations of people with disabilities to help achieve this. Such organisations include the DPA (formerly the Disabled Persons Assembly), a national collective of groups representing people with disabilities and, more recently, People First, which represents people with intellectual disabilities.

Rule 19. Personnel training (Articles 4 General obligations, 9 Accessibility, 13 Access to Justice, 20 Personal Mobility, 24 Education, 25 Health, 26 Habilitation)

Until September 2006 the Health Workforce Advisory Committee (HWAC) provided strategic advice to the Minister of Health on the health and disability workforce. A new body is currently being established to advise the Minister on how to implement specific workforce changes so as to achieve the high level strategic aims developed by HWAC and others in over recent years. This change recognises that the health sector is transitioning to a new phase of development.

Both Standards New Zealand and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority have established standards for health workers and carers. These standards will lift the professionalism of the sector and deliver greater quality of care to people with disabilities.

Rule 20. National monitoring and evaluation of disability programmes in the implementation of the Rules (Article 33 National implementation and monitoring)

The Office for Disability Issues continuously monitors the New Zealand Disability Strategy and an annual report on New Zealand Disability Strategy progress is presented to Parliament by the Minister for Disability Issues.

The Ministry of Social Development publishes monthly figures of people on various social security benefits and allowances, including those on Sickness and Invalids Benefits. The numbers of beneficiaries and trends provide some indication of the success of government employment and training assistance programmes in placing beneficiaries in paid employment.
Other monitoring agencies include the:

• Mental Health Commission
• Health and Disability Commissioner
• Human Rights Commission
• Children’s Commissioner
• Ombudsman.

Rule 21. Technical and economic cooperation (Article 32 International co-operation)

The New Zealand Government’s overseas aid programme (NZAID) helps to eliminate poverty and create a safe and just world, particularly in the neighbouring Pacific. It spends NZ$315 million annually. In 2005, NZAID reviewed its support to Pacific disability issues, funded through Inclusion International. NZAID’s funding has seen the establishment of a Pacific Disability Information Network and a review of all disability-related legislation in Pacific countries to help each country to meet the targets outlined in the United Nations Agenda for Action for the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons. NZAID’s strategic priorities for action include awareness raising, advocacy, and support for organisations of people with disabilities.

Rule 22. International co-operation (Article 32 International co-operation)

New Zealand has been an active participant in the development of the United Nations Draft Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. As part of the development process for this Convention New Zealand has:

• contributed financially to the Voluntary Fund to ensure disability organisations from developing countries could be represented in Convention discussions
• subsidised production by a disability NGO of daily summaries on the Convention negotiations to inform organisations of persons with disabilities across the world
• participated in 2004/05 in the Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions, which contributed to the development of the Convention.

We have also provided funding to allow representatives of organisations of persons with disabilities to attend international conferences.

Articles Covered by United Nations Conventions Ratified by New Zealand

New Zealand supports the human rights provisions of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and, through its ratification of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment has adopted the following articles:

• Article 15 Freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
• Article 16 Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse
• Article 18 Liberty of movement and nationality

Other articles (not previously included) covered by New Zealand Disability Strategy objectives

Convention article	New Zealand Disability Strategy objective
Article 6 Women with disabilities	Objective 14 Promote participation of disabled women in order to improve their quality of life
Article 7 Children with disabilities	Objective 13 Enable disabled children and youth to lead full and active lives
Article 14 Liberty and security of the person	Objective 2 Ensure rights for disabled people
Article 18 Liberty of movement and nationality	Objective 2 Ensure rights for disabled people
Article 22 Respect for privacy	Objective 2 Ensure rights for disabled people
Article 31 Statistics and data collection	Objective 10 Collect and use relevant information about disabled people and disability issues