Cabinet paper - Accelerating Accessibility in New Zealand - Appendices

Appendix One: Feedback from targeted engagement

1. Since late 2021, officials have been meeting with disability community and interested groups on the legislation to inform advice on the detailed design of the framework. A discussion paper was also sent out to approximately 35 community groups and organisations seeking feedback between mid-December 2021 until the end of January 2022. Feedback was received from over 20 groups.
2. A targeted approach was used due to short timeframes to ensure introduction of the legislation by July this year. Officials received some feedback that the timeframes for response were too short for effective engagement, however wider community feedback is expected through the Select Committee public submission process later this year.
3. Officials sought feedback on the objectives of the accelerating accessibility framework; the name, function, and powers of the Committee and how the voices of disabled people and communities can be reflected in the framework.
4. Engagements were largely positive, but a number of groups still maintain that for the legislation to have “teeth”, it needs to include accessibility standards.
5. Other key themes from engagement include:
   • the need for the framework to take a broad, aspirational view of accessibility and a holistic approach to addressing barriers
   • the importance of having disabled people with a broad range of experiences and skills on the Committee, including for example, knowledge of government systems, knowledge of tikanga Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, disability research, advocacy and policy experience
   • the need for the Committee name to avoid deficit-based language, reflect the framework’s functions, and be developed in collaboration with Māori
   • the need for broad representation on the Committee – including disabled people, Māori, Pacific, urban/rural, a range of ages, and families and whānau of disabled people
   • the importance of disabled people being involved in the nomination and appointment of Committee members
   • the importance of disability communities having a range of accessible ways of engaging with the Committee and broader framework, for example through newsletters, social media, public meetings and events and regular public reporting
   • the need for the Committee to engage with all groups of people impacted by accessibility barriers – for example, disabled people, families and whānau of disabled people, older people, and parents with young children.