Vision
A society which provides both equity and maximum opportunity to participate for
all people.
Mission statement
To enhance and dignify the lives of people with disabilities.
Philosophy
People with disabilities must have the right and opportunity to:
• Influence and shape policy at all levels
• Enjoy equality and full participation
• Make informed choices on issues
• Enjoy dignity and respect as a person
• Live as they choose with the appropriate supports.
DPA provides:
• Strong advocacy at a national and local level as the voice of people
with disabilities and their families and whanau networks to
government and other agencies
• Comprehensive information on matters affecting people with disabilities
• Service monitoring for people with disabilities through its network of
regional assemblies and membership.
DPA Goals 2002/2003:
Goal 1: Have a growing and politically aware grass-roots organisation of
disabled people.
Goal 2: Provide a coordinated, informed disability perspective at all levels of
government policy and decision-making.
Goal 3: Provide a vehicle for the promotion of the rights, social value and
citizenship of all disabled people.
Goal 4: Eliminate the discrimination and devaluation experienced by disabled
people in New Zealand.
Contents
Page
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2
3
4
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organisation of disabled people.
6
at all levels of government policy and decision-making.
11
value and citizenship of all disabled people.
17
by disabled people in New Zealand.
23
24
Acknowledgments
DPA (New Zealand) Inc. acknowledges the generous support received from the
New Zealand Lottery Grants Board for general operating costs, the production
costs of DPA Bites (our bi-monthly newsletter) and help with the 2002 National
Assembly and Conference, and Maori advisory service costs.
We also thank the J R McKenzie Trust for helping with the 2002 National
Assembly and Conference and general administration costs and the Ministry of
Health and the Ministry of Social Development. Telecom New Zealand Ltd have
also lent support by providing four telephone lines at residential rates.
DPA also acknowledges the financial support of the following Southland
companies who helped make our 2002 National Assembly and Conference so
successful. These companies are: The Invercargill Licensing Trust, Southland
Enterprises, Southland Building Society, Southern Institute of Technology,
Southern Region DL Trust and Blue Star Taxis. Craigs Office Products contributed
as well as Southland Spirit of a Nation, The Seriously Good Chocolate Company,
Presbyterian Support Southland, Disabilities Resource Centre, Band Midnight
Cruise, Everett Studios, Macphersons Realty, Harcourts, CCS Southland and CCS
National Office, St Vincent de Paul Society, Invercargill Central Lions Club, Altrusa,
Radio Southland, Mercury TV and The Southland Times.
Our 2002 youth leadership camp was made possible because of donations given
by: The Rehabilitation Welfare Trust, The Pub Charity, New Zealand Community
Trust and New Zealand Lottery Grants Board.
Our thanks to you all.
DPA (New Zealand) Inc. would also like to thank the many people who have
given their energy, time, goodwill and expertise in order to help further the
goals of DPA.
DPA (New Zealand) Inc
Ki Te Iwi Haua O Aotearoa
The National Assembly of
People with Disability
Street address:
Level 4
Century City Tower
173-175 Victoria Street
Wellington
Postal address:
PO Box 27-524
Wellington 6035
Phone/TTY:
64-4-801-9100
Fax:
64-4-801-9565
Email: gen@dpa.org.nz
Website
http://www.dpa.org.nz
Office hours:
9am-5pm
Monday to Friday
Compiled, edited and
written by:
Sally Champion
Desktop publishing by:
Bay Typesetters Ltd
Printed by:
Madison Printing Co Ltd
Looking ahead to adulthood
Bill Wrightson, DPA President
This is the DPA (New Zealand) Inc
president’s twenty-first Annual Report.
Our twenty-first anniversary provides a
good opportunity to look at what we
have achieved in our youthful past so we
can build on it for our future.
DPA began in 1983 as an internationally
innovative disability organisation by
combining individual membership with
government agency and service provider
organisation membership, across all
impairment groups. Acting as it still does,
as the NZ representative of the two major
international disability organisations
Disabled Peoples International (DPI) and
Rehabilitation Inter national (RI), DPA has
significantly advanced the interests of all
disabled people in NZ and created
international standards in a number of
areas.
