What's Happening
Read the latest news from the Office for Disability Issues and related disability matters.
Work and Income Disability Innovation Fund - recipients announced
The recipients of Work and Income's Disability Innovation Fund have been announced. 17 innovative projects for getting disabled people into work or retaining them into work will receive a total of $500,000 funding.
Symposium on disability-inclusive emergency preparedness and response: learning from the Canterbury earthquakes
Read about the symposium, to be held in Christchurch on 28 and 29 May 2012.
2011 Briefing to the Incoming Minister for Disability Issues
Read the 2011 Briefing to the Incoming Minister for Disability Issues.
"Enabling Good Lives" report of the independent working group on "Day Options"
In 2011, the Minister for Disability Issues invited an independent working group to work with the Ministries of Health and Social Development to propose new ways of providing supports to people currently receiving day options from the Ministry of Health or community participation services from the Ministry of Social Development. A report was completed in August 2011. The Ministries are engaging with disability sector organisations on testing the report's recommended approach.
Update - Changing attitudes and behaviours towards disabled people
Read about the 15 community projects that are being funded to promote positive attitudes and behaviours towards disabled people. These are the result of the Making the Difference Fund second round. Also, you can read what's been acheived in the first year of the campaign in Think Differently. Year in Review 2010-2011.
Email newsletter
Read our latest email update with information on disability issues in government and news from the disability sector.
Making voting easier for disabled people
The Electoral Commission has resources designed to help make it easier for disabled people to vote in the general election and referandum.
New Zealand Sign Language Act review 2011
The review of the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006 has been released by the Minister for Disability Issues.
2011 annual report on implementing the NZ Disability Strategy
Achieving a Fully Inclusive Society 2011 is the Minister for Disability Issues annual report to Parliament on implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy. It was published in September 2011.
Disability Action Plan 2011 - 2012
In July 2011, Cabinet agreed to priorities for government agencies to implement the Disability Action Plan. Progress will be monitored by the Ministerial Committee on Disability Issues.
Budget 2011: Investing in New Zealanders with disabilities
Minister Turia has announced funding of $4 million over four years for Be. Accessible.
Release of first NZ report on implementing the UN Convention
The first New Zealand report on implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was submitted to the UN in March 2011.
New Zealand's framework to promote, protect and monitor implementation of the UN Convention
The Government has announced the establishment of a framework required by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to promote, protect and monitor implementation. The framework has participants within government and independent of government.
Budget 2010 - disability issues initiatives
Budget 2010 contains three specific funding initiatives from the disability issues portfolio. These are:
- promoting Lifetime design
- improving attitudes to disabled people
- independent monitoring of disabled people's rights.
An increase in funding has also be provided for Health-funded disability supports.