The DPO Coalition meets with a wide range of agencies. The objective of our meetings with officials is always to get improved outcomes for disabled people. We regularly discuss the need to ensure accessibility and to uphold the rights of disabled people under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (“the Disability Convention”).

This set of Key Messages covers our DPO Coalition meetings in November and December 2024.

New Zealand Sign Language Board
The DPO Coalition met with the New Zealand Sign Language Board, and talked about working together going forward. The Coalition talked about some of the shared priorities we both work on. The Coalition looks forward to regular meetings with the New Zealand Sign Language Board going forward. 

Disability Rights Commissioner
The DPO Coalition met with the Prudence Walker Disability Rights Commissioner and Frances Anderson Principal Advisor Human Rights Commission. The Disability Rights Commissioner shared information about her time at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), about the disability issues raised and the opportunity to meet with other Disability Rights Commissioner from around the world. We discussed the upcoming Conference of State Parties meeting in New York, June 2025 and received an update from her regarding the Human Rights Commission’s strategic and business plans. The Coalition look forward to engaging with the Disability Rights Commissioner and her fellow Commissioners in 2025. 

Sport Integrity Commission
The Coalition met with three representatives from the Sport Integrity Commission, including their Chief Executive. The Sport Integrity Commission ensures that people are able to participate in sports and recreation in New Zealand in a way that is safe and fair. The Coalition provided comment on the draft minimum standards that the Commission are working on. This includes Standard 1 (Prohibit behaviours that are a threat to integrity) and Standard 3 (Proactively safeguard children, young adults and vulnerable adults). Further engagement between the Coalition and the Sport Integrity Commission is planned on the development of these standards. 

Health and Disability Commissioner 
The Coalition met with Rose Wall Deputy Commissioner Disability, and Esther Woodbury Principal Advisor, Disability from the Health and Disability Commission. We discussed the process undertaken for the review of the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994, and the Code of Rights 1996. The report and submissions will be made available on the Health and Disability Commissioner website in due course. The Coalition reiterated our concerns about the provision of disability support services. The Coalition looks forward to continuing to work with the Deputy Commissioner Disability on their upcoming work programme. 

Maritime New Zealand 
The Coalition met with Maritime New Zealand to discuss their progress towards improving the design, construction and equipment rules for domestic commercial vessels for disabled people. The Coalition were impressed with the quality of work done by Maritime New Zealand. We look forward to continuing to work with them on this project. 

I.Lead
The Coalition met with a delegation of three people from the National I.Lead Committee. We heard a summary of the disability report cards that they developed. These report cards are available on the I.Lead website (https://www.ilead.org.nz/report-cards/). The Coalition looks forward to developing our relationship with I.Lead and having regular meeting opportunities. 

Payments NZ 
The Coalition had an initial meeting with Payments NZ, the industry body that looks after standards relating to payments in New Zealand. The purpose of the meeting was to establish a relationship and discuss ways of engaging with the disability community going forward. The Coalition is looking forward to the workshop with Payments NZ early in 2025 where payment challenges and barriers to banking services will be addressed. 

Local Government New Zealand 
The Coalition met with Nelson City Mayor Nick Smith and his counterparts at Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ). LGNZ are seeking feedback on how to modernise election processes for local government. Submissions to respond to the discussion paper (https://www.lgnz.co.nz/policy-advocacy/key-issues-for-councils/local-electoral-reform/) closed on 19 January 2025. The DPO Coalition focused on barriers to participating in elections for disabled people, although LGNZ has a wider remit. This included conveying the importance of online | internet voting for disabled people. 

Disability Support Services Taskforce | Ministry of Social Development 
The DPO Coalition met with Chris Bunny, Deputy Chief Executive Disability Support Services and Kat Norman, Communications Lead, Ministry of Social Development from the Disability Support Services (DSS) Taskforce. We raised elements of concern about the recent online survey not being easy to complete for the community. We also discussed how the DPO Coalition could feed into planning around recommendations 5 and 6 from the DSS review. The Coalition are planning to have a workshop with the DSS Taskforce in February 2025 to discuss further. 

Whaikaha | Ministry of Disabled People
The DPO Coalition met with Whaikaha in November and December 2024. The Coalition discussed several issues including:

  • restructuring of Whaikaha;
  • progress on the planned Cabinet Paper on the UNCRPD and the United Nations’ 2022 Concluding Observations;
  • the planned refresh of the New Zealand Disability Strategy;
  • representation of the disability community in Whaikaha’s work going forward. 

The Cabinet Paper will be proactively released and alternate formats will be available at the same time early in 2025. The Coalition looks forward to learning about outcomes of the Cabinet Paper, and when the Cabinet Paper will be released. 

Te Whatu Ora | Health NZ
The DPO Coalition met with Rachel Noble, Head of Disability, Office of the Chief Executive, and colleagues Karen Bartholomew, Leo Goldie-Anderson and Leisa Epplett from Te Whatu Ora. We discussed the Patient Profile National Health Index (PPNHI) project, which looks at making disability information easier to access through the National Health Index (NHI) system used in healthcare. The Coalition are excited by recent developments and look forward to implementation of the project.
 
Department of Internal Affairs 
The DPO Coalition met with Alanna Irving and Aya Morris to consider the Lotteries Grant and their new Statement of Intent. The amount of funds available is not enough to meet the increased demand for Lottery funding. The Lottery Grants Board are looking at developing data to inform government of where there are gaps in provision of funding, and what groups can use to lobby government on changes. 

Health Quality and Safety Commission
The DPO Coalition met with Carl Shuker from the Health Quality and Safety Commission to discuss their future research publication, a ‘window on disability’. The Coalition looks forward to further engagement. 

Voice of disabled people
The DPO Coalition is the first place that the Government goes to when wanting to engage with the voice of disabled people. We are continually looking for new member organisations to join the DPO Coalition to increase our coverage across the disability community. New members must represent disabled people who are not already represented by an existing member. If you would like to apply, please email the Secretariat at: us-dpo@groups.io