DPA’s major achievements over the past
20 years include :
•
Creating and maintaining a national
structure of regional assemblies
•
Setting up Total Mobility, the nation-
wide door-to-door accessible taxi
transport service
•
Ensuring the best access legislation in
the world for disabled people was
preserved by moving it from a welfare
environment into NZ’s mainstream
building control legislation in 1991
•
Ensuring inclusion of disability in the
1993 Human Rights Act
•
Successfully advocating for provision
of accessible bus services
•
Initiating a partnership with disabled
Maori in NZ
•
Supporting the Deaf Association of NZ
in lobbying for creation of a national
relay system
•
Playing a leading role in the
establishment of NZ Disability
Strategy and the Office for Disability
Issues
•
Supporting People First, an initiative
of people with intellectual disability,
to create their own advocacy
organisation
•
Advocating for a United Nations
Convention on Disability.
These achievements have resulted from
the hardworking voluntary commitment
of many people.
As we move into our organisational
“adulthood” it is vital that we remember
our heritage. In looking to the future we
must ensure that the hard-won struggles
of the past, particularly ground captured
in legislative entitlement, is not lost.
So to current times. The most notable
activities in which DPA has been involved
during the past year include :
•
The establishment of the Office for
Disability Issues.
•
Our six weekly meetings with the
Minister for Disability Issues. These
remain a very valuable opportunity to
put our concerns and needs directly
to our Minister.
•
Advocating for the United Nations
Convention on Disability in New York.
•
We were consulted on the production
of a draft code of practice for the
tertiary education environment for
students with impairments in New
Zealand.
•
Review of the total mobility system
by Transfund NZ and the national
inquiry into accessible public
transport in NZ by the NZ Human
Rights Commission.
•
Progressing our partnership with
Maori has produced funding to
conduct hui to identify need and these
have become a priority.
•
Meeting the needs of disabled women
has been vigorously pursued.
•
Development of our Youth Policy and
programmes.
•
Regional assemblies have been
nurtured by our National Vice
President. Some areas have grown
with new members, but increasing
membership and activating inactive
regions remains a challenge for the
National Executive Committee (NEC).
•
The current review of the Building Act
again presents DPA with the task of
ensuring that the gains of the past are
not lost or diluted.
•
MAXEQ, the business consulting arm
of DPA has made slow but steady
progress. The challenge to ensure
quality controls and sufficient,
experienced consultants to perform
the tasks that we are commissioned
to perform, remains.
Sadly, in early September, we learnt of the
death of Dame Ann Ballin. Although not
an active DPA participant she was a great
stalwart and supporter of disability
interests. She chaired the 1981
International Year of Disabled Persons in
NZ and played a major role in establishing
NZ leadership in the international
environment. Our sympathies to her
family. She will be missed.
As President I must acknowledge the
support of the many government and
other agencies who work with us. I want
also to pay tribute to the commitment and
endeavour of all our NEC members and
all those who give their time to DPA
activity throughout NZ. Finally, sincere
thanks to the Chief Executive Officer and
his national secretariat staff for their
commitment and effort in ensuring DPA
has achieved so successfully over the past
year.
As we look ahead to the next year the
current political climate provides us with
many challenges and opportunities. We
look forward to meeting those challenges
and taking those opportunities.
Bill Wrightson
DPA National President
It is with pleasure that I present my
Chief Executive Officer’s report to the
members of DPA (New Zealand) Inc.
This year DPA has continued its
evolution. We are now into our
twenty-first year. Even though we are
too modest to seek the acclaim that we
could for our contribution to New
Zealand society, it is probably time to
acknowledge that we have made a
difference. What’s more, the difference
can be attributed to the thousands of
people who have contributed their
time, energy and expertise for a
common good. Most are still with us
and beavering away, some are not. To
not recognise and acknowledge
everyone’s contribution would be
disrespectful.
While it is easy to list the many tangible
things that DPA has had a direct
influence over, it’s less easy to list the
contributions made by every DPA
member thus far. Such things as
making connections and networking,
Sunday afternoon meetings, challenging
decision-makers, putting others before
themselves, going beyond their comfort
zones etc. These are the things that
have positioned DPA where it is today.
Bearing in mind that DPA is the
consequence of the actions of so many
people over the last two decades we
can truly claim to have the mandate to
represent the views and aspirations of
disabled people in New Zealand. We
are, however, still criticised as being
unrepresentative. Such criticism
would only be valid if DPA has
misinterpreted, misrepresented or
ignored what its collective membership
have said or if there is an understanding
among disabled people that DPA’s
1,500 members aren’t aware of. The
former would be disgraceful and the
latter virtually impossible.
