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.

Page

Vision, Mission, Philosophy and DPA Goals

Acknowledgements

President’s report

Chief Executive Officer’s report

DPA National Executive committee and Secretariat

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.

Auditor’s report and financial statements.

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

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

moves into cabinet

The Hon Ruth Dyson, retained the

disability portfolio following the

general election on 27 July 2002.

The election produced a minority

coalition government of the Labour

Party and the Progressive Coalition,

with support from United Future. The

Disability Issues Minister moved from

being a minister outside cabinet, to

being in the 20 member cabinet

executive.

DPA says legislative

mandate is needed

DPA thinks it’s great that Disability

Issues Minister, Ruth Dyson, is in

cabinet, but believes a legislative

mandate is required to support the

disability issues portfolio within

government. Most ministers who have

portfolios also have legislation specific

to their role and responsibility.

DPA has six weekly meetings with the

Minister. These remain a very valuable

opportunity to put our concerns and

needs directly to her.

The Office for

Disability Issues to

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provide leadership

across government

sector

The Office of Disability

Issues 2002/2003

• 1 July 2002 the new Office for

Disability Issues was established

within the Ministry of Social

Development (MSD).

• It took over disability issues from

the Ministry of Health. The Ministry

of Health will now focus on its core

area of responsibility, disability

support services for younger people

• The role of the Office of Disability

Issues is to give policy advice on

disability issues, lead the

government’s implementation and

monitoring of the New Zealand

Disability Strategy, ensure that a

disability perspective is included in

all relevant cabinet papers and

report directly to the Minister for

Disability Issues. The new Office is

to provide leadership and

coordinated action across all

sectors. This cross-sectorial

approach recognises that people

with disabilities face barriers in

many areas, including education,

employment, housing, transport and

social services.

• 30 September 2002 Dr Jan Scown

was appointed the director of the

new Office for Disability Issues.

• Seven full-time staff were employed

initially. This will expand to ten

over the next five years.

DPA offers the Office a

disabled person’s

perspective

The Disability Issues Office brings to

fruition a concept advocated by DPA

for years - to separate the government

administration of disability issues from

that of health. Even so, DPA has

concerns about how the Office will fit

within government.

DPA doesn’t want the Office to

become ineffectual because its staff

haven’t the prerequisite knowledge of

disability issues, or to see the Office

becoming submerged by other

sections of the large Social

Development Ministry.

After voicing these views DPA was

invited to provide a representative on

the Ministry of Social Development

panel interviewing applicants for roles

in the Office for Disability Issues.

DPA also meets regularly with the

Office’s Director Dr Jan Scown and

maintains a productive ongoing

working relationship with the Office.

Ideally DPA would like to see a

disability commission established that

would have its own legal mandate and

independence. Such a commission

wouldn’t be so dependent on the

goodwill of the government of the

time to ensure disabled citizens had

their rights protected.

Disability Services

DPA believes that every person with

a disability, and every family which

includes a member with a

disability, should receive whatever

services and other support or

assistance which may be needed to

reduce the disabling effects of

impairment and the handicapping

effects of disability. Services should

be designed to make possible for

each person a full, meaningful and

constructive life of their own

choosing.

Disability Services 2002/

2003

• Some $700 million in funding for

disability support services for older

people will be transferred from the

Ministry of Health to District Health

Boards (DHB’s) from 1 October this

year.

• From 1 October 2003 the Disability

Services Directorate within the

Ministry of Health will be working

on the provision of disability

services for younger people.

• Disability Issues Minister Ruth Dyson

announced that asset testing of older

people in long-term residential care

will be progressively removed as

from 1 July 2005

• Over the last 18 months the Ministry

of Health has been doing a

developmental review of Needs

Assessment and Service Co-

ordination Agencies (NASCs). The

implementation of the NASC action

plans will include the establishment

of a national training scheme and a

national steering group, which

includes representation from

disabled people.

• Improving training and conditions

for the support workforce and

addressing payment inconsistencies

for family/whanau carers are on-

going issues the Ministry of Health

are currently addressing in

consultation with the sector.

Over the last year DPA has successfully

re-emphasised its long-term goal to have

disabled service users included as an

integral part of decision-making about

changes to disability services and this is

increasingly happening.

DPA has a representative (Mike

Gourley) on the committee looking at

health support workforce changes - the

Health Workforce Advisory Committee

(HWAC). There are thirty thousand

people in the support workforce

working across the areas of vocational

support, tertiary education and

residential care. Training and wages

have always been notoriously

inadequate which has been reflected in

the quality and consistency of care

provided.

At the end of 2002 HWAC released a

document of draft recommendations

called ‘Framing Future Directions’ then

held a summit in March 2003 to engage

health professionals, service providers

and users in discussion. After the

summit HWAC put forward

recommendations to the Minister of

Health.

Mike Gourley DPA representative on

HWAC says in his end of year report:

The unbundling of the health and

disability workforce has remained one

of my most enduring priorities: to

ensure that the generic health sector is

not excluded from our consideration,

while maintaining the principle of

support workforce issues as a separate

and distinct subject of consideration

within a related but separate process.

At the summit six groups were formed

to consider the six chapters of

‘Framing Future Directions’, with a

seventh group assembled to consider

how to make it all connect. We were

able to get a smattering of disabled

people involved, with a natural

concentration in the group

considering the disability chapter.

From the discussions held in that

group, I believe we were able to

achieve two important objectives:

• Retain a focus on the general

health sector, by recommending

strategies to make that sector more

responsive to the needs of the

disabled population

• Set up a process for progressing the

separate and distinct consideration

of support workforce issues,

through the identification of a

different lead agency to progress it

We’ve largely achieved what we set

out to do in the summit discussion

group; that is, suggest actions relating

to the general health sector to make it

more responsive. Of particular note

here, is that the recommendations call

on DHB’s and other agencies to both

acknowledge the expertise of disabled

people, and provide opportunities for

relevant training to take place.

As regards the support workforce, the

recommendations require a workshop

or workshops to be held to establish

an appropriate lead agency to

progress support workforce issues. This

has the potential of establishing a

clearly separate and disability-led

process.

I understand that the Minister has

instructed the committee to focus on

medical workfor ce issues (further

proof if any was required that HWAC

is profoundly inappropriate to

consider the support workforce),

which has led to the proposal to set up

separate subcommittees.

HWAC has already agreed to the

establishment of a parallel Maori

issues committee, with quite a degree

of autonomy.

I consider it to be a priority of my

work with HWAC to:

a) see to the re-establishment of our

Technical Advisory Group to

supervise the further development

of a disability perspective;

b) ensure the workshop or workshops

occur, with appropriate resourcing

and representation, as soon as can

be arranged, probably early 2004.

In the meantime, we should continue

to press the link between HWAC’s

purpose and our concern with the

process being pursued by the Age Care

Forum.

As a wider group DPA have stated that

they support separate development on

the disability support work force, and

urged that any training initiatives for the

disability support workforce

operationalise Whakanui Oranga (New

Zealand Disability Strategy).

DPA is also concerned about a lack of

coordination with this work within the

wider sector. DPA was invited to give

feedback to a training proposal for

careworkers that was presented to us

from the Age Care Forum (a group of

age care groups) in October 2002. The

proposal appeared to have no

relationship to the HWAC

developments, and would be imposing

conceptually inadequate and medical

model concepts on a workforce who

deserve better.

Education a key

priority

Education 2002/2003

• Discussion at the 2002 DPA National

Assembly and Conference

highlighted the need for more

support and resources for disabled

people throughout the whole

education system and particularly

during periods of transition from

level to level. Resources and support

don’t follow a student during their

educational life and often need to be

fought for by parents, or the disabled

person over and over again.

