DPA New Zealand

Annual Report

1st July 2004 to 30th June 2005

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 equal right and opportunity to:

DPA provides:


DPA Goals 2004/2005:


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 experiences by disabled people in New Zealand.

Contents

Vision, Mission, Philosophy and 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.
Auditors report and financial statements

Acknowledgements

DPA (New Zealand) 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 2004 AGM and Maori development initiative.

We also thank the J R McKenzie Trust for helping with the 2004 National Assembly and general administration costs, and the Ministry of Health for supporting our international involvement and policy advice and development. The successful Regional Forums benefited from funding by the Ministry of Social Development (Office of Disability Issues). Telecom New Zealand Ltd has also lent support by providing four telephone lines at residential rates, as have donations from corporate members and Wellington DPA. People with Disability Australia funded the CEO's air travel to the Pacific Disability Forum meeting in July 2004.

DPA also acknowledges the generosity of the companies and organisations who helped make our 2004 National Assembly Conference so successful: Enable NZ, the Lion Foundation, the Unison Trust, the Square Trust and Footprint Expeditions. Our youth leadership initiative continued thanks to the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board and the Ministry of Social Development.

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.

Participation at all levels


Mike Gourley, DPA President

DPA has been hitting its straps over the last year. Thanks to our Chief Executive Officer's knack for getting resources, we've been able to achieve progress in two critical areas: getting back in touch with disabled Maori, and building the capacity of regions throughout the country.

Back in June, we held our national Hui for disabled Maori at Rehua Marae in Christchurch. Much of the organizational work to get the hui up and running was the responsibility of DPA member Ruth Jones and her team. Kia ora koutou katoa. Participants from around the country gathered to korero around the relationship between Maori and DPA. The hui established a positive basis for further work in this area.

From April through May, we held three capacity-building sessions for regions: in Christchurch, Palmerston North and Auckland. It was the first time that members from different regions around the country had the opportunity to discuss, with each other, problems, issues and strategies that affect the regional assemblies. Of particular concern was the need to make DPA relevant to local communities of disabled people. At the same time, it was important that we be able to think globally. The success of the regional gatherings was in highlighting a gap that has existed for too long between DPA's leadership operating at the national level and members dealing with day-to-day issues at the local level. To me, it is evidence that an annual gathering once a year is not enough, if we are to strengthen the sense members have of been part of an organization that has roots in local communities.

Thankfully, we have the resources to do all this again.

We've had a number of successes on the media front. Our views have been sought on a wide range of issues - from genetic modification and screening to employment protection for people in workshops. It represents a welcome development on the part of media people, that they recognize us as a legitimate voice of disabled people. I say 'a' voice deliberately. We know we are not the only groups representing the interests and concerns of disabled people. Organisations like People First, the Association of Blind Citizens and mental health consumer groups are also in the mix. But as the only pan-impairment, nationally based 'consumer' organization with nearly a quarter-century of experience and track record behind us, I believe we are uniquely placed to build the necessary alliances that will truly foster the leadership of disabled people.

On that score, we mounted a joint operation with People First to front up in Invercargill to put our case for the repeal of the DPEP Act. As you know, the staff and management of Southland Enterprises have cast doubt on the direction of Pathways to Inclusion. DPA Southland decided it was time to take them on publicly. They hosted a public forum at the end of April, where Gary and I joined with People First President Cheryl Wallace and IHC Self-advocate and DPA National Executive member David Corner to address a reasonably sized audience. The forum received good coverage in the news media, by both print and regional television. We carried the day, although disappointingly, most of the clients of Southland Enterprises were absent. We wonder why.

Our alliance with mental health consumers is also bearing fruit. The Like Minds Like Mine project released some money to a consumer-led consultancy, Case Consulting, to explore the feasibility of extending that campaign to be more disability-generic. DPA is pleased to be part of that process. It's clearly in line with what we have been advocating for some time: the need for a well-funded piece of social marketing, directed at public attitudes towards disabled people.

We have maintained our relationship with Government and government agencies. In some aspects we have enhanced it. With a new Associate Minister of Health replacing Ruth Dyson, there was a question mark around whether we would meet regularly with Pete Hodgson. It was understood that he was reluctant to engage with 'the community'. In fact, we got agreement for a regular schedule of meetings with him, and as at the time of the election, had met three times. DPA's leadership role has also been acknowledged by the Office for Disability Issues. We are very much part of the new National Advisory Council. I have also been appointed as Chair - a decision made, I understand, after it was established I could chair an NEC meeting!

While the Ministry of Health continues to engage with us, they are also embarking on the construction of a 'consumer consortium', which raises some important challenges for us. What does this mean for our existing role in relation to the Ministry, and what implication does it have for our future? Too early to tell right now, but at the very least it's a wake-up call. So let's smell the coffee.

As President, I had the pleasure of MC-ing a recent forum on Civic Participation sponsored by Auckland DPA. Over a hundred people attended to hear speakers talk about the many ways disabled people ought to be involved as citizens in the myriad facets of community and political life. It struck me that civic participation as citizens is a different way of thinking about disability than the traditional consumer/services framework. Maybe we need to move beyond life as consumers, to life as citizens. That would be a vision worthy of our organization, and one that our organization is uniquely placed to help achieve.

We can already celebrate success on the political front. Congratulations to DPA stalwarts Dot Wilson and Barry de Geest, who were elected to Southland and Auckland DHBs respectively. May we have more of that please!

And on elections, of course we've just had the 2005 general frenzy. At the time of writing, it's too early to tell which configuration of government will finally win the day. But whatever the outcome, we cannot bank on business as usual. Pieces of legislation, like the repeal of the DPEP Act, never-mind the NZ Disability Strategy, may need to be defended.

On that note, I would like to conclude my report by acknowledging our hard-working national secretariat: Gary, Wendi, Lorraine and Robert. In each of your own ways you have enabled our organization to go from strength-to-strength in the last year. A big, collective 'thank you' for all of that.

Mike Gourley
President

Dynamic diversity


Gary Williams,
Chief Executive Officer

It is with pleasure that I present my seventh Chief Executive Officer's report to the members of DPA (NZ) Inc.

This year I've had more opportunities to get out of the Secretariat and support the members in their regions. Visits to Northland, Auckland, Taranaki, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru and Invercargill confirmed my long-held belief that the life and soul of DPA lies in its active membership. While the Secretariat tries to do its best from our base in Wellington, it is the members who keep DPA alive and vibrant and thriving. You are DPA.

The series of Regional Capacity Fora this year certainly showed me how dynamic our organisation is. Our diverse membership is the reason we, and no other body, can claim to be the voice of disabled people in New Zealand.

The place where our diversity shines is at our National Assembly and Conference. Late last year we all converged on Palmerston North where months of preparation by Martin Sullivan and his team culminated in a very memorable event - as the photos can testify.

There were a number of highlights for me but none as important as the members confirming Marilyn Baikie's life membership of DPA. Congratulations Marilyn.

There were many challenging speakers, including our guest speaker Christopher Newell, but I thought the greatest challenge to DPA came from a rather unexpected quarter.

The loss of the remit about the dependents of disabled people using Total Mobility has enormous policy implications for DPA. Having been around DPA for many years, I thought that the remit was just an elaboration of existing DPA policy and was bound to be adopted. Instead, I was surprised by its rejection. It means, for me, that DPA needs to review all its policies so that the policies of yesteryear are still valid today.

