Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 19h

Access Matters Aotearoa Trust invites you to the next Kōrero for Change webinar, focused on how Aotearoa's tourism industry can become more accessible for disabled people and their whānau.

Date: Wednesday 15 October 2025
Time: 9:00am to 12:00pm
Where: Online via Zoom

Tourism

We should all have access to information and services, education and employment, and be able to contribute skills, creativity, and inventiveness to our communities

www.accessmatters.org.nz

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Reposted by Disabled Persons Assembly NZ

Kera O’Regan @keraoregan.bsky.social · 2d

When they signalled this in the budget we @dpanz.bsky.social raised concern because of the dangerous & detrimental position this also puts disabled, queer, and young adults experiencing abuse in.

Absolutely wild that young *adults* are now forced to be financially tied to parents at 18 & 19yo.

Craig Renney @clrenney.bsky.social · 3d

#nzpol The government has announced that 18/19 year olds, who live in a household where the parents earn $65,529 or more, can't claim jobseekers support. If both parents work 27 hours on the minimum wage - $634 a week - they will be expected to now financially support their adult offspring. A 🧵

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 3d

A new wheelchair-accessible picnic table has been installed near the playground at Dunedin Botanic Garden. Small changes, big impact!

New picnic table to boost accessibility

The Friends of Dunedin Botanic Garden group is celebrating the installation of a wheelchair-friendly picnic table near the playground in the lower...

www.odt.co.nz

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 4d

Victoria Garcia is the UK’s first dedicated bus accessibility professional. Her “three-tier philosophy” puts accessibility at the heart of every decision: leadership training, department-wide resources, and impact checks before changes.

UK accessibility leader shares lessons with Australia’s public transport sector

Kinetic has hosted UK accessibility pioneer Victoria Garcia MBE in Australia, sharing lessons to advance public transport accessibility

www.busnews.com.au

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 5d

Disabled Māori face higher rates of hardship, poor health, and exclusion. Huhana Hickey calls it what it is: poverty by design.

‘Poverty in Aotearoa is not accidental’: How our systems deliberately keep people poor

All of this is avoidable – so how do we fix what's broken?

thespinoff.co.nz

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 6d

It’s time for real investment in supported living for all ages.

Family of 21yo disabled Aucklander told to consider rest home care

Disabled New Zealanders requiring more complex care, like 21-year-old Mitchell Cawdron, are being forced to consider aged care due to the lack of accommodation options.

www.1news.co.nz

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 7d

The Ministry of Social Development has released new information about how upcoming changes to disability support services may apply to Enabling Good Lives (EGL) sites.

More info here: tinyurl.com/yausjc4z

Local consultation key in next steps for EGL sites — CCS Disability Action

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has released new information about how upcoming changes to disability support services may apply to Enabling Good Lives (EGL) sites. This follows the recent...

tinyurl.com

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 9d

"When we look at London, for example, where they've got a target of 100% Accessible new housing for social housing. We don't see why that couldn't be implemented here in New Zealand." - Disability Connect chief executive Mike Potter

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 10d

Applications are now open for the Toi Pōneke d/Deaf and Disabled Artist Development Residency 2026.
This eight-week residency (16 Feb – 12 April 2026) offers a studio space, stipend, and mentor support.
Applications close 5pm, Monday 17 November 2025.
Find out more and apply here:

d/Deaf and/or Disabled Residency — Toi Pōneke

Toi P\u014Dneke Arts Centre is a creative space where the city's arts communities interact, produce innovative works, teach and exhibit in the heart of Wellington.

toiponeke.nz

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 12d

last Saturday Disabled Persons Assembly Dunedin, People First, Access for All Dunedin, and Blind Citizens Otago are hosted a Dunedin Mayoral Forum on disability issues.

Awesome turnout! 😃

Photo 3: Mickey Treadwell (Green Party mayoral candidate) speaking while Chris Ford (Forum Chair) and to the left Councillor Carmen Houlihan (mayoral candidate), Jules Radich (obscured) and Brydee Jenkins-Strang (NZSL interpreter).

Photo with main mayoral candidates with (from left) Councillor Lee Vandervis, Councillor Mandy Mayhem, Incumbent Mayor Jules Radich, Councillor Mandy Mayhem, Chris Ford (Forum Chair) and Mickey Treadwell (Green Party mayoral candidate) and Councillor Marie Laufiso (partially obscured).

Peter and Karena (People First members) with Dunedin Mayor (and mayoral/council candidate) Jules Radich.

Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 12d

The government is developing a new Disability Strategy for 2026–2030 and welcomes public input on the draft. The Green Party have created this guide for making a submission, which are due by 5 PM on Sunday, September 28, 2025.

Disability Strategy Consultation - Submission Guide

action.greens.org.nz

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 13d

Disability advocates say parking providers need to do more to prevent mobility parks being used by those who don't have a permit.