• A code of practice is now being

developed in the tertiary education

environment for impaired students

and DPA was consulted on the draft

by ACHIEVE (who are doing the

work on behalf of government)

• Hon Ruth Dyson told the 2002

conference that a review would also

be done on the Special

Supplementary Grant and that

government would work to uphold

the right (and provide the necessary

support) for all children to attend

their local school after a survey

showed about 11% of children with

disabilities were not able to enrol at

the school of their choice. The

school was unwelcoming, or special

services and equipment were not

available.

• The Supreme Court upheld part of

the Daniel’s Case, a court action

taken by a group of parents

concerned that changes in special

education policy had led to a

reduction in support, and DPA have

responded to the decision.

DPA response to the

Daniel’s case decision

DPA thinks segregating children with

disabilities and reopening special

education units would be a backward

step.

DPA, IHC and CCS, made this statement

in response to news that the Supreme

Court had upheld part of the Daniel’s

Case, a court action taken by a group of

parents concerned that changes in

special education policy had led to a

reduction in support.

DPA, IHC and CCS were concerned that

the Daniel’s case, and the publicity

surrounding it, would lead to a

mushrooming of special units and re-

litigation of the policy that excluded

disabled children from mainstream

education.

DPA believes it is essential that we

keep on track towards inclusion, where

all children learn and grow together

and says the issue is one of appropriate

use of resources, of teachers having

training and support and of schools

accepting that all children have a right

to a quality education.

“We acknowledge the families who

took this action were obviously deeply

frustrated, but the issue is more

complicated than the development of

policy - it’s about a whole attitude

towards people with disabilities that

leads to them being segregated from

their peers.”

DPA representative

Huhana Hickey

National Executive Committee member

Huhana Hickey is the DPA

representative on two Ministry of

Education advisory groups - the

Physically Disabled Children’s Advisory

Group and the Special Needs Education

for Disabled Children Group.

In her end of year report Huhana says:

Since being appointed to the

Physically Disabled Children’s

Advisory Group I have also now been

appointed to a sub-group called the

research advisory group.

Research is being undertaken to look

at the needs of the child and their

whanau and the best way of

providing for these needs. There has

been a lot of discussion around

mainstream programmes and

specialised programmes with the

arguments around for and against

being fairly even.

The research is due to be presented at

the end of September 2003 and I look

forward to being able to present it to

any interested parties. The research

has Maori and mainstream

components although the Maori

component only looks at rural needs

and not much has been done to look

at urban needs of disabled Maori

children, this however is being

considered in the wider picture of the

research.

I am working with several other

consumer advisors in these groups

now, so along with teachers,

headmasters and those working in the

field of education and other needs for

disabled children, we have developed

a representative group. There appears

to be a growing commitment by the

Ministry of Education special needs

group to increase consumer

participation when consulting and

they have stated their commitment to

comply with the New Zealand

Disability Strategy. They meet

regularly with the Minister and the

Office of Disabilities Issues raising any

issues and receiving advise on

direction.

The two main groups meet three times

a year each and the research advisory

group meets as often as it needs to.

Changes to the NZ

Human Rights Act

DPA believes that people with

disabilities have equal rights to

those of all other people in New

Zealand society, including the right

to participate in all aspects of

economic, social and political life.

These rights must be protected by

the Human Rights Act (1993).

Human Rights Act 2002/

2003

New ways to tackle human rights issues

have been established with changes to

the Human Rights legislation including:

• Government is now more

accountable to anti-discrimination

standards where previously it was

exempt. More emphasis is being

placed on tackling and resolving

systemic issues. Systemic issues are

issues that affect a group of people

because their needs have not been

taken into account when systems

and processes were designed.

• A full-time Equal Employment

Opportunities (EEO) Commissioner

is to be appointed to the

Commission and a small EEO unit

will be established.

• The Human Rights Commission has

a new disputes resolution system

that is expected to be more flexible

and accessible.

• The Commission has responsibility

for the development of a national

plan of action for human rights in

New Zealand. A national plan of

action is like a “stock-take” on where

New Zealand is at with human

rights and what needs to happen to

improve the situation. The sort of

things that might result from a

national plan of action are:

suggestions for changes to laws,

education to promote human rights,

programmes to improve the

situation of disadvantaged groups.

• Complaints of disability

discrimination continue to be

significant, accounting for almost

25% of all complaints received by

the Human Rights Commission

during the first six months of this

year.

DPA involvement in

developing a National

Plan of Action

Consultation with human rights groups

and non-government organisations

began in October 2002 with meetings

in Auckland and Wellington, at which

DPA was involved.

In early 2003 Christchurch-based DPA

national executive committee member,

Linda Beck, was appointed to the

Human Rights Commission’s new key

external advisory body, the National

Advisory Council.

As a member of the Council she will be

advising on Mana ki te Tangata - New

Zealand Action Plan for Human Rights

(NZAPHR).

The project to develop the NZAPHR,

previously the National Plan of Action

for Human Rights, was launched last

December and is designed to reinforce

fundamental human rights such as

freedom of expression.

It will also provide a framework for

making human rights and issues of

fairness central to areas such as health,

education, housing and employment.

Human Rights Chief Commissioner

Rosslyn Noonan says members of the

20-strong council have considerable

experience in human rights issues and

will provide an invaluable source of

advice, reflect the diversity of New

Zealand society and cover a broad

geographical spread.

Advisors from the Office of the

Commissioner for Children, Maori

Language Commission, Te Taura Whiri i

te Reo Maori, and Mental Health

Commission will advise the project.

The rights action plan is to be

developed and completed late 2004

and will involve public consultation.

The plan is expected to set the human

rights agenda for the next five to ten

years, monitoring how well New

Zealand is doing in terms of human

rights and providing a set of

recommendations for improvement.

Employment

Employment 2002/2003

• Repealing the unacceptable and

inappropriate Disabled Persons

Employment Promotion Act 1960,

and revising the under-rate workers

permit system, will cost the

government $2.73 million.

• EEO activity in the public sector

indicates that 58% of departments

and ministries reported little or no

progress in the overall

representation of disabled people.

This percentage was higher than for

any other group.

• Supported employment continues

to grow and develop, both in

numbers of organisations offering

the service, and as an option for

people who find it difficult to

compete in the open labour market.

DPA cheer repeal of the

Disabled Persons

Employment Promotion

Act

Long criticised by DPA, the Disabled

Persons Employment Promotion Act

has in the past meant many people

with disabilities have not received fair

treatment in their workplace. For

example the Act has enabled

organisations, like sheltered workshops,

to seek exemptions from paying

minimum wages and providing holiday

entitlements for their workers.

When the Act is repealed in 2006

people with disabilities in an

employment relationship will have the

same rights as everyone else.

Workbridge refocusing

their efforts

DPA National Executive Committee

member Huhana Hickey is Chairperson

of the Workbridge Council. In this end

of year report she talks about her work

with Workbridge.

I have worked with Workbridge Chief

Executive Ruth Harrison a lot and

developed good communication with

her. Workbridge is looking healthy for

the first time in years. We have new

board appointments (where we

sought a balance of genders and

skills) about to be taken up and clear

directions on how to open the

employment market for people with

disabilities seeking employment.

There is still a sense of general

misunderstanding of the role of

Workbridge and in discussion with the

CEO, this is something that has been

identified as needing work.

The CEO has travelled extensively

around the country working with

disability sector groups and ministries

to answer any queries and concerns,

and to explain Workbridge to

everyone. As a result of this, there are

varying degrees of understanding of

the Workbridge role in employment for

disabled people. Support from the

government sector is varied regionally.

While the Waikato has now developed

an intersectorial team with good

support and funding from Work and

Income NZ to initiate a pilot to run

the job plus disability programme,

other areas haven’t achieved the same

level of networking across the sector.

