Canterbury Family/Whānau voices - disability system transformation

12/07/2026

Ka pai 👏

"Our Access Group has worked closely with Council to identify barriers and find practical ways to make facilities more accessible, and we congratulate the staff for the work they have put into achieving accreditation. These improvements might seem small, but for someone living with a disability they can make a real difference because they know they are welcome and can more easily access services independently. It's wonderful to see our libraries and service centres taking this important step towards being more inclusive for everyone."

08/07/2026

📚 Great news for Christchurch Ōtautahi

From 1 July, Christchurch City Libraries has made DVDs, music CDs and talking books FREE to borrow.

Movie nights, audio books for the car, new music, all accessible.

Read more here: https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/news/dvds-cds-and-talking-books-now-free/

Image description: A public service announcement graphic with a pale yellow background. At the top left is a green megaphone illustration, with the large text "PSA..." beside it. Below, on a light blue banner, bold text reads: "Christchurch Libraries announces:" followed by: "From Wednesday 1 July 2026, you can borrow DVDs, CDs, and talking books from the library for free 👏". The WRLG logo appears in the bottom right corner.

07/07/2026

05/07/2026

If you've ever thought about standing for Parliament but the extra costs of living with a disability have made it feel out of reach, this could make a real difference.

The Election Access Fund is available to help eligible disabled people cover disability-related costs involved in becoming a candidate for the 2026 General Election.

It's all about helping make our democracy more accessible and ensuring more voices have the opportunity to be heard.

And if you think someone you know would make a great candidate, please share to let them know that options are available.

You can find out more about the fund and whether you're eligible here:
https://elections.nz/getting-involved/election-access-fund

A Parliament that reflects the diversity of New Zealand is something that benefits us all.

Image description: A teal promotional graphic from the Electoral Commission promoting the Election Access Fund. At the top is the Election Access Fund logo with the English and te reo Māori names: "Election Access Fund – Te Tomokanga Pūtea Whakatapoko Pōtitanga." In the centre is a large white box with bold black text reading, "Open for applications now." Below this, the graphic states: "Available to support disabled candidates standing in parliamentary elections." The Electoral Commission – Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri logo appears in the bottom right corner.

04/07/2026

Worth a read 📖 - NZ Police Disability Roadmap 2026

CCS Disability Action has shared an article about the NZ Police Disability Roadmap 2026. The roadmap is a plan to help Police work better with Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Some of the main points are:
• Disabled people can face extra challenges when reporting a crime or asking Police for help.
• The roadmap includes 16 actions to help make Police services more accessible and inclusive.
• The plan includes creating a Disability Advisory Group so disabled people can help guide the work.
• It also talks about the importance of better disability training for Police and using communication that is easier for everyone to understand.
• The article says the real difference will come from putting these plans into action.

If you'd like to learn more, you can read the full article here:
https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/news/police-disability-roadmap-analysis

Debbie Ward from CCS Disability Action examines NZ Police’s new Disability Roadmap 2026, its promise for disabled people, and what must happen to turn words into action.

03/07/2026

We're running a free online workshop series this July and August - Making the Disability System Work for You.

Three workshops, one hour each, offered morning and evening so you can choose what suits.

📅 Workshop 1 - How the Disability System Works | Thursday 23 July
📅 Workshop 2 - Needs Assessments in a Time of Change | Thursday 30 July
📅 Workshop 3 - Making the Most of Individualised Funding | Thursday 6 August

Sessions are recorded and put on YouTube if you can't make it live.

https://flying-kites-qreakf.subscribepage.io/

01/07/2026

Jono was part of the government internship programme Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People

It’s wonderful to hear in this video what a positive experience this has been for him.

They are opening up a new internship programme again soon, follow their page or sign up to their newsletters to learn more.

29/06/2026

Coming up soon in North Canterbury.

The North Canterbury Disability Expo is being held on Saturday 29 August, 1–3.30pm at Rangiora High School Hall.

It's a free afternoon of connection, learning, and community, with a range of services and leisure providers on hand to share information and resources.

We will have some members of the Waitaha EGL Regional Leadership Group there on the day and we'd love to see you. Come say hello, ask us questions, or just have a kōrero.

This event is open to disabled people, whānau, carers, educators, and anyone who wants to know more about the support available in the community.

We hope to see you there!
📆 Saturday 29 August
⏱️1pm-3:30pm
📍Rangiora High School Hall

Event information: https://www.wrlg.org/event-details/north-canterbury-disability-expo

Image description: A promotional poster for the North Canterbury Disability Expo. The top half features a photograph of a busy indoor expo event with people browsing stalls and talking with providers in a large hall. The bottom half has a purple background with the following text in white and yellow: "North Canterbury Disability Expo. Saturday 29 August, 1–3.30pm, Rangiora High School Hall. Join us for an afternoon of connection and learning. Find out about the support available and discover opportunities for people with disabilities in our community. Who is this for? Whānau, carers, service providers, educators and people with disabilities. What can I expect? Access expert information, gather resources and insights from a variety of services and leisure providers. Foster community inclusion, engage in interactive discussions and networking in a welcoming relaxed setting." Logos for the organising group, Waimakariri Access Group, and Waimakariri District Council appear at the bottom.