Some policies have been debated recently such as DPA's unequivocal support for the repeal of the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (DPEP) Act. The lively debate at the 1999 AGM was very clear about DPA's uncompromising stance.

It was with this clear mandate that I entered a debate on the DPEP Act so that our views could provide balance for a debate that had been distorted by stupid hysteria.

Initially, my intention was to open up the minds of close-minded people by well-reasoned arguments. Instead, I exposed the unseemly attitude that disabled people have no contribution to make and their time is best spent living in group homes and "working" in day-wasting workshops. The term "living in the community" is a smoke and mirrors trick for segregation with the occasional contact with the real world.

Anyone who supports the continuation of segregation of any type, based on impairment, is either looking out for their own self-interest or has been taught to have low expectations for disabled people.

Let's hope that with more exposure to what might be possible that we will consign group homes and sheltered workshops to history.

Gary Williams
Chief Executive Officer

Summary of the year
An action-packed year

The New Zealand disability community has been very active at all levels - local, regional, national, international, cultural and political. This year's annual report takes a broad sweep across the spectrum.

New Zealanders have been involved in the development of the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People, and in non-governmental committees and commissions setting policy and reviewing practice. Combine this with DPA's particular focus on the Pacific and it's clear that, as so often, New Zealand is 'punching above its weight' on the international stage.

Politically, people with disabilities have been elected to District Health Boards and a wide range of other representative bodies. A change of Minister Responsible for Disability Support Services has meant re-establishing that crucial relationship, and monitoring the implementation of the NZ Disability Strategy has been a key activity.

Employment support and opportunities have been a continuing theme, with disability representation on key bodies and a very public battle in Southland over sheltered workshops.

Submission-making to decision-makers at all levels has kept the profile of disabled people before the public and the General Election year saw a new DPA Manifesto 2005-8 form the basis for questions to all candidates. Culturally, the national hui at Rehua Marae has established a positive basis for tackling Treaty issues. Artistic endeavour has been celebrated at Te Papa, in the Wellington Fringe Festival and in exhibitions all over the country.

Judging by the attendance and the response, the regional capacity-building forums have been very important in building networks as well as infra-structure. There is a wide range of relationships with other groups around common interests, and Total Mobility features strongly at this level.

Local DPAs range from the busy to the slightly struggling. Finding new members is a challenge in some areas, particularly those where distance and transport costs make meetings expensive for grassroots attendance. The same issues are magnified when it comes to replenishing committees and taking public action. Despite this, alliances are forged and events promoted to good effect.

As the President's report notes, disabled people are moving to life as citizens rather than simply consumers. It reflects an attitude towards community participation by disabled people which the general community is only just starting to understand.

DPA National Executive Committee as at 30 June 2005


DPA National Secretariat as at 30 June 2005


Goal 1: Have a growing and politically aware grass-roots organisation of disabled people

DPA 2004 National Assembly & Conference


More than 120 people attended the National Assembly and Conference. It was organised and hosted by DPA Palmerston North with the theme "the NZ Disability Strategy - making a world of difference?"

Speakers included Associate Professor Christopher Newell and Hon Ruth Dyson, Minister of Disability Issues.

Moving from being 'other' to being 'us'


Associate Professor Christopher Newell

'Our daily, devastating reality is that we are the 'other', outside of the nice, normal and natural moral community,' keynote speaker Christopher Newell, associate professor in the Medical Education Unit at the University of Tasmania told the 2004 DPA Conference. In a forthright and vigorous presentation, he told delegates that it was worth looking back at recent policy and social achievement to recognize how far things had come - especially in New Zealand. But he warned that to achieve the goals and ideals in the NZ Disability Strategy, people with disabilities had to be prepared to take up 'the tangible processes and structures which can be seen as important ways of moving disability from 'other' to 'us'. He analysed what he called the 'dominant disablist rhetoric' that goes with public debate about disability rights and the cost of disability support. 'Profoundly disturbing' attitudes were revealed in debates about euthanasia and biotechnology, he said, in which it was clear that 'choice' meant death for an impaired person, whether before birth or at the end of life. 'Yet as ever the biotech juggernaut rolls on, sustained by the rhetoric of choice without actually exploring the problems associated with choice and individualism, and how disability is constructed as the antithesis, the enemy, of choice.'

Prof Newell said immigration policies meant he would not qualify for admission as an immigrant to Australia, part of an attitude reflected in many different aspects of public policy. He drew parallels with the struggle of indigenous people to have their wisdom recognized, urging disabled New Zealanders to take every opportunity to be involved, to insist on being heard in policy development - indeed, to write policy - and to tackle negative values and stereotypes. 'Then we really will start to bring about the structural and ideological changes necessary.

'Disability strategies are a means to an end in this, but not an end in themselves.'

Hon Ruth Dyson, Minister of Disability Issues.

Edited highlights from her keynote address to the National Assembly.

Hon Ruth Dyson

This year's progress report on the implementation of the NZ Disability Strategy covers all government departments, as well as three Crown entities, a total of 41 agencies. It is very encouraging to find organisations such as the Accident Compensation Corporation, Sport and Recreation New Zealand and the Housing New Zealand Corporation now providing reports, and making a commitment to implement the strategy.

Last year's report grouped the 15 objectives according to 4 categories - rights of citizenship, government capacity, participation in all areas of life, and specific populations. This year's has continued with the same framework.

Over the last year, highlights include:

Rights of Citizenship

UN Convention on the rights of disabled people

New Zealand has been very involved in this development, taking a facilitating and leadership role since June 2003. New Zealand delegations to the United Nations have modelled partnerships between government officials and disabled New Zealanders, with representatives from the Human Rights Commission, Mental Health Commission and DPA attending the meetings in New York as members of the delegation.

Like Minds Like Mine

This project has been underway for more than six years and involves mass media advertising as well as a diverse range of capacity building, advocacy and awareness-raising initiatives. Much of the process has been evaluated, providing useful information about how to improve the campaign.

Your President has challenged the government to extend this type of campaign, to educate New Zealanders about all areas of disability.

Legislation Change

The New Zealand Sign Language Bill had its first reading in Parliament in June 2004, and was referred to the Justice and Electoral Select Committee, unopposed. This Bill acknowledges, for the first time, that Deaf people have a right to use their own language, and public submissions on the Bill have been called for.

The Residential Tenancies Act has been changed to extend to people in boarding houses, providing better protection for tenants. This is of particular benefit to some people with mental health issues. A wider review of the act is also underway that will consider protection of the rights of people in supported accommodation.

Repealing the Disabled Person's Employment Promotion Act will redress the unfair treatment of disabled people who work in sheltered workshops, by removing the blanket exemption from minimum wage and holiday legislation. This will finally ensure that disabled people in employment have the same rights and entitlements as everyone else.

Fostering leadership and encouraging ongoing debate

A number of conferences over the last year have involved debate and knowledge-sharing about disability issues. I would particularly like to acknowledge the work of StandardsPlus in modelling the involvement and participation of disabled people and their families in their conferences 'Nothing Special' and 'Coming of Age'.

In September 2003, the National Health Committee launched a major report, 'To have an 'Ordinary' Life', which looked at the lives of adults with intellectual disability and made detailed recommendations for change. It has provoked lively discussion in the media and at conferences.

More disabled people are involved in the work of government departments, mainly through the use of reference and focus groups.