People are still raising past concerns

with Workbridge and some still see lots

of problems when they go to seek

support for employment and training,

but the CEO has encouraged open

communication and she meets as

often as she can with anyone if they

are willing to host her. This has broken

down many of the barriers that

existed two years ago and opened the

path to new negotiations with the

private sector.

Ruth is managing to change the

negative aspects of Workbridge and

create a new environment with

government departments and the

community which is supportive and

focused to bring disability

employment issues into their realm. It

has been an honour to be a part of

such dramatic changes.

Disability Statistics

DPA believes that there are many

issues in the field of disability that

require in-depth study so as to

enhance the quality of life of

people with disabilities. DPA will

encourage such research and

provide infor mation as

practicable.

Disability Statistics 2002/

2003

• During 2002 Statistics New Zealand

released a series of nine snapshots

of information on key facts about

disability and as it relates to Maori,

Pacific peoples, people in residential

care, children, sensory disabilities,

physical disabilities, intellectual

disabilities, and psychiatric and

psychological disabilities. Disability

information from the 2001 census

was used to select samples for post-

censal disability surveys.

• A discussion document from

Statistics New Zealand called,

Census 2006 - Preliminar y Views

on Content recommends removing

disability as a topic from the 2006

Census.

DPA believes disability

statistics are vital

DPA believes gathering disability

statistics needs to be enshrined in the

Disability Act because people with

impairments make up 20% of the

population.

DPA also believes the rationale for

dropping the disability question is

questionable, as the government spends

annually at least $1.2 billion on

disability support services and needs to

research disability issues to help gauge

the quality of the spending.

We think Government needs to know if

the resources are going into the right

areas. Over the next five years they will

probably spend something like $6-7

billion on disability support. Therefore,

it would seem prudent to invest $2

million on a disability survey.

DPA are also concerned that Statistics

New Zealand appear to accord

disability data a health status, equivalent

to smoking and fertility! A strong and

coordinated response is planned, and

disabled people will be urged to make

their views known.

Statistics New Zealand says the answers

they get about disability from censuses

are not very accurate and results from

the 1996 and 2001 Disability Surveys

indicate that the small amount of

change means that the topic of

disability is better included on a

cyclical basis rather than five-yearly.

The department also says it is unlikely

that there will be a post-censal survey

on disability following the 2006 Census

unless there are major changes in

government policy that are likely to

have a significant impact on the

wellbeing of people with disabilities.

Transport

DPA believes that transport is a

basic right of all people.

Recognising this, government must

ensure that all forms of transport

and its infrastructure, both in the

community and nationally, must be

fully accessible to people with

disabilities.

Transport 2002/2003

• A review done by the Ministry of

Social Development found that high

costs of transport and insufficient

public transport deterred people

from using support services — and

that could be a significant barrier to

participating in paid employment.

• Ongoing complaints to the Human

Rights Commission from DPA in

Wellington and Dunedin have

initiated a review of accessible

public transport like buses and

trains.

• Growing demand for Total Mobility

services has meant councils have

moved to try and cap costs by

imposing local limits.

• Transfund NZ is reviewing the Total

Mobility scheme and is consulting

with Total Mobility scheme users,

van and taxi drivers who provide

transport under the scheme, and the

support agencies and regional

councils that administer it.

The Vehicle Adaptions NZ (VANZ)

committee DPA representative Warren

de la Haye from Palmerston North

reports that VANZ are presently

working with the LTSA to change the

way vehicles are certified.

At present it costs about $350 to have

a vehicle certified and there is no

follow-up on the modified vehicle

along the lines of a warrant to check

the adaptions of the vehicle, like the

warrant we get every six months for

the rest of the vehicle. VANZ is looking

at a warrant of fitness for modified

vehicles which will be displayed the

same way your registration is

displayed in the vehicle and will be

done every two years for a cost of

about $75. Presently we are waiting

the LTSA to change legislation for it to

happen.

Women’s Issues

Women’s issues 2002/2003

* DPA are trying to establish a closer

working relationship with the

Ministry of Women’s Affairs to ensure

disabled women are represented in

the work they do.

Disabled women need to

be included

A pay equity discussion document

released by Women’s Affairs failed to

mention disabled women, other than

those being cared for by care workers.

DPA pointed out that ethnicity is not

the only variant that is particular and

distinctive and that disabled women

were absent from documents produced

by the ministry.

Two focus groups were held in

Wellington for disabled women and

there was a full expression of views

about Towards an Action Plan for New

Zealand Women produced by Women’s

Affairs.

Two DPA regions held meetings on the

issue, and Southland DPA also

presented a very useful submission. The

submission expressed dissatisfaction

with the document and the continued

exclusion of disabled women that it

reflected. The document didn’t mention

or comprehend the New Zealand

Disability Strategy and the three themes

upon which the plan is based don’t fit

with disabled women’s experience.

The Building Act

review

Building Act review

2002/2003

• A review of the Building Act was

launched about four years ago, but

the leaky building syndrome has

made the review a government

priority.

• Currently a new Building Act bill is

about to be released for select

committee consideration.

• DPA has made a number of

submissions as part of the four year

review process.

DPA submissions

• The disability access requirements

are transferred from the present Act

to the new Act without dilution.

• Some form of centralised control is

maintained to ensure consistency of

implementation of access

requirements throughout the

country, particularly for lifts in two

and three storey buildings.

• There are more specific

requirements on housing, for

example multi-level apartment

buildings.

• New Zealand Standard 4121 is

retained as the yardstick for

measuring compliance with access

requirements.

DPA believes it is very important to

maintain the current Act’s access

provision “that every public building

will provide reasonable and adequate

access to enable people with

disabilities to visit, work and carry out

normal activities within the building”.

Under the present provisions every

new building - apart from privately

owned domestic dwellings - must have

disability access and no exceptions are

made.

DPA acknowledges that it is very

unusual for an Act such as the Building

Act to enshrine human rights

requirements and it is extremely

important that requirements remain as

strong as they are.

Make voting easier

for disabled people

Following strong concerns over

disabled access to voting during the last

general election DPA visited the

Electoral Office to discuss how we

might progress this matter.

As a result Electoral Office

representatives updated us on a project

to improve access for disabled voters.

DPA have made suggestions and offered

further advice and information. Public

submissions have also been invited by

the Electoral Office.

The Death With

Dignity Bill

The Death With Dignity Bill had its first

reading in Parliament on 30 July 2003

and MPs voted not to proceed with it

further. They voted 60 to 57 with one

abstention.

If MPs had voted in favour, the Bill

would have been sent to a select

committee and DPA would have had an

opportunity to make a submission

about the dangers of such legislation

for disabled people. DPA believes

providing adequate support for carers

and for people who are struggling with

difficult circumstances would remove

the emotional imperative to end life.

The matter now is unlikely to come up

in another bill for at least a few years

but doubtless the issue will continue to

be raised again

Human Assisted

Reproductive

Technology Bill

This Bill deals with genetic research

and technologies. The private members

Bill is only partially supported by DPA

because of the extremely liberal

approach to the technology it would

allow, such as germline genetic

intervention .

DPA has an equal life policy and thinks

such research encourages society to

value perfection and uniformity.

You can change the

world, say youth leaders

Goal 3: Provide a vehicle

for the promotion of the

rights, social value and

citizenship of all disabled

people

Youth development

DPA recognises that investing in

disabled youth is necessary to ensure

that disabled people in the future have

a voice. It is necessary to give these

young people the tools to advocate for

themselves and others for the benefit of

all disabled people in New Zealand.

In 2002 DPA secured funding for a

youth leadership development project.

They were able to employ a youth

leadership development project

coordinator to select young disabled

New Zealanders to participate in the

inaugural youth leadership camp.