Because we have the mandate, we are
able to give clear, consistent and
credible advice to advance the cause of
disabled people in New Zealand so that
future generations will benefit from the
foundations we set today.
The activities that we have been
involved in this year which will have
positive outcomes for the future
include meetings with Minister for
Disability Issues Ruth Dyson and her
officials at the newly-fomed Office for
Disability Issues, the National Assembly
and Conference in Invercargill, the
Youth Leadership Development Project
and countless meetings and
submissions to ensure that the issues
facing disabled people are to the
forefront of decision-makers.
Our continued mutually respectful
relationship with Hon Ruth Dyson has
enabled us to raise and get traction on a
number of issues during the year. They
include the government’s support for a
United Nation’s disability-rights
convention, issues to do with the
discrepancies between ACC and other
government-funded support systems
and the possibility of creating a
disability commission.
Perhaps the highlight for me, in relation
to the Minister, was her willingness to
be available for informal one-on-one
sessions with members at the National
Assembly and Conference in
Invercargill.
The conference itself was a great
success. This was entirely due to Dot
Wilson and her wonderful team of
volunteers who stepped in at the
eleventh hour to organise everything.
One of my personal highlights of the
year was to attend part of the Youth
Leadership Development Camp at
Hanmer Springs. Seeing the young
people reacting positively to the new
experiences and ideas they were being
exposed to confirmed, for me, that DPA
had been right to invest in them. With
our nurturing, they will flourish to be
true leaders in their communities of
interest.
This year President Bill Wrightson is
retiring after a two-year term. My
personal thanks to Bill for his support
over this time. Because of Bill’s long
association with DPA he was able to
remind people, particularly newer ones
to the National Executive Committee,
(NEC) where DPA had come from and
why some issues keep cropping up.
Context is always useful for good
decision-making.
Finally, I acknowledge and thank the
national secretariat team. During the
year we lost the services of Robyn
Crisp and Christine Field who had both
been with DPA for about five years.
Their contributions were vital in the
work of the secretariat and I wish them
well for their future endeavours.
Looking ahead though their successors
Lorraine Dick and Sally Champion
respectively, are carving their own
niche within the team. They join with
Wendi Wicks and Robert Cameron to
support me to effectively manage DPA’s
affairs.
Gary Williams
Chief Executive Officer
DPA members have made DPA effective
Gary Williams,
Chief Executive Officer
Sara Georgeson
(Palmerston
North)
Linda Beck
(Christchurch)
David Corner
(Dunedin)
Lorna Sullivan
(Tauranga)
Ken Talbot
(Timaru)
Marion Wellington
Vice President
(Taranaki)
Chris Ford
(Dunedin)
Bill Wrightson
national President
(Wellington)
DPA National Executive Committee as at 30 June 2003
DPA National Secretariat as at 30 June 2003
Gary Williams
Chief Executive
Lorraine Dick
Office
Co-ordinator
Wendi Wicks
Policy
Researcher/
Writer
Sally Champion
Publications
Editor
Robert Cameron
Administration
and Accounts
Beverley Grammer
(Whakantane)
Dot Wilson
(Invercargill)
Jonathan Wilkinson
(Whangarei)
Carolyn Weston
(Southland)
Huhana Hickey
National Maori
Advisor
(Hamilton)
Let’s celebrate, DPA is 21 years old
Disability as a
political force -
theme of DPA 2002
Conference
A person needs to work through
various issues in order to turn their life
around and “live to the max”, according
to the organisers of last year’s biennial
DPA National Assembly and Conference.
“You cannot become political without
good self-esteem, knowing you are
valued, being able to identify what
holds you back and working through
simple processes to get to the bigger
picture stuff,” they say.
At the conference a number of
interactive workshops were offered
and participants were able to choose
two workshops to attend. The
workshop topics were:
• How to identify problems and solve
them, facilitated by Robyn Hunt or
Dot Wilson.
• How to use the media, co-facilitated
by Chris Chilton, assistant editor of
the Southland Times and Grant
Cleland or Minnie Baragwanath of
InsideOut.
• We’re OK, dealing with changing
direction, acceptance, feeling good,
rebuilding self-esteem and doing
what you never thought possible,
co-facilitated by Fran Stanat and
Gordon Georgel.