Government capacity

Long term disability support

Over the last year, the Office has scoped a cross-sector project to promote coherence with the New Zealand Disability Strategy across government, and to create equity of access across government-funded disability supports. In June 2004, the government agreed to a review of long-term disability supports. The objectives of the review include:

Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC)


We have been working for a long time to both improve our existing Needs Assessment and Service Coordination agencies (NASCs) and to extend the model so that it is based on better intersectoral collaboration, cooperation and flexibility.

Three pilots have been chosen to trial ways to improve collaboration and cooperation between agencies providing needs assessment and service coordination services. A major focus of all successful proposals is improving transitions, especially from school to work and adult roles.

My aim is that people with disabilities will have access to a more coordinated and integrated assessment process, no matter where they live or what their needs are. Then their identified support needs will be met by developing a package of services for them from a range of appropriate government departments and funding streams.

Participation in all areas of life

Education

The 2001 Disability Survey found that 39 per cent of disabled adults have no educational qualification compared with only 24 per cent of non-disabled adults.

However, a comparison between the 1996 and 2001 disability surveys showed there was:

There was also a slight increase in the percentage of disabled adults living in households who were enrolled in formal education, but the university enrolment rate was slightly lower.

A substantive programme of research is underway in the area of special education, which should help build a body of knowledge about what practices are effective. The Ministry of Education's Group Special Education has recently been running a series of community consultations, aimed at helping them to plan more effective services for the future. The 2004 budget provided an extra $23 million for four Special Education projects to improve support for high needs children and disabled students.

'Achieving Equity: New Zealand Code of Practice for an Inclusive Tertiary Environment for Student with Impairments' has been developed with significant input from disabled people. It is a resource for tertiary providers setting out best-practice standards.

Employment

Here there is an enormous amount of activity, ranging from the broad programme of youth transitions, to the seven areas of work in implementing Pathways to Inclusion, and some encouraging initiatives to improve services and support for people on Sickness and Invalids benefits.

Since June last year, the Ministry of Social Development has been running transition pilots for young disabled people aged over 16 and in their last year of school. They have two goals: for young disabled people to receive tailored transition planning, and for as many schools as possible to get support and advice in supporting their students with disabilities through transition.

A little over half way through the pilots, 198 students from 109 schools have developed tailored transition plans. Evaluations are showing excellent results, with inspiring personal stories. As the pilots continue, we'll be developing our understanding of best practice and how future contracts can deliver it.

Pathways to Inclusion

When Pathways to Inclusion was launched in 2001, fewer than half the providers of vocational services offered services that aimed to achieve paid employment. Pathways sets out seven actions aimed at increasing the participation of disabled people in employment and encouraging and enhancing community participation.

The Ministry is also calling for proposals to expand Supported Employment Services to areas where there is no service, or an undeveloped service. Contracts are under negotiation with 18 organisations. We expect to see 500 people with disabilities placed into and supported in employment as a result.

Supporting disabled people to work

Legislative change has removed an Invalid's Benefit rule that cancelled a person's entitlement to a benefit if they worked more than 15 hours a week. People can now trial work for more than 15 hours a week for up to six months, without losing their benefit entitlement.

In a new case management model for around 15,000 people on Sickness and Invalids Benefits in 14 concept sites around New Zealand, the person with ill health or disability works with their case manager who helps them to identify their capabilities. Then they design a service package to remove or minimise the barriers to work.

After the first six months of this new way of working in the concept sites, 614 people have moved off Sickness or Invalids Benefits into employment, compared with 407 in the same time period last year.

Working with employers

As part of work to get more people into paid employment, I have requested that officials from the Department of Labour and the Ministry of Social Development set up a forum that brings together employers, the disability sector and key government agencies to highlight the potential of disabled people in the labour market. The purpose of this Employers Summit is to shift the focus away from the incapacity of people receiving Sickness and Invalid's Benefits towards a focus on the business value to employers of accessing a pool of skills and experience that they may not have fully utilised before.

In conclusion

'Our success to date has been due to the disability movement working together, setting priorities together, and making strong and steady progress. I can assure you that I will continue to maintain an open and direct dialogue on disability issues.

In the future, we have some incremental changes to make, some structural changes and some big policy moves. I look forward to continually improving our understanding of what matters most and how to make the best use of all our resources so that, in the future, disabled New Zealanders can say they live in "a society that highly values our lives and continually enhances our full participation".



REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES

DPA believes that the Assembly's strength lies in the effectiveness of its Regional Assemblies, which monitor issues relevant to people with disabilities and ensure that they are addressed at regional and, when appropriate, national level.

Regional capacity building


In order for DPA to better equip regional assemblies to advocate on local issues in their regions, a series of capacity building sessions were held in Auckland, Palmerston North and Christchurch. All but one of the active regional assemblies were represented.

The issues discussed included DPA's history, kaupapa, vision, structure, membership and advocacy techniques.

Feedback from the participants suggested they all gained better understandings of DPA and the various contexts in which we operate. The intangible benefits were regional assemblies realising that their issues were not unique just to them and that by working together solutions could be found for their common issues. So, for example, DPA Auckland is going to share its experiences with DPA Waikato on how to form constructive relationships with local governments while some of the South Island assemblies are going to develop publicity material.

Planning is already underway for the next series.

Regional assembly reports

The following regional reports demonstrate the diverse range of activities that DPA regional assemblies are involved in in their local areas.

DPA Ashburton


DPA Ashburton now have an office in the Ashburton Resource Centre (a community building housing many social service provider groups) at 155 Tancred Street, phone/fax (03) 308 1237. The office we share is accessible and meets our current needs. As with many other groups, all paper work, files, client information etc has been held at individual officers' homes. This is no longer a professional practice and we have moved to consolidate and provide a base for our team.

We are working on employing a part-time manager/co-coordinator, a job to be shared with Ashburton Senior Citizens. Our long term goal is to provide a managed visitor service for DPA members and Senior Citizens clients in our region.

Ashburton District Council, in conjunction with CCS and Total Mobility, are shifting one of the mobility car parks in Burnett Street across the street to where it will have more space and provide better access to vans with hoists.

We are a small, active group and are currently trying to recruit more people to our committee. A long term goal is to have a junior committee of up-and-coming potential leaders.

Marion Trudgeon (President, DPA Ashburton)

DPA Christchurch and Districts

DPA Christchurch and Districts have had a change of Regional Executive Committee (REC) during the year. The previous REC dealt successfully with issues around local access, along with representation at conferences and meetings to strengthen the voice of disabled people and lobby for necessary changes locally and nationally.

In April this year a Special General Meeting was requested by local members. This decided to replace the existing REC with a Steering Committee to manage the branch, attending to the day-to-day details in the office, employing a new co-ordinator and arranging an early AGM. The Steering Committee also continued to apply for funding for general expenses, the co-ordinator's salary and local ventures such as the Sensory Art project.

After the AGM in July, we again have a REC and have Mary Stott in place as our new co-ordinator. Close contact is kept with members through newsletters and emails and the branch is fortunate to have a membership growing in both numbers and strength.

Ann Taylor (President, DPA Christchurch and Districts)

DPA Dunedin

Transport is a big issue in Dunedin. Accessible buses do not regularly appear on the bus time table and you have no guarantee that if you catch a bus into town you will be able to get home again.