Youth Leadership Camp

report from Nathan

Bond, Youth Leadership

Project Co-ordinator

The ten-day inaugural youth leadership

camp was held in early January 2003 at

the Royal Forest Trust Park camp in

Hanmer Springs and Rehua Marae in

Christchurch.

Participants attended workshops,

presented by high achieving disabled

adults, on leadership, self- advocacy,

human rights, sexuality, relationships

and disability, the history of disability in

New Zealand and the Treaty of Waitangi.

They learnt about the social model of

disability and some of the achievements

made by disabled people in New

Zealand.

The workshops presented a positive

concept of disability, showed that

impairment does not prevent

achievement, and challenged them to

set their own goals and achieve them.

For some young people it was the first

time that they had heard people

speaking positively about disability and

the effect on them was noticeable.

Feedback from the participants made it

clear that they found the workshops

valuable and that they were inspired by

the achievements of disabled people.

They were also encouraged to push their

recreational boundaries and participate

in several challenging activities like jet

boating. The participants enthusiastically

took the chance to try new activities and

thanks to a dedicated support staff most

of them were able to participate in

activities. The recreational coordinator

was able to organise guest speakers

including Gary Endacott and Mark Inglis

who proved to be very popular. What they

talked about reinforced what the

participants had learnt in the workshops.

The young people had a diverse array

of impairments which was a learning

experience because during the course

of the camp they became aware of the

different issues facing people with

different impairments. They also

acknowledged the common issues they

faced together. In fact during some of

the recreational events we purposely

selected groups of people with

different disabilities so that they would

have to work together as a team to

identify and overcome their collective

barriers.

A mentoring programme matching each

young person with a disabled adult role

model who would continue to provide

support when the camp had finished

was begun at Rehua Marae which

provided a chance for the mentors and

participants to meet and bond with

each other. Both the mentors and the

participants appreciated the chance to

get to know each other face-to-face.

Living on the Marae provided a

snapshot of Maori culture which nicely

rounded off the learning experience. It

was good to be able to stay at a fully

accessible Marae.

At the present time we are just over

half way through the twelve month

mentoring programme. On the whole

this programme seems to be working

quite well. A number of participants

have mentioned that they value the

time spent with their mentors. A more

formal evaluation of the mentoring

programme will be undertaken when it

finishes in January 2004. Many of the

workshop presenters, the mentors and

support staff were impressed with the

Fun, friendship, adventure, recreation, social and serious workshop stuff were all on the agenda at the amazing 2003 youth leadership

camp held at Hanmer Springs during January.

skills and talents of the participants. If

these people are our future I think we

will be in good hands.

The Future

This camp is just the preliminary stage

in a long-term strategy designed to get

young disabled people active and

enthusiastic about making things better

for all disabled people. The plan is to

stage one of these youth leadership

camps every two years. As the

participants from these camps grow

some of them will become more

involved in promoting equal

opportunities for disabled people. The

next camp starts in January 2005.

DPA relationships

with non-

government

organisations

(NGOs)

The national executive committee has

decided that DPA will pursue a more

active relationship with the Mental

Health Commission and agendas other

than that of the government.

Suspicion and distance between people

using the mental health system and

other disability groupings has

developed over a decade or more. In an

effort to address the matter DPA met

with Mary O’Hagan of the Mental

Health Commission to address how we

could usefully work together on

common issues. The particular

precipitating issue for this initiative was

to create a forum of groups to work on

the UN Convention on Disability. A

forum called FRED (Forum Reaching

Every Disability ) has now been

established.

DPA is also attempting to develop

stronger links between disability NGOs

and conventional human rights NGOs

so that the activity is in both directions.

In many Asia-Pacific countries there is a

very poor understanding that the issues

have any overlap at all.

Strong support from all human rights

organisations will be highly significant

as a factor in formulating a disability

convention.

DPA Policy Researcher Wendi Wicks, has

continued to articulate a voice on

disability human rights as a trustee for

the Human Rights Network. Her

position in this organisation will also

help facilitate improved

communication between disability

NGOs and conventional human rights

NGOs. The trust has regional groups of

a variety of human rights organisations

in Auckland, Wellington and

Christchurch who meet and network

regularly, with support from the Human

Rights Commission.

Access to

information

It is vitally important that people with a

disability have access to information

and that information about disability is

available for them and others.

• The use of PDF formats (commonly

used when displaying documents on

the web) has been of ongoing

concern to DPA because people

using voice activated software

cannot access them and it can be

very difficult for the rest of us to

use.

Last year DPA enquired about the

Parliamentary Access to Legislation

Project (PALS) and received some

reassurance that the final access to

most (but not all) bills will include

HTML versions, which are accessible.

Discussion on this matter continues.

International

Forums

DPA believes that it has a

responsibility to participate in the

international community on behalf

of New Zealanders who have

disabilities to ensure involvement

in sharing of new developments

and to promote its aims.

The following are reports from DPA

representatives on the work of different

aspects of Rehabilitation International

(RI).

Report on Social

Commission of

Rehabilitation

International 2003 by

DPA representative

Lester Mundell.

Over the last year there has been a

continued emphasis on adopting a

wider strategic planning focus to

implement the New Zealand Disability

Strategy (NZDS).

The government has decided to

devolve the responsibility for planning

and funding disability support services

for older people with a disability to

District Health Boards from 1 October

2003, which will enhance their ability

to provide an integrated continuum of

care. The Ministry of Health Disability

Services Directorate is being

reorganised to focus on policy and

funding for younger people, and has

developed a three year strategic plan

based on a number of objectives in the

NZDS. Major priorities include making

disability support services more

flexible and responsive, improving

equity of access, enabling disabled

people and their families and whanau

to meaningfully participate in the

development and provision of support

services, and fulfilling Treaty of Waitangi

obligations.

The directorate has developed a Maori

Disability Action Plan which sets four

goals and actions to better meet the

needs of disabled Maori, and also

incorporates regional plans to

operationalise work required in

different parts of the country. Similar

work is being undertaken to implement

a Pacific Health and Disability plan.

Another major development is the

commencement of a project to assess

quality and safety issues in the

residential, home and community based

support sector. The government

allocated $1 million to the Ministry of

Health to undertake the project which

will have a particular focus on

outcomes for the client. Historically

there has been little data on the profile

of the workforce for this sector, and

what factors influence quality and

safety, so this provides a great

opportunity to explore these issues

with the sector.

Work is continuing to review the

effectiveness of Needs Assessment and

Service Coordination processes, to trial

ways of improving NASC intersectoral

collaboration, to develop a set of best

practice guidelines for working with

people with autism spectrum disorder

and their families, and to further

develop services for people with

intellectual disability who have high

and complex needs.

Report from Anne

Hawker, DPA

representative on

Rehabilitation

International Social

Commission

The International Classification of

Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)

model provides a theoretical

framework in which to explore some of

the major tensions that arise when one

starts to look at the very issue of

personal responsibility and the whole

area of social rehabilitation.

Sir William Ostler said it is “far more

important to know the person than to

know what sort of disease the person

has.” I think all those involved with

rehabilitation will acknowledge that

while the impact of the impairment is

important initially, it is not what allows

a person to return to participation in

society.

Most of tools that have been used to

assess a person’s needs for community

participation have taken as their basis

functional limitation. Many therapists

are much more comfortable talking

about functional limitation than truly

coming to understand the aspirations of

the person.

For social rehabilitation to be truly

effective it can only be in the context

of a person’s aspirations, without this

social rehabilitation has no meaning to

that person. This implies that it must

also have meaning, in a cultural sense.

This brings with it challenges when

most of the tools and the thinking

about rehabilitation has been driven in

a very mono-cultural context, mainly

white middle class American male.