• Celebrating with the great
outdoors, a workshop about
enjoying life to the max,
demonstrating disability pride, being
out there and going for it, co-
facilitated by Anna Jameson and
Peter Dolomore.
• Women’s Issues with Lorna Sullivan.
Key note speakers at the conference
were Dr Martin Sullivan, Robyn Hunt
and the Hon Ruth Dyson.
“I want to say what a good job Southland
did organising the conference. I haven’t
heard a grumpy word just heaps of
positive comment . Well done.”
About a hundred people from all over
the country attended. This is a
snapshot of the event with comments
from a few of the participants.
Goal 1: Have a growing
and politically aware
grass roots organisation
of disabled people
This section provides reports of activity
over the last year from some of the
regional assemblies around the country
as well as information about DPA’s
2002 Conference and how DPA’s
twenty-first birthday will be celebrated.
DPA 21 years old
DPA turns 21 this year and that
landmark will be celebrated in style on
15 November 2003 with a birthday
party, the National Assembly and the
Annual General Meeting to be held in
Whakatane.
The day’s session will be followed by a
celebratory birthday dinner and dance
in the evening to mark the fact that 21
years ago in 1983, DPA was formed.
DPA 2002 Conference 00in Invercargill
“Invercargill did us proud - unfortunately
no oysters but plenty of Speights! A most
enjoyable and worthwhile conference”
Regional
Assemblies
Around the country DPA’s regional
assemblies are continuing to advocate
for the rights of disabled people locally,
raising awareness about the concerns
of people with disabilities, educating
others, and operating as a social and
advocacy network of like-minded
people.
All regional assemblies meet regularly,
mentor people, provide support and
networks for each other, and generally
deal with a full range of local issues of
concern to their community. They are
developing good working relationships
with their local authority, and most
have a representative on the local
disability advisory committee
established by their District Health
Board.
DPA Southland
Hosting the DPA National Conference
in October 2002 enabled DPA
Southland to raise our community
profile, increase individual membership
and heighten disability awareness
among all who participated in this
event.
DPA Southland accepted the invitation
for two members to serve on the DSAC
(Disability Services Advisory
Committee) to the District Health
Board.
DPA Southland participated in the
Invercargill City Council (ICC) three
one-day workshops as a solution was
sought between agencies and the
council on how the present Total
Mobility budget could best be managed
in a way that was both fair and
equitable. (It must be noted that this
did not address the lack of overall
funding, or the unmet need for
transport for disadvantaged people.) As
a result of this ICC have taken over the
administration and distribution of the
vouchers. A part-time position has been
established. In consultation with DPA,
the person specifications and
advertising have been developed.
DPA Southland was invited by the ICC
to provide three members as a
reference group for the establishment
of a disability strategy for the council.
Three members were nominated for
this role. The y supported the
contracted consultant through the
consultation process with people who
identify with disability, before holding
an open forum for family/whanau
caregivers.
DPA Southland submitted two
submissions during the year. One to the
Invercargill Passenger Transport Plan
urging for Total Mobility to remain as
priority one and the other to Statistics
New Zealand asking that the question
on disability remain for the next
census.
DPA Southland participates in the
Combined Disability Group’s six
weekly forum, bringing at times an
alternative, informative and positive
viewpoint. Copies of the New Zealand
Disability Strategy have been ordered in
for the next meeting!
Several year-three medical students
recently met with Dot Wilson who
informed them about the social model
of disability, disability pride and the
culture of disability from a personal
lived experience. Dot suggested that
next year more time be allocated so
that more members of DPA can
participate.
In response to lobbying by DPA and
member Peter Dolamore (accredited
barrier free auditor) the Lakes District
Council have advised DPA Southland
that they are to spend $5000 to
relocate two accessible parks with curb
crossings and install curb drop
crossings to the other two. This work is
to happen in Queenstown and Wanaka.
An expensive way to learn about
consultation!
A DPA Southland member has delivered
two “Tu Tikanga... Rights Now”,
workshops to members of People First
plus ongoing support, as this endeavour
is further developed.
DPA Southland has developed a
strategic plan as a guide to strengthen
the work of the local assembly. We meet
monthly in the MS Rooms and
acknowledge their hospitality.
A force to be reckoned with...you bet!
