Office for Disability Issues: Email Update

On this page:

Part 1: Office for Disability Issues and government news
01: New Years Honours List 2008
02: The Minister for Disability Issues’ 2007 annual progress report on NZ Disability Strategy released
03: Disability Advisory Council's meeting 8-9 November 2007
04: Name Change: United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities 3 December
05: Issue 32 of the Social Policy Journal is now available
06: Department of Conservation brochure: Easy Access Walks: South Island
07: Disability Mentoring Week 7-11 April 2008

Part 2: Current consultations
08: Update of the New Zealand Transport Strategy - call for submissions by 29 February 2008
09: Wellington Transport Strategy -call for submissions by 22 February 2008
10: Health Research Council: 5 year Strategic Plan - feedback by 22 February 2008

Part 3: Sector news
11: ID360 Short Film Competition for Young People - closes 29 February 2008
12: Postgraduate Programme in Disability Studies, Massey University

Part 4: Events & conferences

Part 1: Office for Disability Issues and government news

01: New Years Honours List 2008

Disabled people and people working in the disability sector have received honours in the New Year list. See them on the Office website: Recognising Achievers.

02: The Minister for Disability Issues’ 2007 annual progress report on NZ Disability Strategy released

The Minister for Disability Issues’ 2007 annual progress report on implementation of the NZ Disability Strategy was released in December 2007. Under the NZ Public Health and Disability Act 2000, the Minister for Disability Issues is required to report to Parliament by the end of each calendar year on progress in implementing the NZ Disability Strategy.

In 2007, departments were asked to combine their NZ Disability Strategy implementation plan for the year ahead with their report on progress. These combined implementation documents are available in the Work Plans section.

The Minister's annual progress report is now available on the Office for Disability Issues website.

For more information: Progress reports July 2006 to June 2007

03: Disability Advisory Council's meeting 8 - 9 November 2007

A summary of the Disability Advisory Council meeting is available at: Meetings in 2007.

04: Name Change: United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities 3 December

The United Nations General Assembly has renamed the International Day of Disabled Persons, observed every year on 3 December, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The 192 Member States of the General Assembly took that decision unanimously when adopting a resolution on "Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons: realizing the Millennium Development Goals for persons with disabilities". The Assembly also called on United Nations agencies and bodies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and protection of the environment to ensure that the disability perspective is incorporated in their work. In a related development, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is now six ratifications away from coming into force. It was ratified by Mexico on 17 December, by El Salvador on 14 December and by Nicaragua on 7 December. Twenty ratifications are needed to bring the treaty into force.

For more information:
Website: http://www.un.org/disabilities/

05: Issue 32 of the Social Policy Journal is now available

The Social Policy Journal of New Zealand is published three times a year by the Ministry of Social Development as a forum for public debate on social policy. There are articles that may be of interest to the disability sector.

For more information:
Website: Issue 32 of the Social Policy Journal
Email: info@msd.govt.nz
Phone: 04 916 3300.

06: Department of Conservation brochure: Easy Access Walks: South Island

The Department of Conservation's brochure - Easy Access Walks in the South Island gives selected walks and accessibility rating based on track type and facilities available. The brochure is available on-line.

For more information:
Website: Easy Access Walks in the South Island

07: Disability Mentoring Week 7-11 April 2008

Disability Mentoring Week is scheduled to be run in the week of the 7-11 of April this year. The objective of this project is to initiate a one-on-one mentoring relationship between a State sector employee with a disability and a final year student from a secondary or tertiary institution who also experiences a disability of some kind. Volunteer mentors and student participants are now being sought.

For more information:
Phone: Craig Scott 04 495 6724 or Jasmine Koh 04 439 6323
Email: mainstream@ssc.govt.nz.
Website: Disability Mentoring Week 2008

Part 2: Current consultations

08: Update of the New Zealand Transport Strategy - call for submissions by 29 February 2008

The Ministry of Transport is seeking submissions on priorities and targets for the transport sector out to 2040. A discussion document is available, which you can access and use to make your feedback. The deadline for submissions is 29 February 2008.

The proposed outcomes and targets are based about the objectives of the New Zealand Transport Strategy. This Update will:

• provide direction for the transport sector until 2040 in the context of the government’s sustainability agenda and other government strategies in the areas of energy and energy efficiency
• translate that direction into high-level targets for the transport sector and intermediate targets for sub-sectors (air, sea, road, vehicle fleet, rail, freight, public transport, walking and cycling) to help achieve the high-level targets
• provide clearer guidelines for decisions about funding allocations - contain an action plan, including accountabilities for actions, reflecting how we intend to reach the transport targets.

Each section contains proposed targets and key discussion points. Your responses to them will help the government determine the right approach to the objectives and the targets, how resources should be allocated, and what mix of policies will successfully deliver the vision in the New Zealand Transport Strategy.

Also, the Human Rights Commission has released an issues paper on human rights in the Update of the New Zealand Transport Strategy.

More information:
Ministry of Transport discussion paper and submission form
Human Rights Commission issues paper

09: Wellington Transport Strategy - call for submissions by 22 February 2008

Wellington City Council, Transit New Zealand and the Greater Wellington Regional Council are seeking views on Wellington's transport system. Feedback on the Ngarunga to Wellington Airport Transport Strategy Study Report close 22 February 2008.

10: Health Research Council: 5 year Strategic Plan - feedback by 22 February 2008

The Health Research Council has released its 5 year Strategic Plan for public comment. The closing date for feedback is 22 February 2008.

Part 3: Sector News

11: ID360 Short Film Competition for Young People - closes 29 February 2008

The Ministry of Youth Development is inviting young New Zealanders aged 12-24 to enter a short film competition on "Identity and Diversity", and what it means to be a young person in New Zealand today.

For more information:
Email: angela.meyer002@msd.govt.nz
Phone: 04 916 3657
Fax: 04 918 0091
Website: http://www.id360.govt.nz

12: Postgraduate Programme in Disability Studies, Massey University

The Post Graduate Diploma in Disability Studies is being offered in 2008. This programme is taught in extramural mode (distance education) either full time or part time over 4 years. It focuses on the social and political aspects of disability as debated by disability scholars and activists.

Graduates in Disability Studies have gained employment as policy analysts, in NASCs, in disability services, education, social work, occupational therapy and advocacy and in central and local government.

For more information:
Contact: Debbie Hill
Email: D.M.Hill@massey.ac.nz
Website: Post Graduate Diploma in Disability Studies

Part 4: Events and conferences

Information about the following events and conferences can be found on the Office website: Events and conferences.

• Show Your Ability Travelling Equipment Roadshow February-March 2008.
• Imagine Better Events 2008.
• Sue Larkey Seminars: Autism: Teaching Strategies and Positive Behaviour Modification, April 2008.
• South Pacific Conference 2008: The New Face of Fundraising Auckland May 2008.

Cloud 9 Foundation 2008 Programme

Details of Cloud 9 Foundation, a support group for children with Aspberger's Syndrome, are on its website.

For more information: http://www.withyoueverystepoftheway.com/