It is interesting to note that Jenny

Morris and Michael Oliver in their

discussions on rehabilitation highlight

the impact of these different

perspectives. The Independent Living

Movement is a classic example of some

of the differences and some of the

challenges that still exist if disabled

people are to be fully included in

society. The Independent Living

Movement was a response to the

pressure from people involved in the

rehabilitation process to get people as

“independent as possible in their

functioning.” The impact of this was

that many people were unable to do

any other activities other than get up in

the morning and get dressed. What was

important for disabled people was

being able to make decisions about

who provided them with what support

so they could have fulfilling and

meaningful life roles, such as

employment.

Many governments at both a national

and an international level have been

involved in developing strategic plans

that state quite clearly that central to a

new vision for people with disabilities

is “nothing about us without us” and

that people should be able to

determine their own aspirations. While

this may well be accepted at a strategic

level it will be interesting to see how it

impacts at a community; service

provider and funder level.

Implicit in the discussion on personal

responsibility is the various values that

the players bring to the team process.

Where there is an element of ableism,

then the person with the impairment

may be perceived as having little value

in terms of the social roles that they

play. Therefore their aspirations may

well be contained not by their vision

but by the beliefs of others.

The importance of values cannot be

underestimated especially where

people are considered to have little

ability to make their own decisions.

Attitudes to disabled people have

shaped the current rehabilitation

process. Significant changes will need

to be made to the current assessment

tools which have as their basis a

functional abilities /limitations

approach, if a person’s aspirations are

to shape service delivery. If this is to

endorse and operationalise these

changes, then significant changes will

need to be made to the current

assessment tools which have as their

basis a functional abilities /limitations

approach. This is an important area of

change if a truly inclusive society for

people with disabilities is to exist.

When one considers values, there is an

assumption that those values are

explicit. Often the most discriminatory

beliefs are those that are implied. For

disabled people these are often the

most difficult to address especially in a

decision-making process. A true client-

centred approach will require trust and

a change in the power relationship for

many involved in the rehabilitation

process. Without this change many

people will not be able to exercise nor

benefit from the advantages of personal

responsibility.

Many governments, at both a national

and an international level, have been

involved in developing strategic plans

that state quite clearly that central to a

new vision for people with disabilities

is nothing about us without us and that

people should be able to determine

their own aspirations. While this may

well be accepted at a strategic level it

will be interesting to see how it

impacts at a community; service

provider and funder level.

Questions raised by the exercise of

personal responsibility include:

• What role does RI and DPI play in

initiating this changed approach to

rehabilitation at both an

international, regional and national

level?

• Is this approach consistent with the

vision contained in the Charter for

the Disabled?

• How will this change be reflected in

a changed ICF model?

• How will the impact on the current

funding mechanisms be explored? It

is interesting to note that there are

some international trends that may

well help accelerate these changes.

These include:

- shortage of trained staff

- increased self management of

people of their own health

• How will the inevitable change in

current practice especially around

assessment be managed?

• What will be the responses of those

who have an investment in

maintaining the current processes,

tools and especially power

relationships?

• How will a less mono-cultural

perspective be reflected in both the

rehabilitation processes and tools?

• How will the movement raise the

aspirations of people with

disabilities especially where they

themselves may have been implicitly

involved in ableism prior to them

becoming disabled or where they

have been historically impacted on

by ableism?

• How will the speed of these

changes be monitored and by

whom?

• What strategies will be put in place

to address potential sabotage?

Rehabilitation

International - Report

from the Vocational

Commissioner Robyn

Hunt

The New Zealand labour market has

been fairly buoyant over the last twelve

months, but this has not had a great

effect on the employment of disabled

people. Jobs need to filter down.

Unemployment is low, but there is still

strong competition for the available

jobs, and employers are seeking skilled

workers.

Implementation of the New Zealand

Disability Strategy continues to

influence vocational and other policy

directions. For more information please

go to www.nzds.govt.nz

The five year transition period has

three years still to go to phase out

outdated patterns of sheltered

employment as part of the process to

repeal the Disabled Persons

Employment Promotions Act. Some

new measures, including a process to

allow for exemption from minimum

wage have been introduced.

The four EmployABLE community

based, Invalids and Sickness

Beneficiaries Demonstration Placement

projects are now underway and an

evaluation process is beginning. It is too

soon to tell how successful they have

been in terms of actual placements.

There has been some criticism that they

will not be able to meet the ideals of

innovation and “best practice” that had

been hoped for because of lack of

experience in the area of disability

employment.

The New Zealand Disability Strategy

expectation of a different model is

proving challenging for some providers

to implement.

The Disabled Persons Employment

Promotion Act controlling the

establishment and operation of

sheltered workshops should be

repealed later this year. The Ministry of

Social Development and the

Employment Relations Service (part of

the Department of Labour) are working

with providers to assist them through

the changes.

Rehabilitation

International

Information Commission

- Report from DPA

representative Michelle

Hill

Launch of WEKA (What

Everyone Keeps Asking -

about disability

information)

A national, disability information service

was launched in April 2003. It is funded

by the Ministry of Health and aims to

provide one point of contact for

authoritative, up-to-date, generic

disability information.

The service is free to users, who can

access information by free phone, email,

fax, website, by speaking to an

information consultant or using a public

computer at a local Disability

Information Centre. It is in line with

the New Zealand Disability Strategy and

will improve the independence and

participation of people with disabilities

in the community.

WEKA is a joint initiative of Enable

New Zealand and the New Zealand

Federation of Disability Information

Centres.

http://www.weka.net.nz/

Carers Net

This free online resource site was

launched in June 2002. It was

developed by Carers New Zealand as

part of a suite of disability services

funded by the Ministry of Health. The

Family/Whanau Carers Programme is

another outcome of the New Zealand

Disability Strategy, formally recognising

the importance of family involvement

in the care of people with disabilities.

Carers can be parents, partners,

brothers, sisters, friends, or children of

any age - this site aims to provide

information for all carers. Carers can

download online government forms,

locate service providers, and talk to

each other. Carers New Zealand has

also developed a young carers module.

Carers without computers at home are

encouraged to go their local public

library or Disability Information Centre.

http://www.carers.net.nz/

New Disability Library -

Allan Bean Centre

Library

This is a venture between the New

Zealand Spinal Trust and Canterbury

District Health Board as well as

Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of

Technology.

The key concept of the centre

according to Professor Alan Clarke is

that: “Rehabilitation is not a medical

process but a process of learning.” The

library facility is primarily for patients

and their families, whanau and

caregivers and aims to provide good

quality information resources. It is also

available to staff, students and

researchers.

http://www.burwood.org.nz/

allanbeancentre.asp

What Did You Say?

Campaign

New Zealand CCS launched an

awareness campaign in 2002. The

campaign included a new publication

on language and disability, updating the

out-of-print Words Matter booklet. The

What Did You Say? booklet is

particularly useful for media awareness,

and is being widely used by

polytechnics and other educational

facilities.

Release of District Health

Board Information

A number of District Health Boards are

collecting and analysing population and

health information. As part of their

work on health and disability needs

assessment, Waikato DHB has made

their information available online. It

includes maps, population overviews,

and health indicators of the region.

http://www.waikatodhb.govt.nz/wdhb/

default.asp?Content=353

Most District Health Boards are also

providing online access to disability

support advisory committees meetings

and documentation.

http://www.bopdhb.govt.nz/

ArchivedMeetings/dsac.html

http://www.otagodhb.govt.nz/

meetings.asp - dsa

http://www.cdhb.govt.nz/Corpbrd/

Strategies & Documents

There have been a large number of

documents and government strategies

published in the past year. Some of

these have been important for

information services:

Connecting Communities

The Connecting Communities strategy

aims to increase the ability of

communities to access, participate in

and efficiently use Information and

Communications Technology (ICT).

http://www.community.net.nz/

CommunityCentre/News/

connectcommunity.html.htm

Implementation Work

Plans 2003 - New Zealand

Disability Strategy

Work plans for government agencies.