Ann Boyles
Secretary
DPA Palmerston North
and Districts
We are proud to have established a
successful partnership with the
Palmerston North City Council. We
organise several bi-monthly project
forums pertaining to disability issues
around the city and we are generally
consulted by the council before
renovations are made. This is important
to ensure we are dealing appropriately
with disability issues in the planning
stages.
We organised three forum in 2003 -
Roading Issues, Transport, which looked
at introducing accessible buses into
Palmerston Nor th and
“Breaking Barr iers”.
Barrier Free are currently addressing
issues with architects, Palmerston North
CCS and us. This centres on looking at
plans well before alterations and/or
buildings are erected so architects can
learn to clarify and address areas where
mobility issues arise.
Forums focused on a number of issues
such as accessibility, toilet accessibility,
difficult areas around town such as
pedestrian crossings, crossing the road,
wheeling and pushing wheelchairs
along footpaths, reserved disability car
parks and difficulty experienced with
some culverts.
DPA has put submissions in since 1998
for accessible buses to be introduced
into Palmerston North We are now
happy to report that starting in 2003
we have six accessible buses on five
city routes. Occasionally a bus goes out
to Massey, but until larger accessible
buses are bought to accommodate
numbers of people we can’t expect
those buses to be travelling out to
Massey.
The Transport forum had a fairly good
turn-out considering the day was wet
and miserable. The day saw us viewing
an accessible bus with umbrellas in
hand! Our president, Warren de la Haye
and his son Joshua had their photo in
the newspaper riding on an accessible
bus.
We are keen to get newspaper articles
circulating as it provides people with
updated information and we always get
informative feedback from the general
public, members and associates.
Last, but not at all least we have several
informative meetings to attend with the
Transport Forum at Horizons Regional
Council on a six monthly basis. These
meetings report on the likes of pre-paid
cards for travellers, mobility vouchers,
new changes and current dilemmas
with activities in the Manawatu region.
Yes, DPA Palmerston North is busy with
the forums we attend and we enjoy
activities that allow us to educate local
people.
Our membership is also slowly, but
surely increasing.
Warren de la Haye
President
DPA Dunedin and Districts
As a result of last years Transport Forum
and the subsequent Transport Working
Party efforts, the Human Rights
Commission is about to launch the
terms of reference for a public inquiry
into public transport in Dunedin. An
inquiry will be held in Wellington as
well. It seems these two cities seem to
represent the range of public transport
problems facing disabled people in
New Zealand. This will be held on
September 15 2003.
DPA has continued to make
submissions to the Otago Regional
Council (ORC) plans. They still keep
saying buses will be accessible with the
new standards they introduced after
the serious bus accident that happened
last year, but will not state categorically
that new buses have to be accessible.
There are still problems with bus users
not knowing when the accessible buses
that have been introduced are running
because they are not clearly timetabled.
The ORC have asked for DPA input to
make their website and other materials
accessible, which we will gladly do.
The Total Mobility budget has been
increased, but it is still being reported
that agency’s budgets are underspent,
and voucher books are being rationed.
The ORC acknowledged the extra costs
for those who use wheelchair vans, and
they have introduced a green voucher
book with an extra $4.00 discount,
which is a significant gain. The Total
Mobility scheme is being reviewed at a
national level and we can only hope for
a good outcome for those dependent
upon it.
Some positive results from the Dunedin
City Council (DCC) Annual Plan
submission - late last year a start was
made on developing a disability policy,
but this seems to have stalled.
At last the Town Hall stage is being
made accessible. DPA was directly
consulted on what might be suitable
from our point of view. Small lifting
platforms will be installed on either
side of the stage. This will make quite a
difference for those wheelchair users
and mobility impaired people at
graduations and other events held at
the Town Hall.
Another successful venture with the
DCC has been in the development of an
accessible route from South Dunedin in
to the centre of the city and a similar
corridor will be established from North
Dunedin over the next year or so. This
means that one side of the road will
have curb ramps etc to allow safe
access by those using scooters and
wheelchairs. They have also put out a
walking track brochure, which
indicates accessible tracks.
The DCC are making significant efforts
to consult on issues and problems and
the submission plan process seems to
adequately highlight areas that are a
problem. Well done DCC!
An open mental health forum to gather
ideas for a submission to the Otago
District Health Board’s Mental Health
Strategy, was held in July and we are
waiting for the finalised plan to be
released.
