DPO Coalition Updates

Select committee submission in December. The DPO Coalition presented to the select committee on the Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill in December. This provided an opportunity for Coalition members to expand on points raised in the submission. The Select Committee noted the robustness of the DPO Coalition’s submission where its … Read more

Minister for Disability Issues. The DPO Coalition met with Hon Poto Williams, Minister for Disability Issues. The Coalition thanked the Minister for her proactive response to the concluding observations made by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. They then discussed how to implement the recommendations … Read more

Office for Seniors. The DPO Coalition held a workshop with the Office for Seniors. They identified several common issues that affect both disabled people and people who are aging. They discussed the “Better Later Life” Action Plan, and some key actions including: The Office for Seniors will continue to provide … Read more

United Nations Examination of New Zealand’s implementation of the Disability Convention. In August New Zealand was examined by the United Nations on how it is implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The DPO Coalition appointed a delegation of five people and two meeting assistants … Read more

Establishment Unit, new ministry for disabled people (name since confirmed Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People). The DPO Coalition is very pleased that Whaikaha – the Ministry of Disabled People was launched on 1 July. At our June meeting the DPO Coalition met with Justine Cornwall, Director of the Establishment Unit … Read more

Disability Rights Commissioner The DPO Coalition met with Paula Tesoriero, the Disability Rights Commissioner. They discussed the forum on New Zealand’s implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the inquiry into the experiences of disabled people during omicron. Paula gave an update on … Read more

Accelerating Accessibility Legislation. The DPO Coalition met with the team from the Ministry for Social Development who are working on the Accelerating Accessibility Legislation. The Accelerating Accessibility work is about establishing a new system to identify and remove wide-spread accessibility barriers. The DPO Coalition discussed how it should be governed … Read more