Many of the plans include disability

awareness for staff, accessibility of

publications and websites. Includes

National Library of New Zealand, Te

Puni Kokiri, Ministry of Social

Development and Ministry of Health.

http://www.odi.govt.nz/nzds/

implementation/plans-2003/index.html

Ministerial Briefings

2002

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/briefings/

socialpolicy/disability/

http://www.odi.govt.nz/about/minister-

briefing/

Promoting a National

Vision of People with

Disabilities

Fulbright/Ian Axford Fellowship report

by Paul Saucier. Examines aspects of

New Zealand’s disability system.

Identifies “improving and using

information” as one of the key

challenges to transforming New

Zealand ‘s disability services.

http://www.fulbright.org.nz/voices/

axford/saucierp.html

NZ Journal of Disability

Studies

Issue 10 of this journal was published

in 2003. It is now edited at the Donald

Beasley Institute, Dunedin. The journal

aims to provide a forum for informed

critical debate on disabilities and to

empower people with disabilities.

http://www.donaldbeasley.org.nz/

JOURNAL/JOURNAL2.HTM

The voice of

disability in the

Pacific

New Pacific forum

established

A new entity for Pacific people with

disabilities is being established.

Called the Pacific Disability Forum, this

new organisation sprung out of

discussions at an Oceania meeting of

Disabled Peoples International (DPI).

DPA cautiously supports the formation

of the forum. Though we believe that

information sharing is important,

disabled peoples’ organisations must be

mindful of not duplicating structures

that dilute our limited resources.

Maintaining our voice

South Pacific disabled peoples

represented on the Oceania Disability

Advisory and Support Committee

(ODASC) of DPI had to ensure their

voice wasn’t appropriated by non-

disabled people, DPA Chief Executive,

Gary Williams (who is Secretary for

ODASC) says.

“The most influential people at the

meeting were non-DPI representatives,”

he says “Apart from anything else, this

seemed rather ironical given DPI’s

motto: vox nostra - a voice of our own.”

The meeting was attended by

representatives from DPI-affiliated

organisations in countries including

Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, Cook

Islands, Solomon Islands, Papua New

Guinea, Kiribati and New Zealand.

Representatives from the United

Nation’s Economic and Social

Commission for Asia/Pacific, the

Australian disability support services’

organisation, the Japan International

Cooperation Agency, the Secretariat of

the South Pacific Forum and IIAP also

attended.

Asia-Pacific Forum for

National Human Rights

Institutions

In October 2002, DPA Policy Analyst

Wendi Wicks attended the Asia-Pacific

Forum for National Human Rights

Institutions in New Delhi.

A principal item on the agenda was

discussion about progressing the

Disability Convention. Wendy attended

as New Zealand’s NGO representative.

She became convinced that links

between NGOs in both disability and

human rights arenas needed to be more

active and followed this up on her

return to New Zealand.

At last - a UN

Convention for

people with

disabilities

Goal 4: Eliminate the

discrimination and

devaluation experienced

by disabled people in

New Zealand

DPA is an organisation that brings

together the collective voice of all

disabled people. It is founded on

the principle of equal rights. We

want dignity and respect. We want

to live as we chose with

appropriate support. We want to

have our say and be heard.

UN convention for

people with

disabilities

DPA Chief Executive, Gary Williams, left

New Zealand for New York on 14 June

2003 to attend a crucial meeting where

the debate on a UN Convention for

people with disabilities was to be held.

Robyn Hunt, Human Rights Commissioner

addressing the committee

Highlights of the

year 2002-2003

• The Minister of Disability Issues

the Hon Ruth Dyson has a place

in cabinet

• The Office of Disability Issues

has been created. Its primary

function is to oversee

implementation of the NZ

Disability Strategy across the

public sector.

• The United Nations has agreed

to draft a Disability Convention.

The draft will be circulated early

next year.

• The first DPA youth leadership

camp was held in early 2003.

The camp was ver y successful

and well received by

participants.

Other New Zealand delegation

members were Jan Scown and Tessa

Thompson (Office for Disability Issues),

Robyn Hunt (Human Rights

Commission), former DPA Chief

Executive Dave Henderson and two

officials from the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs & Trade.

The delegation attended the meeting

because government decided New

Zealand would take a leading role in

the development of a convention. As

an integral part of the delegation Dave

Henderson and Gary Williams were able

to ensure that disabled New Zealanders

had an influence over what our

government wanted to achieve.

The first outcome was to ensure that

the UN moved on from talking about a

‘proposed’ convention to actually

committing itself to drafting one. This

was resolved in the first week where

the general consensus amongst the

countries was that a convention was

needed.

The final decision was that:

• the UN would draft a legally-binding

convention, and

• a working group comprising 27

governments, 12 disabled people

and one human rights expert, would

be set up to develop an initial draft.

After the working group completes its

task in January 2004 their draft will be

circulated so that countries and NGOs

have at least three months to consult

before the next session of the Ad hoc

committee. It is at that session where

elements of the convention will be

negotiated.

The draft convention will be circulated

among DPA members for consultation

during that three month period.

AUDIT REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF

DISABLED PERSONS ASSEMBLY (NEW ZEALAND) INC

We have audited the financial report on pages 25 to 28. The financial report provides information about the past

financial performance of Disabled Persons Assembly (New Zealand) Inc and its financial position as at 30 June 2003.

This information is stated in accordance with the accounting policies set out in Note 1 to the Financial Statements.

Executive Committee’s Responsibilities

The Executive Committee is responsible for the preparation of a financial report, which fairly reflects the financial

position of the Assembly as at 30 June 2003 and of the results of operations for the year ended 30 June 2003.

Auditors’ Responsibilities

It is our responsibility to express an independent opinion on the financial report presented by the Executive Committee

and report our opinion to you.

Basis of Opinion

An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the financial report. It

also includes assessing:

• the significant estimates and judgements made by the Executive Committee in the preparation of the financial

report, and

• whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the Assembly’s circumstances, consistently applied and

adequately disclosed.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the New Zealand Auditing Standards, except that our work was limited as

explained below. We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we

considered necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the financial

report is free from material misstatements, whether caused by fraud or error. In forming our opinion we also evaluated

the overall adequacy of the presentation of information in the financial report.

Other than in our capacity as auditors we have no relationship with or interests in the Assembly.

Fundamental Uncertainty

The Assembly is reliant on Government and Grant funding. The financial statements have been prepared on a going

concern basis, the validity of which is dependent upon continued funding from outside organisations. Should either the

Government or Grant funding be withdrawn, the going concern basis may be invalid and provision would have to be

made for any possible loss on realisation of the Assembly’s assets.

Qualified Opinion

In common with other organisations of a similar nature, control over income prior to its being recorded is limited and

there are no practical audit procedures to determine the effect of this limited control.

The Assembly has not consolidated the financial activities of the Regional Executives for the year ended 30 June 2003.

This is a departure of Financial Reporting Standard 37. The financial report exclude the financial activities of the

Assembly’s Regional Executives and represents the financial activities of the National secretariat only.

In this respect alone we have not obtained all the information and explanations that we have required.

In our opinion:

• except for adjustments that might have been found to be necessary had we been able to obtain sufficient evidence

concerning income, and;

• except for the effect of te departure of FRS 37 as outlined above;

In our opinion the financial report on pages 25 to 28 fairly reflects the financial position as at 30 June 2003 and the results of

its operations of the Assembly for the year ended on that date.

Our audit was completed on 7 September 2002 and our qualified opinion is expressed as at that date.