DPA has also made submissions to
Statistics New Zealand and the Chief
Electoral Office. Statistics New Zealand
wanted to remove the disability
question from the next census in 2006.
We strongly objected in our submission,
to the removal of this question, as there
is a lack of statistics on disabled people.
The removal of the question would be
directly against objectives in the New
Zealand Disability Strategy. We await
the outcome of this submission
process.
DPA also made a submission to the
Chief Electoral Office in regard to
improving services to voters with
disabilities. The submission looked at:
symbols to identify accessible voting
places, the accessibility of voting
booths and venues, possible alternatives
for those with visual impairments, those
who require assistance etc. After a
teleconference recently, I am certain
that some improvements will be in
place for the next election in 2005.
We are about to start pushing for better
physical access into in the
physiotherapy pool at Dunedin
Hospital, as well as for better services
from the region’s main health-based
rehabilitation provider, at the ISIS
Centre. This centre is situated in the
grounds of Wakari Hospital and
provides inpatient and outpatient
services for people with disabilities.
Next year, with the aid of a DCC events
grant, we hope to invite an Australian
photographer/artist (who photographs
disabled people) to mount an
exhibition in Dunedin and perhaps
other areas of the country.
While our membership has dropped
slightly, we have also gained a few new
members and I welcome them to our
branch. DPA continues to be consulted
by local organisations and the news
media on issues relating to disabled
people and it’s hoped we will continue
to be the voice for disabled people in
Dunedin. DPA Dunedin and Districts
can only be strong with your support,
so please feel free to attend any
meetings.
I would like to thank all the executive
committee for their time, support and
energy over the past year. I feel
privileged to have worked with you all
for another year and hope that we can
all continue to advocate for
accessibility and inclusion in our own
community.
Patsy Wakefield
President
DPA West Coast
We have been in negotiations with the
Westland District Council about a new
pool and buildings in Hokitika. I am
pleased with this because the council
came to us for an opinion before going
any further on the project.
We are sad to report the passing of a
long time member of the West Coast
DPA. Mrs Rhoda Tunnage, who passed
away on July 17, 2003.
We continue working on the Coast and
invite anyone to attend our AGM on the
October 14, 2003 and stand for the
president’s role. I am retiring due to
work pressure.
Andy Langford
President
DPA Christchurch and
Districts
We have had an incredibly busy and
proactive year with a shift to new
premises and ongoing funding to
support our activities.
DPA have been involved with the
Christchurch City Council (CCC)
personnel regarding the Bus Exchange,
the Community Focus group (relating
to annual community funding) and the
ongoing issue of the establishment of a
disability reference group. We worked
with the council to produce a City
Council Consultation Kit - determining
the protocols and needs for council
departments to adhere to when
working with people with disabilities.
An approach to the Red Bus Company
(a subcontractor of CCC) concerning
both the shuttle and regular bus
designs and safety restraints pertaining
to wheelchairs achieved very
satisfactory outcomes. DPA as one of
the 200 plus signatories to the Healthy
Christchurch Charter has been
represented at the ongoing meetings
which emphasise working together to
promote, protect and improve the
health and wellbeing of people in
Christchurch.
DPA Christchurch and Districts
maintain representation on the
committees of Civil Defence, COSS
(Council of Social Services), Canterbury
University, Christchurch Polytechnic,
Canterbury District Health Board
(Disability Support Advisory
Committee), National Council of
Women and the Total Mobility
Committee. Outcomes for the latter
have been Total Mobility stickers are on
all taxis who are included in the
scheme. The subsidy increased to $15
and $20 for wheelchair taxis and books
of 25 vouchers are available for high
users. All users are entitled to two
books.
In addition to various speaking
engagements, submissions completed
include those to the Christchurch City
Council Public Streets Enclosures
review, accessible parking sites,
Canterbury District Health Board and
the Ministry of Economic Development
regarding the Building Act review. We
were also a special focus for the
Christchurch Polytechnic tertiary
review seeking improvement in access,
content, eligibility and financial
affordability. The polytechnic is now a
corporate member!
DPA and the Human Rights
Commission Speakers Forum Network
have worked very closely together
coordinating a range of forums
including: elections, human rights and
disability, and a mental health forum.
We also hosted a “Disability Pride” wine
and cheese evening at which Hon Ruth
Dyson and Gary Endacott were guest
speakers.
