On 18 March 2024, Whaikaha announced changes to the Purchasing Rules and Equipment Modification Service (EMS). These changes came into place immediately, restricting the use of funding in a way that impacts on disabled people, their family, whānau, supporters and carers. DPA is working with other organisations, calling for the reverse of these changes. Here, we document the work we are doing.
Disabled Persons Assembly NZ (DPA) has released an open letter that calls on ministers Upston and Willis to fully reverse the 18 March disability support restrictions and ensure disabled people have the resources and the flexibility needed to thrive.
We want to check in with you and see how you're doing. There's a lot going on with last Wednesday's announcement that Hon. Louise Upston was replacing Hon. Penny Simmonds as the Minister for Disability Issues – bringing disability into Cabinet once more.
Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) welcomes the move to place the new disability Minister position inside Cabinet but is concerned that on its own the move will not resolve the underlying issue of chronic underfunding of disability support.
From 20th to 30th March, DPA ran a survey to find out about how the impact of changes to the Purchasing Rules and funding of Equipment Modification Services (EMS) announced on 18 March 2024 by Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People.