DPA was involved in presenting a submission to the Human Rights Commission Inquiry into Accessible Public Transport. This inquiry has resulted in the Regional Council being more aware and responsive to the issues. We have put in submissions to the Regional Council and Dunedin City Council's annual plans. Attending the regional capacity-building forum was a valuable experience for two of our members.

A highlight this year was having the architect involved with the redevelopment of Dunedin Airport attend one of our meetings and talk through the proposed plans. It was a great opportunity to ensure inclusion in the process.

We look towards a busy and exciting year, focusing on developing our relationships with the city and regional councils and the District Health Board so as to have a stronger disability voice.

Anna Jameson (Secretary, DPA Dunedin)

DPA Marlborough

DPA Marlborough restarted in April 2005 after a period in recess. We put in a submission to the Ministry of Transport on the Total Mobility Scheme, and discussed issues of policy regarding the election. I, the chair of the branch, attended the Capacity Building Forum in Christchurch and enjoyed making contacts with other DPA members. DPA Marlborough's main achievement this year has been obtaining a new committee and putting a structure in place for future growth.

Matt Frost (Chair, DPA Marlborough)

DPA Napier

DPA Napier is working towards our 21st Birthday in November.

One of the biggest problems facing us is the lack of new members. Travel costs are a big issue, and we have a grant application lodged for some travel funding for members to come to meetings. On average 10 members are attending and there are a few new faces.

As Secretary, I represent DPA at National Council of Women, Napier South Stroke Foundation - as their Patron, Disability Training Services and the Cornerstone Trust Executive meetings, as well as Napier City Council Heads of Departments meetings, Workbridge and many other meetings throughout the year.

In April three members went to Palmerston North to an excellent meeting on Regional Capacity Building. It was well run, everyone had a say and good way to bond people together. One important feature was that we had the opportunity to hear from other Regions.

Our hard working President, Mrs Raewyn Smith passed away on Tuesday, 12 July 2005.

Verona Moynihan (Secretary, DPA Napier)

DPA North Shore

This year our activities included disseminating information from DPA national office, appraising what has happened Shore-wide and attending meetings of many varied groups including some at the District Health Board and the NSC's disability action group.

Thanks to committee members particularly June McCrorie for her tireless efforts as Secretary/Treasurer. We have a new member David from People First who is interested in joining the committee.

A weekend North Island Divisional meeting held at Mangere focused on capacity building and valuing what the DPA represents in the community. This was an important forum for discussing common issues of representation, and was a good opportunity for networking as most regions had a few committee members present.

I attended an Auckland Committee Planning Meeting regarding their forthcoming seminar on civic participation. This was called "Making Honey-options in public life", a surreal title which I think refers to aspirations for office at the Beehive in Wellington.

Michael McCool (President, DPA North Shore)

DPA Northland

DPA Northland has had a busy and productive year. In April our political rally was attended by Mike Gourley and Gary Williams from DPA National, and Agnes Herman, Community Development Co-ordinator from the Whangarei District Council. Approximately 40 members of the public and other interested organisations attended to talk about issues affecting people with disabilities in Northland and find out about DPA and its activities.

This rally, and work done by the Tai Tokerau DEAS Trust, helped initiate the forming of a Disability Sector Reference Group. This group is still in the initial stages, with Terms of Reference still to be agreed upon by council and committee members.

Our second political forum saw about 60 people attending, to hear from all the election candidates give a brief overview of their parties' disability policies. This was very successful forum with the opportunity for people with disabilities to ask questions of the candidates.

Our committee has grown this year with the formation of a Maori caucus which included Raumoa Kawiti as our kaumatua, David King and John Warihi. Sadly, John Warihi passed away recently; his enthusiasm and commitment will be missed. This caucus attended a Hui in Christchurch where they played a significant role. We are discussing the possibility of holding a similar event in Whangarei next year.

DPA Northland has recently received significant support from the Tai Tokerau DEAS Trust this year. We are looking forward to working collaboratively together on issues affecting people with disabilities in Northland and would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their continued support.

Other issues DPA Northland has tackled include the use of mobility car parks by able- bodied people. We are working closely with the Whangarei District Council and have been encouraged by the news of discussion of a clamping regime.

Jeni Claris (President, DPA Northland)

DPA Palmerston North

This year has been quite busy for DPA Palmerston North. We have run several forums in conjunction with the City Council on subjects such as roading and accessibility.

We are running ongoing advertising and articles, which assist DPA to be recognized and increase our membership numbers.

The Regional Capacity Building Forum was a good team builder. It was helpful seeing examples of other areas' brochures and we are looking to produce our own soon.

The Registry of Emergency Evacuation Situations Database has had interest from several DPAs and Councils nationwide. DPA holds the database for people with disabilities and in the case of an evacuation, Civil Defence can evacuate people who might otherwise be housebound.

Thanks to funding from the Lion Foundation, our latest acquisition is an audible mobile phone for our Visually Impaired Co-ordinator. This allows her to hear text messages, resulting in easier and quicker communication with the Deaf Association and others.

Delysse Kennard (Office Co-ordinator, DPA Palmerston North)

DPA Southland

Membership of DPA Southland continues to grow with 10 new members having joined us this year.


DPA and People First meeting in Gore

Strengthening our relationship with People First has been one of the highlights of this year. We held our June meeting in Gore, and are looking at different ways to involve members in monthly meetings that will overcome the need to travel.

It has been a particularly difficult year for DPA Southland as we endured the campaign of 'misinformation' about the repealing of the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (DPEP) Act. Three members resigned without taking the opportunity to inform their thinking by taking part in the Sheltered Workshop Open Forum that was held at the end of April. We also attempted to counter the campaign by sending all corporate members a copy of DPA's Our Vision.

DPA Southland made submissions to the Human Rights Commission Passenger Land Transport Review. We were invited to the hearing to talk about how the Total Mobility Global System works and how it is empowering to users of the scheme.

DPA Southland had representation on the Steering Committee for the Special Education review.

A disappointment was the cancellation of the DPA Youth Leadership Camp, but we are in a good position financially to sponsor a young person to the next one in January, thanks to the support of the Astra Club of Mount Anglem.

DPA Southland are leading the way among the District Health Boards as having the most members (5) being successful in their application to serve on the DSAC (Disability Services Advisory Committee) to the SDHB.

I successfully stood for election to the DHB under the banner of disability, and could not have done this without the support of DPA Southland and local disability agencies.

National Conference attendance is an investment in leadership, and DPA Southland was able to send two representatives to Palmerston North, thanks to the funding support from COGS. Two members attended the Capacity Building Forum. This was not only a great networking experience, but empowering for all with the sharing of knowledge, experience and problem-solving techniques.

DPA Southland recently toured the completed Civic Theatre upgrade. DPA Southland and Combined Disabilities Group members have been working with the Invercargill City Council making sure that the new learners' swimming pool is accessible. ICC has purchased 2 new hoists to be placed alongside the learners' and spa pools.

Dot Wilson (Secretary, DPA Southland)

DPA Taranaki

With our involvement in Partnership Forums held throughout the year in New Plymouth and Stratford, DPA Taranaki has marvellous opportunities to gain up-to-date information. These partnerships were originally undertaken by DPA with Rene Laan of Community Development, and now consist of Access Ability, Tui Ora, New Plymouth District Council, Taranaki APEPSI Trust, Taranaki Disability Information Centre Trust, and DPA Taranaki. These forums continue to add to our collective knowledge of the disability sector in our region.