DPA participates in quarterly Disability
Network meetings focused on health
and disability service and resource
issues. Each meeting has a local keynote
speaker. Several committee members
and others from organizations we work
with took part in a civil defence
exercise - great contributions were
made by our people.
We continue our vigorous advocacy
primarily related to access for the
disabled at every opportunity.
Locations include shopping malls, the
Contemporary Art Centre and the new
Christchurch Art Gallery. We have
consulted with authorities about Bus
Exchange facilities, a critical pedestrian
crossing and the formulation of a policy
for disabled people within the Anglican
Diocese of Christchurch going before
Synod this year. Our efforts are warmly
appreciated and recognised in our local
community.
Gloria Weeks
President
DPA Eastern Bay of
Plenty
DPA Eastern Bay of Plenty has moved
from strength-to-strength this year
getting off to a great start with the
formulation of a strategic plan, which
has enabled us to work as a
professional, proactive and effective
assembly.
At the beginning of the year, our
priority was to go to the outer areas of
the Eastern Bay to ensure that disabled
people outside of Whakatane were able
to participate and that their voice was
being heard. We have held public
forums in Opotiki and Kawerau and
have visited support groups in these
areas to inform them of DPA and to
encourage them to take a collective
approach to issues they have been
struggling to resolve. We took
advantage of opportunities, as they
arose, to speak to the Whakatane Stroke
Club, the Kawerau Recovery Group,
and the Disability Community Trust to
inform them of the work of DPA.
Physical access is still a large area of
concern and development. Led by
Barrier Free Auditor Adrian Wellington
we formed The Access Committee with
representation from the Kawerau,
Whakatane, and Opotiki District
Councils, CCS Bay of Plenty, DPA
10
members and many other interested
people to look at access in the Eastern
Bay of Plenty area. The committee
meets bi-monthly at the council
chambers. This committee has worked
extremely well and achieved huge
results. The council representatives and
all others involved have greatly
increased their knowledge about access
issues.
DPA made submissions to both the
Whakatane and Kawerau District
Council’s Annual Plan with a positive
response from the Whakatane District
Council supporting our submission
regarding the Whakatane Airport access
issue to be resolved.
Youth Zone was set-up earlier this year
to ensure participation and encourage
leadership development of disabled
youth. In December 2002 we held a
potluck dinner and games evening for
the younger age group and great fun
was had by all! As a result of this group,
friendships have formed and several
activities have been organised outside
of the initial group. In mid-2003, DPA
hosted a youth leadership evening for
five young adults who learnt about the
formulation of personal pathways. They
were given the opportunity to dream
and create goals for their long term and
immediate future.
We have established and maintained
some key relationships with
organisations such as the Support Net
(NASC) Agency with a memorandum of
understanding and being consulted and
involved in matters of training, policy,
and planning within the organisation.
The Disabilities Resource Centre Trust
(DRCT) continues to support and
consult with DPA as do Whakatane
District Council, Environment Bay of
Plenty, Bay of Plenty District Health
Board, Disability Community Trust and
other support groups.
Hosting the National DPA Assembly this
coming November has meant that DPA
has had to increase its profile and
promotion to the wider community
which has been of great benefit to us.
We increased our profile in the
following ways: participation in the
community banner project held by
DRCT, meeting with the Hon Bill
English, promotional displays at markets
and council buildings, and
the inclusion of Eastern Bay schools in
our Disability Pride Month activities
resulted in schools holding events to
celebrate disabled people.
Members also enjoyed social functions
held by DPA. A barbecue was held in
the summer and a mid-winter
Christmas dinner for local groups and
new members was held in July. As a
result of these functions, we have seen
our membership increase and they
have given current members the
opportunity to have social time
together, which has been fantastic.
The main lobby issue, which we have
been involved in this year, has been the
accessible transport (taxis) when it
came to our attention that the local
service was to be discontinued. We
have continued throughout the year to
work on this issue to ensure disabled
people are not isolated further by lack
of access to transport options. This has
been successful and we look forward to
the new service starting in the not too
distant future. I would like to
personally thank Mary McLaren of
Environment Bay of Plenty for her
tireless effort and consultation with
DPA.
