What's Happening
Read the latest news from the Office for Disability Issues and related disability matters.
Video remote interpreting - new service to enable access to government services for Deaf people
Deaf people will soon have easier access to frontline government services thanks to a new video remote interpreter service. Video remote interpreting uses video internet technology to connect a remotely-based New Zealand Sign Language interpreter with a face-to-face meeting between a hearing government worker and a Deaf person.
Budget 2013 - Disability Issues initiatives
The Government has committed to a number of initiatives in Budget 2013 to improve the lives of those who live with disabilities. In the Disability Issues portfolio, funding is provided for:
- Think Differently campaign to promote positive attitudes and behaviours towards disabled people, $6 million over two years
- implementing the Enabling Good Lives approach to the redesign of disability support in Christchurch and Waikato, $2.5 million over three years
- monitoring by disabled people of their rights under the UN disabilities Convention, via the Convention Coalition, $275,000 per year
- promoting lifetime design in housing, $1.5 million over three years.
2012 annual report on implementing the NZ Disability Strategy
Achieving a Fully Inclusive Society 2012 is the Minister for Disability Issues annual report to Parliament on implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy. It was published in December 2012.
Independent monitoring reports 2012
The Human Rights Commission, Office of the Ombudsman and the Convention Coalition published a joint report on their activity monitoring implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December 2012. On 24 October 2012, the Convention Coalition published a report on its activity monitoring the experiences of disabled people. These independent reports were commissioned as part of New Zealand's framework to promote, protect and monitoring implementation of the UN Convention (article 33).
Getting Accessible Housing: Practical Approaches to Encouraging Industry Take-up and Meeting Need (August 2012)
The Centre for Research, Evaluation and Social Assessment reports on different levers than can be used to improve lifetime housing supply by the residential building sectors and assesses the efficacy of those levers. Comment is provided on options for improving the performance of the New Zealand housing stock by increasing the supply of dwellings incorporating lifetime design principles.
Disability Action Plan 2012-2014
The Ministerial Committee on Disability Issues has set out priorities for government agencies in its Disability Action Plan. There are three components: a shared outcomes work programme, promoting Better Public Services results to be inclusive of disabled people, and business-as-usual leading actions by single agencies.
Building accessibility standards now free online
You can now download for free the standard for making buildings and public spaces more accessible for disabled people. The 'New Zealand Standard 4121:2001 - Design for access and mobility: Buildings and associated facilities' provides a means of compliance with the New Zealand Building Code and the Building Act 2004.
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 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.
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.
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.