Seventy-five or more Total Mobility users and participants attend the Total Mobility Forum we hosted at the New Plymouth District Council Chambers.

During this current year we have been actively involved in training sessions learning more about Governance and Management, as well as Submission and Report writing.

Six of us recently attended a Capacity Building Forum at Palmerston North giving us ideas and inspiration of how the other DPA regions work in their areas.

We have had our bi-monthly meetings in towns throughout Taranaki - Waitara, Patea, Inglewood, Stratford, Opunake, and New Plymouth - which gives us an added insight into disability needs and issues in our region.

We regularly follow our Operational Plan which is due for review and change in 2006 - This has shown us where the gaps are and where we have responsibilities in our disability sector.

Marion Wellington (Secretary, DPA Taranaki)

DPA Wellington

DPA Wellington continues to lobby for a better city for people with disability.

We have had continued discussions about the commuter trains being accessible and were able to get small gains but there is more to do.

We have been part of consultation processes with our District Health Board on their annual plan, in particular their plan for primary health services and also on their five year plan for their mental health services. We managed to get some changes in these.

Maurice Priestley once again organized a successful event at Te Papa with other very talented performers to celebrate International Day of Disabled People.

One of our members Bronwyn Hayward won the dance section of the Fringe Festival with her show Dancing Frankly.

Wendy Randall (President, DPA Wellington)

Goal 2: Provide a coordinated, informed disability perspective at all levels of government policy and decision-making

Employment

DPA believes that it is the right of all persons with disabilities to have the opportunity to be engaged in productive and meaningful employment which provides flexibility, equal opportunity and career path development.

Workbridge Inc


Dot Wilson

DPA has a seat on Workbridge's governance Council. For the past year Dot Wilson has been on the Workbridge Council. She reports:

I was appointed as DPA's representative to the Workbridge Council at the August 2004 meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).

At the AGM of the Council on 10 September 2004, DPA lost the Presidency to ordinary member Wendy Neilson. Until 2004, DPA had held the Presidency as of right through the Workbridge Constitution. Although at the time this was seen as a vote of diminished confidence in DPA, it has in fact strengthened the voice of DPA, as Wendy is also a member. As the new President, Wendy informed the Council members that we would both work together as both individual members and appointed representative of DPA.

Council Members are:
President: Wendy Neilson
DPA Representative: Dot Wilson
Maori Representative: Maaka Tibble
Ordinary Members: Wendy Neilson
Ruth Jones
Verna Ohia-Gates
Corporate Members:
Tim Cleary Business NZ Representative
Thomas Bryan NZ Council of Trade Unions Representative
Peter Marshall Human Recourses Institute of NZ Representative
Bob Va'ai Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs Representative
Martine Able Association of Blind Citizens of NZ Representative

Workbridge new CEO Ruth Teasdale began her role in February 2005 replacing Ruth Harrison who left to take up the position of chair of the Mental Health Commission.

Workbridge use Standards and Monitoring (SAMS) to conduct client satisfaction surveys. General satisfaction with the service continues to increase with staff being seen as a major asset. The feedback has acknowledged that Employment Consultants are skilled, knowledgeable and understand the current job market. Other comments received have been that they are helpful, supportive, encouraging, respectful and understanding.

Vision

Every person with a disability has the same value as any other person and will contribute positively in the workplace.

Mission

To enable people with disabilities to participate and experience equal opportunities in the labour market.

Values

After vigorous debate it was agreed that this Vision, Mission and Values align well with the New Zealand Disability Strategy, and that these values underpin the behaviours expected of staff. It is important that people using the services of Workbridge know this benchmark for Workbridge value statements.

Both clients and staff of Workbridge are to be surveyed on their understanding of Workbridge values.

Association of Supported Employment New Zealand (ASENZ)


David Corner

DPA has a seat on the ASENZ's Board and for the past year David Corner has been representative. He reports:

I have been involved as a DPA representative for over a year on the ASENZ Board

I have found this to be very rewarding and have learnt lots of new things.

It has been very good to have both Sue Bidrose, (National Client Manager for Health and Disability, Work and Income) and Sarah James (Senior Analyst for the Ministry of Social Development) come along to some of our open forums held the day before our board meetings.

Both Sue and Sarah have explained to us the Single Core Benefit and how it will work, especially how it will help people on the invalids benefit and sickness benefit to find work.

The Single Core Benefit will do away with the name 'Invalids Benefit' which many people don't like. With all the changes, hopefully people with a disability will be able to find jobs and earn income that won't affect their benefit.

It is pleasing to see that ASENZ is supportive of the repeal of DPEP [the Disabled Person's Employment Promotion Act 1960]. People with disabilities, their friends and networks have pushed to repeal this Act, and hopefully it will have a positive outcome.

I have learnt a lot of new things about supported employment since I have been on the board and created new networks with different people and given the board a different perspective on things coming from the point of view of a person with an intellectual disability.

ASENZ is supportive of Pathways To Inclusion and also the National Health Committee report To Have An Ordinary Life published in 2003. It has some networks with People First as well.

I believe it is important to keep up the links with different agencies. The more people that are on different boards, the more voices that DPA and ASENZ and other services have, which will make it better for everybody.

Rehabilitation International Vocational Commission


Robyn Hunt

As a member of Rehabilitation International, DPA has appointed Robyn Hunt to be the New Zealand contact for the RI Vocational Commission. She reports:

Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act repeal

The Social Services Select Committee reported back to Parliament in March on the Repeal of the Disabled Persons' Employment Promotion Act (DPEP Act) Bill. The Committee was unable to reach agreement on whether the Bill should be passed.

The Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act was passed in 1960 and established sheltered workshops for disabled people. These workshops were exempt from all wage and industrial legislative provisions, such as minimum wage, health and safety, holidays and other legislation and regulations designed to protect working people.

As part of the Consistency 2000 project, the Act was identified as being contrary to the Human Rights Act, resulting from changes to human rights legislation in 1993.

Following this, pressure for change mounted from the disability community, including intellectually disabled people working in sheltered workshops.

Many workshops were closing, or had already closed, including those run by the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind and the Rehabilitation League, now Workbridge.

During consultation on the Disability Strategy, the repeal of this Act was identified as a high priority. Subsequently the repeal was included in the strategy and became government policy.

The repeal was not undertaken in isolation and the Pathways to Inclusion policy package was introduced well before proposals for repeal reached Parliament. Pathways to Inclusion emphasises more opportunities for work in regular employment, new opportunities for lifelong learning, and more participation for people in their own communities.

Pathways to Inclusion is in its third year of a five year phase-in period with many changes already occurring. Some of these include more opportunities in "new" ways of working such as supported employment. But they also include community participation initiatives such as involvement in community education classes, and different and creative approaches for people participating in their communities. One example is reverse integration - community tutors coming in for small adult literacy classes. Pou Whakaaro in Whakatane is an example of a sheltered workshop which has changed its focus to community participation.

Sheltered workshops have had over two years to plan for changes. They will be able to apply for exemptions to the minimum wage for people on an individual basis.

Leading disability support and advocacy non-governmental organisations DPA, CCS, People First and IHC say that, under the current legislation, disabled people are being treated unfairly on the basis of impairment. They have all publicly supported the repeal of the DPEP Act, on the basis that it will not disadvantage any of their constituent groups, and intend to closely monitor the process of implementing minimum wage exemptions. These organisations cite New Zealand's human rights legislation and record, and international human rights developments such as the UN Disability Convention, as the basis for their position.