Definitely the biggest effort and
achievement for us has been the
organising and hosting of the National
DPA Assembly. Thank you to all the
organisations who have supported us
both physically and financially, to make
this an event we know DPA will
remember for a long time. Most
importantly, I would like to say a huge
thank you to my regional executive
committee for your commitment, hard
work and enthusiasm throughout this
year. Working with a great team like you
has made this last year extremely
enjoyable and satisfying.
Finally, the work, which DPA has
undertaken, would not have been
possible without the financial
assistance of Lottery Welfare, thank you.
This year has really shown me that
when a team of dedicated people work
together on a common cause, like to
achieve positive outcomes for disabled
people, anything is possible! I look
forward to what the New Year will
bring for disabled people in the Eastern
Bay of Plenty and New Zealand.
Beverley Grammer
President
DPA Napier
DPA Napier has introduced guest
speakers at every second meeting to
encourage more members, particularly
younger disabled people. It would be
great to see some of our new younger
members taking on executive roles.
While our membership is steady some
of our older members have died during
the last year. Napier Region celebrates
twenty years this year and we are
planning a luncheon. We still have an
office in the city so that members or
the public can come in and see what
we offer.
Kneeling buses have come to Hawkes
Bay. Two buses travel across to Hastings
Hospital every hour. Although this bus
is great there is only one wheelchair
space, so unless you can fold your chair
and transfer it, it restricts people with
disabilities.
Total Mobility is a great problem in the
Hawkes Bay. The Regional Council has
taken on responsibility for this role and
put in place new rules, but
unfortunately forgot we are working
with people with disabilities and
people are not leaving their homes
because of the higher costs.
This greatly effects those who work, or
who are doing work experiences for
educational purposes.
DPA Napier is closely watching and will
present a report to the Regional
Council in mid-September.
Verona Moynihan
Regional Secretary
DPA Wellington
This year has largely been a time of
waiting and watching for DPA
Wellington but in late 2002 we saw the
instigation of some significant
processes that have come out of the
assembly’s efforts.
The Wellington City Council’s
Absolutely Accessible Wellington Forum
was held in December 2002. This forum
saw the instigation of a number of
positive initiatives in the development
of the relationship between the
Wellington City Council (WCC) and
people with disabilities. A number of
issues that were identified at the forum
gave the new Disability Liaison Officer
plenty to get her teeth into, including:
physical issues such as curb cuts and
accessible parking as well as
relationship issues such as the review
of the disability reference group terms
of reference. Another forum due to be
held in November will provide the
opportunity to measure progress.
International Day of Disabled Persons
was marked in Wellington by another
successful concert at Te Papa.
Waterfront development plans
including Chaffers Park plans are being
monitored by Access & Mobility to
ensure that accessibility issues are
represented. Roger Hay has taken the
lead with this work.
DPA Wellington is watching with keen
interest the progress and outcome of
the Human Rights Commission Enquiry
into public transport for people with
disabilities.
Frances Acey has been taking a major
role in monitoring the New Regional
Hospital Development Project,
particularly advocating the need for
hydrotherapy services to be maintained.
Robert Overend has also identified and
presented concerns about access to the
new hospital main entrance. The Capital
and Coast DHB, Disability Support
Advisory Committee hosted a forum as
part of its development of a New
Zealand Disability Strategy
implementation framework in August.
DPA Wellington continues to meet on
the first Wednesday of the month. We
have shortened the business meeting
duration to have time to hold open
forum discussions on specific issues
each month such as education,
employment and bioethics. Our
members continue chipping away at
the barriers to inclusion in the capital
city - in between having babies (Ali
Bradshaw and Paul Gibson) and flying
off around the world to make it a better
place (Wendi Wicks, Robyn Hunt).
Maurice Priestley
President
Disability issues
getting a higher
profile
Goal 2: Provide a
coordinated, informed
disability perspective at
all levels of government
policy and decision-
making.
DPA believes people with
disabilities have a basic human
right to participate in all aspects
of the New Zealand community.
This includes equal rights to
education, employment, recreation,
rehabilitation, health and
accommodation services and the
right to a meaningful and adequate
income.
This objective will only be realised if a
coordinated, informed disability
perspective is put forward in the area
of government policy and decision-
making.
The following section looks at what
happened within the government
sector over the last year and the issues
DPA have raised and are pursuing. DPA
also has members who are
representatives on a cross-section of
organisations involved in the disability
sector. In this section we also offer
summaries of end of year reports from
some of these representatives.
Disability Minister
