Submissions

To: Auckland Council
Date: December 2024

Purpose

This submission’s core purpose is to highlight environmental protection issues from a disability perspective, advocating for policies and initiatives that explicitly consider and accommodate the needs of disabled people. DPA aims to emphasize the importance of a healthy natural environment for the well-being of disabled individuals, address concerns related to responsible cat ownership, pest control, water protection, and particularly stress the critical need for disability-inclusive climate resilience strategies.

Summary of DPA submission

DPA commends the Council for providing accessible formats for the consultation (NZSL and Easy to Read) and acknowledges the extensive efforts of iwi, hapū, and community volunteers in environmental protection. The submission emphasizes the proverb "Ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata" (When the land is well, we are well), highlighting the proven positive impact of spending time in nature on mental health for all, including disabled people, and recognizing the deep connection disabled Māori have to whenua through whakapapa.
 
DPA advocates for collaboration with mana whenua who are tangata whaikaha Māori, to further research and utilize mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) for natural environment protection, citing its benefits for everyone and successful examples like saving Kauri trees. The submission also underscores the vital importance of water for physical and spiritual well-being from a te ao Māori perspective, referencing a Northland Regional Council discussion document on the interconnection of cosmologies with water's life. DPA connects environmental degradation, such as flood contamination, to its disproportionate impact on disabled people's access to essential resources like food from their gardens.
 
Regarding "Responsible cat ownership," DPA draws on previous submissions, noting that disabled people own cats for mental, physical, and practical reasons, including pest management. They detail how irresponsible cat ownership can adversely affect disabled people's health through noise, odours, mess, and attacks by feral cats, especially for immunocompromised individuals. DPA highlights the financial burden of vet and transport fees for low-income disabled people and recommends that the Council provide accessible information on desexing, microchipping, and responsible cat ownership.
 
DPA supports "Pest-free islands and peninsulas" initiatives, including mandatory desexing for owned cats on islands, to protect threatened species and reduce health risks for immunocompromised disabled people. They also support rules requiring anchors and chains to be clean of marine pests and banning motorized boats from Lake Tomarata to manage contamination and improve safety for disabled swimmers and kayakers. A central theme is the critical need for disability-inclusive climate resilience, as disabled people are consistently identified as one of the groups most at risk from climate change impacts.
 
DPA advocates for Auckland Council to partner with the disabled community and its Disability Advisory Panel to develop accessible climate resilience strategies, drawing inspiration from successful models like the Bristol Disabled People's Forum in the UK.

 
Key Recommendation/Finding:

DPA recommends that Council, the Auckland disabled community (including Disabled People’s Organisations) and Disability Advisory Panel partner together to develop accessible climate resilience strategies.

 
Supporting Statement 1:

"For example, in heatwaves and severe storms, disabled people are more likely to suffer health problems or be vulnerable to power outages that disrupt life-supporting equipment."

 
Supporting Statement 2:

"Many of these relationships have been in place for many years but it remains pleasing to see that those with new positions of authority continue to remember the importance of co-production and co-design with Disabled people.."