Support funds expanded

As from 1 July 2005 all State Sector agencies, like other employers, will be eligible to apply for Ministry of Social Development Support Funds (administered by Workbridge) to help employees with disabilities overcome equipment-related barriers to open employment. State Sector agencies are still expected to draw on organisational resources to meet their Good Employer obligations, in the first instance, and to seek support from Ministry of Social Development Support Funds in more exceptional circumstances.

Accessibility

DPA believes that everyone benefits from the human right of people with disabilities to participate with dignity in the normal activities and processes of life in the community.

Barrier Free New Zealand Trust


Bill Wrightson

DPA's representative on the Barrier Free New Zealand Trust is Bill Wrightson. He reports:

During the year the Barrier Free NZ Trust continued to perform its role of administering the International Symbol of Access (ISA) for DPA. The Trust also maintained its well-established series of seminars on access and its network of Barrier Free Advisers.

As part of the Trust's constitution, DPA has a permanent trustee position. Our role is to ensure the ISA is responsibly administered and that there is no duplication of the advocacy role of DPA on matters of access to and use of buildings.

As the member agent for Rehabilitation International (RI) in New Zealand, DPA (NZ) Inc is responsible for overseeing use of RI's ISA, which it does through a delegated arrangement with the Trust. We, the Trust and DPA, have continued our agreed relationship to coordinate lobbying, advisory and educative roles on access provision. DPA looks forward to sustaining its complementary role with the Trust during next year.

DPA is also keen to ensure that the Trust, in its education and training roles, adequately represents the interests of persons with disabilities through observance of NZ Standard 4121:2001 as a legal minimum level of access compliance that can not be ignored.

DPA submissions on access during the year included:

2004

Air New Zealand

In May 2004 DPA took a group complaint to the Human Rights Commission (HRC) about the non-lifting policy that Air New Zealand had instigated in December 2003.

After attending three mediation meetings organized by the HRC, DPA has considered that the meetings did not resolve the complaint because the remedies offered by Air NZ ignored the primary reason for the complaint ie. a discriminatory policy.

While Air NZ had invested in better customer services for disabled people including an array of lifting equipment, upgrading equipment used by disabled people in terminals, updating booking processes and the web site, and staff training in interacting with disabled people, their non-lifting policy remains unaltered. We are very disappointed with their apparent inability to understand their obligations to the Human Rights Act.

Our next step is, given the complaint is not resolved, to take it to the Proceedings Commissioner.

Policy and Advocacy

DPA's National Policy Researcher, Wendi Wicks, reports:

Work has continued to be very busy indeed, with two significant influences on the workload. First was the desire of the Ministry of Health for DPA's ongoing involvement in a number of their projects, and second was the impact of a general election. The overall balance of work to fulfill DPA's policy and advocacy role has shifted a little, but more in how the work is done rather than its overall aim.

I have been involved in a number of ongoing meetings. Examples are the Quality and Safety Project, the intersectoral NASC project, the future funding (Budget 2005) working party, the NHI upgrade project and the National Screening Unit's consumer reference group.

Work in other sectors has reflected this trend: Advisory or working groups include the post-census disability survey, e-government, reviews of residential tenancies, banking services, Total Mobility, electronic government information, and the National Action Plan on Human Rights in NZ. Monitoring reports on NZ's implementation of the women's convention (CEDAW) are receiving disability input. Standards development, and writing of NZQA Unit Standards for training workers in the disability sector, and work with OSH on workplace safety are other ongoing involvements.

Proactive efforts include developing a joint initiative with mental health sector representatives on extending the coverage on attitudinal barriers first addressed in the Like Minds Like Mine campaign. Alongside CCS we continue to pursue our human rights complaint against Air NZ on behalf of disabled air travellers. We are starting to link more with community and voluntary sector organizations.

Some earlier initiatives have been successful. Alongside a range of supportive government organizations and other like-minded non-governmental organisations, DPA has worked to include the post-census disability survey within baseline funding. We are now able to work with Statistics NZ to develop the disability survey for the 2006 census without a need to find sponsors.

Formal submissions have been fewer than in previous years but this may change according to the legislative calendar and political priorities. The repeal of the DPEP Act was not finished in this parliamentary session, and it is possible that further submissions and lobbying will be needed.

Goal 3: Provide a vehicle for the promotion of the rights, social value and citizenship of all disabled people

International Forums

Rehabilitation International


Anne Hawker

Former DPA President, Anne Hawker, now Chairs Rehabilitation International's Social Commission. She reports:

The RI Executive Committee meeting in Sydney gave an opportunity for representatives on both sides of the Tasman to be involved in debates on the UN Convention and the relief efforts for disabled people as a result of the Boxing Day tsunami. Gary Williams gave an excellent speech, and issued a warning to those fronting the development of the UN Convention on the promotion and protection of the rights of people with disabilities. While compromise was often essential, he said, it was imperative that the wider disability community and its representatives had a clear understanding of what would not be compromised. Before making any compromises, Gary said, the potential risks must be clearly understood and minimised.

DPA (NZ) was able to share resources such as Terms of Reference for a Finance Committee, and a Code of Conduct for Board members because we had discussed and resolved the issues that were now facing RI.

A clear role for all involved in RI has been the development of the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled people. DPA(NZ) has had an important role in working to get support for Hon. Don McKay who very ably chairs the ad hoc meetings to develop the Convention. RI has played an important hosting role for those involved in the development of the UN Convention, including holding working lunches at its headquarters. Ensuring that daily summaries are circulated was also a crucial role as part of getting consensus. DPA(NZ) assisted in securing financial support from the NZ Government for this activity.

Michael Fox the new President of RI has been very clear about the importance of being focused and ensuring that we do a few things well. Ray Fletcher from the Vocational Commission challenged all those involved in RI to remain outward rather than inward focused. These debates that have also been raised within DPA.

The role of the family/whanau carer is an interesting debate surfacing throughout the world. This important group has for too long been neglected, but it is important that their voice is not viewed as a proxy for the voice of disabled people. Gary cautioned about this with some of the proposed amendments in the UN Convention. The NZ Disability Strategy potentially has that risk, which has been demonstrated in the preliminary work on family caregivers. This same theme and concerns were repeated in a conference in Melbourne on Accommodation and Community Support.

Risk and its management may potentially undermine the rights contained in the final UN Convention. How these often-conflicting perspectives are managed will be essential in realizing the vision of the UN Convention. The Social Commission believes that it has an important role in monitoring the introduction of the Convention and in ensuring issues such as the role of the family/ whanau carer, and risk and its impact, are debated and resolved during any implementation phase.

Questions about the relevance of the Commissions have been raised. The role of the Commissions relative to the Regional Groups is being discussed by the November Executive and Assembly. DPA is a part of the Asia Pacific region. As part of the Asia Pacific Region, Rehabilitation International President Michael Fox is looking to Australia and New Zealand to have a major leadership role in developing the Pacific region. DPA is well poised to assist in this development through the networks that it has established.

The Social Commission has been asked to outline its role, which it sees as the facilitator of discussion on major issues which impact on the ability of disabled people to participate in society. In light of that role, the Social Commission is involved through the Korean representative looking at the attitudes, especially of young people, towards disabled people and the impact of that attitude on their ability to fully participate in society.