Listen with the transcript - buff.ly/N0W13Dj

Parking providers asked to step up on policing mobility park abuse

Disability advocates say parking providers need to do more to prevent mobility parks being used by those who don't have a permit.

www.rnz.co.nz

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 13d

This piece takes aim at RFK Jr. and Trump’s nonsense about autism, and kicks off a lighter convo about what autistic traits are actually like (spoiler: it’s not the paracetamol). 😬

Five things that actually caused my autism

Forget paracetamol, Trump. Blame the Llamas with Hats videos.

thedlist.co.nz

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 15d

"We want to see consistent championing of access needs across all agencies involved in infrastructure." - Raewyn Hailes

Wellington’s electric ferry service highlights need for universal design in infrastructure — CCS Disability Action

Date published: 9 September 2025 CCS Disability Action welcomes the recent public conversation around accessibility and Wellington’s electric ferry service, following coverage in Stuff featuring…

www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 16d

A visually impaired woman who was denied the right to learn braille as a child, says an apology from the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind, is significant, and that she will be seeking redress for the lifelong impact on her employment and wellbeing.

Denied right to learn Braille: Woman shares historical experience at Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind's apology

Low vision and blind survivors of abuse under state care have shared stories of neglect, physical and psychological abuse and barriers to education, at the formal apology by Royal New Zealand Foundati...

www.rnz.co.nz

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 19d

The eight-person group includes survivors, disability advocates and care leaders, tasked with guiding the Crown's response to the Royal Commission's recommendations.

Crown panel brings survivor voices to Abuse in Care response

The eight-person group includes survivors, disability advocates and care leaders, tasked with guiding the Crown's response to the Royal Commission's recommendations.

www.rnz.co.nz

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 20d

#NoHarmware is a campaign by Amnesty International Aotearoa NZ advocating for government regulations to make online platforms safer and more transparent.

Find out more here noharmware.nz

Black text on a yellow background which says

ONLINE SAFETY = #NoHarmWare

Take action at noharmware.nz

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 22d

Identifying and addressing systemic red flags is crucial to building environments where everyone can participate fully and travel without barriers. Here are six warning signs that your organisation may have room for improvement, along with practical strategies to address them.

Red Flags for Accessibility

What to Look For and How to Take Action

accessiblelink.substack.com

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 23d

Kia Kaha Te Reo Māori!

There's no one accessible format, but here are a few ideas for whānau whaikaha learning te reo Māori.

Accessible ways to learn te reo Māori

There's no one accessible format, but here are a few ideas for whānau whaikaha learning te reo Māori.

thedlist.co.nz

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 26d

The Donald Beasley Institute seeks insights on drug checking services from individuals who are takata whaikaha, D/deaf, or disabled, aged 18+, and have used drugs. Sign up via link or QR code. NZSL interpreters available.. Register: tinyurl.com/47y4u6sp. More info: tinyurl.com/yjstm6j2.

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 26d

Stadium Taranaki in New Plymouth has upgraded its facilities and installed Auri, a new assistive listening system powered by Auracast.

A free Auracast open day is happening at the TSB Stand from 1:30 to 3:30pm on Sunday 14 September.

Event details: tinyurl.com/426ynat2

Stadium Taranaki’s new accessible audio link sounds like a winner

Listen up – now you can plug straight into the audio action at Stadium Taranaki. The stadium is the first in Australasia to offer Bluetooth’s Auracast audio system to visitors with coverage of the…

www.npdc.govt.nz

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 27d

In Aotearoa, people with disabilities, especially Māori and low-income groups, are disproportionately affected by sexual and family violence. This intersection has historically been overlooked, but progress is being made this year.

Our voices lead the way on family violence response

In the past, the intersection of disability and family violence in Aotearoa has never been closely scrutinised. But this year, there’s been progress.

thedlist.co.nz

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · 28d

Whaikaha are running an online feedback session on the draft New Zealand Disability strategy – and want you there.
This strategy will guide Government action on what matters most to disabled people.
Register: www.surveymonkey.com/r/QZND6KD

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · Sep 8

Daisy Hoe is developing a tech platform, Go Able which will allow users to find and review accessible locations!
Listen with the transcript - tinyurl.com/29hzjy2n

Teen develops app to help navigate accessibility roadblocks

A young entrepreneur is hoping to make New Zealand a more accessible place for people with physical disabilities.

www.rnz.co.nz

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Disabled Persons Assembly NZ @dpanz.bsky.social · Sep 5

This upcoming Sunday!

Te Tau Ihu Accessibility Expo - Nelson - Eventfinda

Te Tau Ihu Accessibility Expo, Te Tau Ihu Accessibility Expo 2025 <br /> <br />Join us ..., The Trafalgar Centre, Nelson, Nelson / Tasman, 7 September 2025

www.eventfinda.co.nz