GRANT THORNTON

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS

WELLINGTON

Statement of Financial Position

.

As at

30 June 2003

Last Year Account Name

This Year

CURRENT ASSETS

4,570 B.N.Z. - CURRENT ACCOUNT

541

25 PETTY CASH ON HAND

15,675 PREPAYMENTS

5,540

5,070 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

529

25,340 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

25,340

FIXED ASSETS

63,967 FIXED ASSETS AT COST

66,146

(53,693) ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION

(58,024)

10,274 FIXED ASSETS BOOK VALUE

8,122

INVESTMENTS

14,662 B.N.Z. - CALL ACCOUNT

57,600

14,662 TOTAL INVESTMENTS

57,600

50,276 TOTAL ASSETS

72,357

LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

24,900 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

27,121

244 MEMBERSHIP IN ADVANCE

436

- INCOME RECEIVED IN ADVANCE

25,000

5,192 PROVISION FOR HOLIDAY PAY

10,728

190 E. COOPER SCHOLARSHIP FUND

190

15,879 TRUST FUNDS - DPA REGIONS

15,879

893 G.S.T. PAYABLE

684

47,298 TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

8,038

$2,978 NET BOOK VALUE OF ASSETS

$(7,681)

REPRESENTED BY:

ACCUMULATED FUNDS

(909) ACCUMULATED FUNDS

2,978

BROUGHT F/WD

3,887 CURRENT YEAR SURPLUS/(DEFICIT)

(10,659)

$2,978 TOTAL ACCUMULATED FUNDS

$(7,681)

Last YearAccount Name

This Year

GOAL 1: LEADERSHIP

PROJECT: NATIONAL HUI

INCOME

- DSS DIAS CONTRACT

13,333

- TOTAL INCOME

13,333

LESS EXPENSES

- ADMINISTRATION FEE

1,000

- TOTAL EXPENSES

1,000

- PROJECT:EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS)

12,333

Financial Statements

Last Year Account Name

This Year

PROJECT: INTERNATIONAL

INCOME

- RI EVENTS INCOME

19,228

2,477 DPI EVENTS INCOME

35,556 DSS DIAS CONTRACT

35,556

38,033 TOTAL INCOME

54,784

LESS EXPENSES

3,583 RI SECRETARIAT

3,191

3,146 DPI SECRETARIAT

2,422

- RI EVENTS

13,403

7,876 DPI EVENTS

16,939

8,500 SALARIES AND WAGES

7,656

6,156 ADMINISTRATION FEE

4,000

5,700 OFFICE ACCOMMODATION

6,700

800 AUDITORS FEES - SHARE

1,050

35,761 TOTAL EXPENSES

55,361

$(7,362) PROJECT: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS)

$2,272

PROJECT: YOUTH

INCOME

3,500 DPA ADMINISTRATION (TRANSFER)

6,500

- REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES

- PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTIONS

2,200

- GRANTS AND DONATIONS

4,353

2,000 LOTTERY YOUTH

5,000

7,860 REHABILITATION WELFARE TRUST

64,360

13,360 TOTAL INCOME

82,457

LESS EXPENSES

- AUDIT FEES - SHARE

500

- GENERAL EXPENSES

17,387

- PROJECT COORDINATOR

20,323

- RECREATION

3,285

- SUPPORT PERSONNEL

3,830

- TRAINERS AND MENTORS

11,067

- TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION

28,621

- TOTAL EXPENSES

85,013

$13,360 PROJECT: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS)

$(2,556)

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY/CONFERENCE

INCOME

3,500 DPA ADMINISTRATION (TRANSFER)

5,000 DONATIONS AND GRANTS

8,177

2,500 LOTTERY WELFARE

5,000

1,480 REGISTRATION FEES

9,402

884 OTHER INCOME

13,364 TOTAL INCOME

22,579

“The Notes to the Financial Statements form part of and are to be read in conjunction with these accounts”.

Disabled Persons Assembly (New Zealand) Inc

Statement of Financial Performance

For the year ended 30 June 2003

“The Notes to the Financial Statements form part of and are to be read in conjunction with these accounts”.

Disabled Persons Assembly (New Zealand) Inc

Last Year Account Name

This Year

LESS EXPENSES

393 GENERAL EXPENSES

1,190

1,735 POSTAGE AND COURIERS

498

7,825 PRINTING AND STATIONERY

6,220

- REFUNDS

151

2,375 SALARIES AND WAGES

2,350

94 TELECOMMUNICATIONS

4,342 TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION

14,093

16,764 TOTAL EXPENSES

24,564

$(3,400) PROJECT: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS)

$(1,985)

$12,232 GOAL 1: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS)

$12,232

GOAL 2: INFORMATION & ADVICE

PROJECT: TREATY PARTNERSHIP -

POLICY DEVELOPMENT

INCOME

- DSS DIAS CONTRACT

8,889

3,200 DPA ADMINISTRATION (TRANSFER)

3,200 TOTAL INCOME

8,889

LESS EXPENSES

- ADMINISTRATION FEE

1,000

- GENERAL EXPENSES

3,000

627 TELECOMMUNICATIONS

1,772 TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION

2,272

2,399 TOTAL EXPENSES

6,274

$801 PROJECT: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS)

$2,615

PROJECT: NATIONAL SECRETARIAT

INCOME

1,198 INTEREST RECEIVED

1,198

22,686 OTHER INCOME - ADMINISTRATION

22,686

17,095 SUBSCRIPTIONS

17,095

5,697 DONATIONS

5,697

- MAXEQ CONSULTING

1,420

45,000 LOTTERY WELFARE

45,000

97,777 DSS DIAS CONTRACT

97,777

6,156 INTERNATIONAL PROJECT ADMIN

6,156

1,200 CODE OF RIGHTS PROJECT ADMIN

1,200

196,809 TOTAL INCOME

196,809

LESS EXPENSES

1,279 ACC PREMIUM LEVY

1,349

1,350 AUDITORS FEES - SHARE

1,000

565 BAD DEBTS WRITTEN OFF

112 BANK CHARGES

317

29,718 COMMITTEE EXPENSES

33,120

4,416 DEPRECIATION

4,331

1,066 GENERAL EXPENSES

1,904

578 INSURANCE

995

12,046 MOTOR VEHICLE EXPENSES

13,198

3,222 POSTAGE AND COURIERS

6,250

7,452 PRINTING AND STATIONERY

7,361

3,914 PROFESSIONAL FEES

667

10,879 PUBLICITY

9,380

2,183 OFFICE ACCOMMODATION

1,123

811 REGIONAL SUPPORT

1,636

1,761 REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE

2,029

Last Year Account Name

This Year

103,623 SALARIES AND WAGES

125,023

1,791 SUBSCRIPTIONS & PUBLICATIONS

1,438

3,311 TELECOMMUNICATIONS

7,361

4,060 TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION

5,366

3,200 TRANSFER - TREATY P/S POLICY

1,300 TRANSFER - TREATY P/S MONITOR

1,300

3,500 TRANSFER - NAT AGM/CONFERENCE

6,164 TRANSFER - MONITORING

3,500 TRANSFER - YOUTH

6,500

- WORKING GROUP - WOMENS CAUCUS

111

123 WORKING GROUP - HUMAN RIGHTS

465 WORKING GROUP - MAXEQ

949

212,389 TOTAL EXPENSES

232,708

$(15,580) PROJECT: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS)

$(20,828)

$(14,779) GOAL 2: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS)

$(18,213)