For the November Assembly, the Social Commission has been asked to develop a paper in conjunction with the Health and Functioning Commission to look at the International Classification of Function (ICF) model and its place in the suite of tools including the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People and the Standard Rules for the Equalisation of Opportunity.

As a result of the review of the commissions, it has been suggested that the Social Commission changes its name to Independent Living. This will be an important and significant change which may well change the focus of this group within RI but also in the regions.

As Chair of the Social Commission, I will be looking forward to the challenges that this change brings with it. An important outcome of the November meeting in Bahrain will the development of the priorities for the coming year and clarity in terms of the relationship between the regions and the Commissions and the role that they play as a subject matter experts and as an aid to people within the region.

Young people


Nathan Bond

DPA believes young people, irrespective of disability, can grow and learn. The years as children and adolescents should be fun, giving a positive self-identity and allow what is necessary to lead full and active lives.

Nathan Bond, DPA Youth Development Project Co-ordinator, reports:

After the disappointment of last year we have bounced back well and the youth leadership project is back on track. In January 2006 DPA will run another young leader's camp held in Lower Hutt. The 14 camp participants will take the knowledge and skills they acquire on camp with them, to forge a better future for themselves and a better future for disabled people in general. DPA still need people to act as mentors and pass on the skills and knowledge that will ensure disable people have a strong voice in the future.

The only cost that mentors will incur is their time. If that time helps to develop strong leaders in the future years the price will be well worth it. Anyone interested in becoming a mentor or who wants to know more about the mentoring programme should contact the youth leadership project coordinator phone 04 970-1890 or email nathan.bond@paradise.net.nz.

Goal 4: Eliminate the discrimination and devaluation experiences by disabled people in New Zealand

Human rights

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.

International Disability Convention

DPA continued to play a leading role in the development of the United Nation's Disability Convention with the President and CEO attending international meetings to discuss the Convention.

Among the keynote speakers at the Rehabilitation International seminar in Sydney early this year was the Ecuadorian Ambassador to Australia and to New Zealand, Mr Luis Gallegos. Mr Gallegos, chairman of the first five sessions on the proposed UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, informed delegates of progress on the Convention, which he expects to be available for signing and ratification next year. He is committed to what he calls 'an extraordinary cause' for the estimated 600 million people with disabilities around the world.

DPA CEO Gary Williams was a seminar panellist. He had attended three of the sessions chaired by Mr Gallegos, and said that having direct influence in the New Zealand Government's delegation has been very positive. He said that being able to articulate New Zealand's perspective to the officials has paid dividends, especially DPA's staunchness on NGO participation.

Gary warned however that the easy part of the negotiating process is almost over and the process must gather speed. He also spoke against the trend among some delegations to attempt to qualify the rights for disabled people, by suggesting phrases such as "within available resources" and "except as provided by law". He says the first is discriminatory for disabled people because it turns our human rights into a commodity. The second, "except as provided by law" is the ultimate nullifier. The Convention should not legitimise practices that should become extinct as the world evolves. By allowing countries to have a fallback position of their national laws, their bad laws take precedent over the Convention.

Some countries say that the Convention cannot give more rights to disabled people that aren't available to non-disabled people, Gary concluded. 'It seems ironical to me that while it is okay for us to have less rights, we can never have more rights. People don't make a conscious choice to be disabled and remedying the imbalance of rights isn't going to make disability more attractive as a lifestyle option.

'My pragmatic view is that the final Convention that countries will sign up to will be a result of countless compromises. We need to be careful that the compromises do not render the Convention too weak or worse.'

New Zealand Action Plan for Human Rights

Human Rights Commissioner Robyn Hunt reports:

Following the launch of Human Rights in New Zealand Today, Nga Tika Tangata O Te Motu, the New Zealand Human Rights Commission has developed the New Zealand Action Plan for Human Rights, Mana Ki te Tangata. The plan outlines priorities for action 2005 - 2010

The Action Plan has been developed as part of the Commission's statutory responsibility. At the time of writing, it is a national plan awaiting government response.

As with Human Rights in New Zealand Today there is a separate chapter on the rights of disabled people. Actions relating to work are found in the section of the plan focused on social, economic and cultural rights. Actions listed under employment include disabled people, but there are some specific priorities for action:

The New Zealand Action Plan for Human Rights can be found at www.hrc.co.nz/home/hrc/introduction/newzealandactionplanforhumanrights.php





Statement of Financial Position

As at 30 June 2005

Last Year Account Name This Year
CURRENT ASSETS
645 B.N.Z. - CURRENT ACCOUNT 390
25 PETTY CASH ON HAND 25
6,694 PREPAYMENTS 5,720
32,289 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE 46,142
39,662 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 52,277
FIXED ASSETS
68,471 FIXED ASSETS AT COST 74,541
(60,841) ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION (65,389)
7,630 FIXED ASSETS BOOK VALUE 9,152
INVESTMENTS
99,500 B.N.Z. - CALL ACCOUNT 74,200
99,500 TOTAL INVESTMENTS 74,200
146,792 TOTAL ASSETS 135,629
LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES
35,987 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE 36,477
649 MEMBERSHIP IN ADVANCE 637
45,000 INCOME RECEIVED IN ADVANCE -
15,494 PROVISION FOR HOLIDAY PAY 19,065
190 E. COOPER SCHOLARSHIP FUND 190
16,123 TRUST FUNDS - DPA REGIONS 19,169
5,779 G.S.T. PAYABLE 2,557
119,222 TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 78,095
$27,570 NET BOOK VALUE OF ASSETS $57,534
REPRESENTED BY:
ACCUMULATED FUNDS
(7,681) ACCUMULATED FUNDS
BROUGHT F/WD		 27,570
35,251 CURRENT YEAR SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) 29,964
$27,570 TOTAL ACCUMULATED FUNDS $57,534


Statement of Financial Performance

For the year ended 30 June 2005

Last Year Account Name This Year
GOAL 1: LEADERSHIP
PROJECT: NATIONAL HUI
INCOME
- LOTTERY WELFARE 25,000
- OTHER INCOME 309
- TOTAL INCOME 25,309
LESS EXPENSES
1,711 CATERING AND FOOD 3,017
- KAUMATUA & MAORI WARDEN KOHA 150
- GENERAL EXPENSES 424
- SUPPORT PERSONNEL 765
311 HUI FACILITATOR -
1,711 TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION 9,980
3,733 TOTAL EXPENSES 14,336
$(3,733) PROJECT:EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS) $10,973
PROJECT: INTERNATIONAL
INCOME
12,124 RI EVENTS INCOME 370
- DPI EVENTS INCOME 19,500
35,556 DSS DIAS CONTRACT 35,556
47,680 TOTAL INCOME 55,426
LESS EXPENSES
2,551 RI SECRETARIAT 2,241
(1,839) DPI SECRETARIAT 735
23,988 RI EVENTS 7,217
4,643 DPI EVENTS 37,402
7,356 SALARIES AND WAGES 7,656
4,000 ADMINISTRATION FEE 2,000
7,000 OFFICE ACCOMMODATION 6,100
1.200 AUDITORS FEES - SHARE 1,500
48,899 TOTAL EXPENSES 64,851
$(1,219) PROJECT: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS) $(9,425)
PROJECT: YOUTH
INCOME
3,000 DPA ADMINISTRATION (TRANSFER) 3,000
(270) GRANTS AND DONATIONS 20,000
- LOTTERY YOUTH 15,640
2,730 TOTAL INCOME 38,640
LESS EXPENSES
307 GENERAL EXPENSES 442
5,792 PROJECT COORDINATOR 11,560
300 TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION -
6,399 TOTAL EXPENSES 12,002
$(3,669) PROJECT: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS) $26,638
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY/CONFERENCE
INCOME
12,658 DONATIONS AND GRANTS 12,000
5,000 LOTTERY WELFARE 5,000
1,672 REGISTRATION FEES 19,200
19,330 TOTAL INCOME 36,200
LESS EXPENSES
1,102 GENERAL EXPENSES 328
1,033 POSTAGE AND COURIERS 1,869
6,403 PRINTING AND STATIONERY 7,026
- REFUNDS 711
2,696 SALARIES AND WAGES 1,008
162 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 272
8,115 TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION 34,369
19,511 TOTAL EXPENSES 45,583
$(181) PROJECT: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS) $(9,383)
$(8,802) GOAL 1: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS) $18,803