GOAL 3: ADVOCACY

PROJECT: RIGHTS CODE TRAINING

INCOME

23,965 HEALTH & DISABILITY COMMISSION

9,778

23,965 TOTAL INCOME

9,778

LESS EXPENSES

1,200 ADMINISTRATION FEE

300 AUDIT FEES - SHARE

200

480 GENERAL EXPENSES

6,159 SETUP COSTS

3,500

10,860 WORKSHOP COSTS

7,207

18,999 TOTAL EXPENSES

10,917

$4,966 PROJECT: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS)

$(1,139)

$4,966 GOAL 3: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS)

$(1,139)

GOAL 4: MONITORING

PROJECT: TREATY PARTNERSHIP -

MONITORING

INCOME

1,300 DPA ADMINISTRATION (TRANSFER)

1,300

1,300 TOTAL INCOME

1,300

$1,300 PROJECT: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS)

$1,300

PROJECT: SERVICES/ LEGISLATION

INCOME

6,164 DPA ADMINISTRATION (TRANSFER)

35,556 DSS DIAS CONTRACT

35,556

41,720 TOTAL INCOME

35,556

LESS EXPENSES

371 ACC PREMIUM LEVY

432

950 AUDITORS FEES - SHARE

1,050

89 GENERAL EXPENSES

185

5,700 OFFICE ACCOMMODATION

5,760

23 POSTAGE AND COURIERS

167 PRINTING AND STATIONERY

28,580 SALARIES AND WAGES

26,248

Last Year Account Name

This Year

670 TELECOMMUNICATIONS

598

1,462 TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION

1,017

43,484 TOTAL EXPENSES

35,556

$4,242 PROJECT: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS)

$168

$1,468 GOAL 4: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS)

$1,478

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT

GOAL 1: LEADERSHIP

- PROJECT: NATIONAL HUI

12,333

2,272 PROJECT: INTERNATIONAL

(577)

13,360 PROJECT: YOUTH

(2,556)

(3,400) NATIONAL ASSEMBLY/CONFERENCE

(1,985)

GOAL 2: INFORMATION AND ADVICE

PROJECT: TREATY PARTNERSHIP -

801 POLICY DEVELOPMENT

2,615

(15,580) PROJECT: NATIONAL SECRETARIAT

(20,828)

GOAL 3: ADVOCACY

4,966 PROJECT: RIGHTS CODE TRAINING

(1,139)

GOAL 4: MONITORING

PROJECT: TREATY PARTNERSHIP -

1,300 MONITORING

1,300

168 PROJECT: SERVICES/LEGISLATION

168

$3,887 NET OVERALL SURPLUS/(LOSS)

$(10,659)

“The Notes to the Financial Statements form part of and are to be read in conjunction with these accounts”.

Disabled Persons Assembly (New Zealand) Inc

Statement of Movement in

Equity

For the year ended 30 June 2003

Last Year Account Name

This Year

ACCUMULATED FUNDS

(909) AS AT 30 JUNE 2002

2,978

NET SURPLUS/(DEFICIT)

3,887 FOR THE YEAR

(10,659)

ACCUMULATED FUNDS

$2,978 AS AT 30 JUNE 2003

$(7,681)

Notes to the Financial Statements

For the Year ended 30 June 2003

1. STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Reporting Entity

Disabled Persons Assembly (NZ) Inc is a registered incorporated society under

the Incorporated Societies Act 1908. These financial statements have been

prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice.

The report represents the financial position of DPA national secretariat only. It

does not include any financial information relating to the activities of DPA’s

Regional Assemblies.

Measurement Base

The general accounting policies recognised as appropriate for the

measurement and reporting of results and financial position, and unless

stated, is historic cost.

Specific Accounting Policies

• Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable are stated at expected realisable value.

• Fixed Assets

Fixed Assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation.

• Depreciation

Depreciation rates used in the preparation of these financial

statements are straight line rates.

For all assets since 30 June 1996.

Computers

30% SL

Furniture and Fittings

10% SL

For all assets prior 30 June 1996, the above rates are applied based

on the written down value as at 30 June 1996.

• Goods and Services Tax

The Financial Statements have been prepared on a Goods and

Services Tax (GST) Exclusive basis except for Accounts Receivable and

Accounts Payable which include GST.

• Government Grants

Government Grants are accounted for on an accruals basis.

• Differential Reporting

The Assembly is a qualifying entity for Differential Reporting because it

is not publicly accountable and does not qualify as a large entity as

defined by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand’s

framework for Differential Reporting. The Assembly has taken

advantage of all Differential Reporting exemptions.

• Subscription Revenue

Membership with the Assembly is on a voluntary basis. Subscription

revenue is recorded on a cash basis due to the voluntary nature of

membership with the Assembly.

• Changes in Accounting Policies

There has been no change in the accounting policies. All policies are

applied on bases consistent with those used in previous years.

2. ACCUMULATED FUNDS

It has been decided, given DPA’s limited capital, that all accumulated funds be

grouped together and disclosed as one balance, rather than separated out into

core activities.

3. FIXED ASSET SCHEDULE

The following gives detail of the cost or valuation of assets and depreciation

written off to date:

Accum Depn Book Value

Cost Depn for year 30/06/03

Computer Equipment 46,138 (39,166) (3,354) 3,618

Furniture & Fittings 20,008 (14,527) (977) 4,504

$66,146 $(53,693) $(4,331) $8,122

Accum Depn Book Value

Cost Depn for Year 30/06/02

Computer Equipment 44,287 (35,700) (3,466) 5,585

Furniture & Fittings 19,680 (13,577) (950) 6,104

$63,967 $(49,277) $(4,416) $10,274

4. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COMMITMENTS

No contingent liabilities or commitments existed at 30

June 2003 (2002 nil).

5. OPERATING LEASES

Rent Lease

The commitment at balance date relating to the rent lease, including Good

and Services Tax, for the following five years:

2003/2004 2002/2003

Due in less than 1 year

$14,051

$13,599

Due between 2 – 5 years

$29,361

$1,133

Due in greater than 5 years

Total

$43,412

$14,732

This represents Disabled Persons Assembly (NZ) Inc lease commitment on

property rental via the FAB Partnership. If any party to that partnership

defaulted the level of commitment may be adjusted accordingly.

Motor Vehicle Lease

The commitment at balance date relating to the motor vehicle lease and the

insurance for the vehicle, including Goods and Services Tax, for the following

five years:

2003/2004 2002/2003

Due in less than 1 year

$7,817

$7,546

Due between 2 – 5 years

$15,155 $3,544

Due in greater than 5 years

Total

$22,972 $11,090

DPA New Zealand

Vision

Mission statement

Philosophy

DPA provides:

DPA Goals 2002/2003:

Contents

Acknowledgments

Looking ahead to adulthood

DPA members have made DPA effective

Let’s celebrate, DPA is 21 years old

Disability as a

political force -

theme of DPA 2002

Conference

DPA 21 years old

Regional

Assemblies

Disability issues

getting a higher

profile

Disability Minister

moves into cabinet

The Office for

Disability Issues to

provide leadership

across government

sector

Disability Services

Education a key

priority

Changes to the NZ

Human Rights Act

Employment

Disability Statistics

Transport

Women’s Issues

The Building Act

review

Make voting easier

for disabled people

The Death With

Dignity Bill

Human Assisted

Reproductive

Technology Bill

Youth development

DPA relationships

with non-

government

organisations

(NGOs)

Access to

information

International

Forums

What Did You Say?

The voice of

disability in the

Pacific

At last - a UN

Convention for

people with

disabilities

UN convention for

people with

disabilities

Highlights of the

year 2002-2003

AUDIT REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF

DISABLED PERSONS ASSEMBLY (NEW ZEALAND) INC

Executive Committee’s Responsibilities

Auditors’ Responsibilities

Basis of Opinion

Fundamental Uncertainty

Qualified Opinion

Statement of Financial Position

.

As at

30 June 2003