Last Year Account Name This Year
GOAL 2: INFORMATION & ADVICE
PROJECT: NATIONAL SECRETARIAT
INCOME
2,202 INTEREST RECEIVED 3,710
33,793 OTHER INCOME - ADMINISTRATION 25,939
11,788 SUBSCRIPTIONS 10,236
5,744 DONATIONS 5,106
8,009 MAXEQ CONSULTING 85
40,000 LOTTERY WELFARE 40,000
124,444 DSS DIAS CONTRACT 124,444
- REGIONAL SUPPORT INCOME 40,661
4,000 INTERNATIONAL PROJECT ADMIN 2,000
229,980 TOTAL INCOME 252,181
LESS EXPENSES
556 ACC PREMIUM LEVY 526
1,415 AUDITORS FEES - SHARE 1,044
- BAD DEBTS WRITTEN OFF 164
97 BANK CHARGES 60
25,466 COMMITTEE EXPENSES 45,587
2,817 DEPRECIATION 4,548
1,234 GENERAL EXPENSES 1,063
1,159 INSURANCE 1,668
12,872 MOTOR VEHICLE EXPENSES 10,989
4,953 POSTAGE AND COURIERS 5,197
5,929 PRINTING AND STATIONERY 6,347
160 PROFESSIONAL FEES -
6,599 PUBLICITY 6,019
1,196 OFFICE ACCOMMODATION 2,171
5,083 REGIONAL SUPPORT 29.476
877 REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE 2,015
119,483 SALARIES AND WAGES 107,802
1,323 SUBSCRIPTIONS & PUBLICATIONS 1,312
3,457 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 4,169
2,194 TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION 3,829
- TRANSFER - OUR VISION UPDATE 6,000
5,000 TRANSFER - TREATY P/S ADV/SUPP 2,720
1,300 TRANSFER - TREATY P/S MONITOR 1,300
3,000 TRANSFER - YOUTH 3,000
1,319 WORKING GROUP - MAXEQ 206
207,489 TOTAL EXPENSES 247,212
$22,491 PROJECT: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS) $4,969
PROJECT: OUR VISION UPDATE
INCOME
- DPA ADMINISTRATION (TRANSFER) 6,000
- TOTAL INCOME 6,000
LESS EXPENSES
- PROFESSIONAL FEES 667
- TOTAL EXPENSES 667
$- PROJECT: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS) $5,333
$22,491 GOAL 2: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS) $10,302


Last Year Account Name This Year
GOAL 3: ADVOCACY
PROJECT: TREATY PARTNERSHIP - ADVISORY SUPPORT
INCOME
5,000 DPA ADMINISTRATION (TRANSFER) 2,720
5,000 TOTAL INCOME 2,720
LESS EXPENSES
62 TELECOMMUNICATIONS -
1,123 TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION -
1,185 TOTAL EXPENSES -
$3,815 PROJECT: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS) $2,720
$3,815 GOAL 3: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS) $2,720


Last Year Account Name This Year
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
62,222 DSS DIAS CONTRACT 62,222
62,222 TOTAL INCOME 62,222
LESS EXPENSES
185 ACC PREMIUM LEVY 263
1,200 AUDITORS FEES - SHARE 1,700
- GENERAL EXPENSES 29
5,760 OFFICE ACCOMMODATION 5,760
4 POSTAGE AND COURIERS 14
300 PRINTING AND STATIONERY 273
36,444 SALARIES AND WAGES 54,094
802 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 1,195
1,080 TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION 2,055
45,775 TOTAL EXPENSES 65,383
$16,447 PROJECT: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS) $(3,161)
$17,747 GOAL 4: EXCESS INCOME/(LOSS) $(1,861)


Last Year Account Name This Year
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT
GOAL 1: LEADERSHIP
(3,733) PROJECT: NATIONAL HUI 10,973
(1,219) PROJECT: INTERNATIONAL (9,425)
(3,669) PROJECT: YOUTH 26,638
(181) NATIONAL ASSEMBLY/CONFERENCE (9,383)
GOAL 2: INFORMATION AND ADVICE
22,491 PROJECT: NATIONAL SECRETARIAT 4,969
- PROJECT: OUR VISION UPDATE 5,333
GOAL 3: ADVOCACY
3,815 PROJECT: TREATY PARTNERSHIP - ADVISORY SUPPORT 2,720
GOAL 4: MONITORING
1,300 PROJECT: TREATY PARTNERSHIP - MONITORING 1,300
16,447 PROJECT: SERVICES/LEGISLATION (3,161)
$35,251 NET OVERALL SURPLUS/(LOSS) $29,964


Statement of Movement in Equity

For the year ended 30 June 2004

Last Year Account Name This Year
ACCUMULATED FUNDS
(7,681) AS AT 30 JUNE 2004 NET SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) 27,570
35,251 FOR THE YEAR ACCUMULATED FUNDS 29,964
$27,570 AS AT 30 JUNE 2005 $57,534


Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 30 June 2005


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; Disabled Persons Assembly Foundation or Maxeq Investments Limited.

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

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:
Cost Accum
Depn		 Depn
for year		 Book Value
30/06/05
Computer Equipment 54,350 (44,344) (3,548) 6,458
Furniture & Fittings 20,197 (16,497) (1,000) 2,694
$74,541 $(60,841) $(4,548) $9,152

Cost Accum
Depn		 Depn
for year		 Book Value
30/06/04
Computer Equipment 48,298 (42,520) (1,824) 3,954
Furniture & Fittings 20,173 (15,504) (993) 3,676
$68,471 $(58,024) $(2,817) $7,630

4. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COMMITMENTS

No contingent liabilities or commitments existed at 30th June 2005 (2004 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:
2005/2006 2004/2005
Due in less than 1 year $14,093 $14,093
Due between 2 – 5 years $1,175 $15,268
Due in greater than 5 years - -
Total $15,268 $29,361

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:
2005/2006 2004/2005
Due in less than 1 year $7,516 $7,817
Due between 2 – 5 years - $7,338
Due in greater than 5 years - -
Total $7,516 $15,155

6. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Maxeq Investments Limited is a wholly owned by Disabled Persons Assembly (NZ) Inc. As at balance date Maxeq Investments Limited owed to Disabled Persons Asssembly (NZ) Inc $96 (2004 $7,425)