Today, the NZSL Board released a draft NZSL Strategy for feedback.
The draft strategy can be found here
NZSL enables Deaf people to live their lives to their full potential. However, Deaf people, especially Turi Māori (Māori Deaf people), often face barriers in seeking to access services and community spaces using NZSL. This has significant and negative impacts on their health and well-being.
NZDSN members have been invited to share feedback on MSD DSS’s ‘Exceptional Circumstances when a Community Residential Support Service Provider requests the Service Exit of a Disabled Person’ operational policy.
Members can email us with feedback by 20 May, which we will collect and share with DSS
- Alternatively, you can share feedback with DSS direct, contact details are in the policy document
The discussion document, a summary and information on how to make a submission is available on NEMA’s website www.civildefence.govt.nz/emergency-management-bill. Submissions close on 13 May 2025.
NZDSN is very supportive of this claim and of pay equity for care and support workers. The claim is founded on gender-based pay inequality, with women forming the majority of the care and support workforce – we continue to work alongside other employers and peak bodies to progress the claim.
There are now three Care and Support Workers Pay Equity claims. The first claim was designed to be representative of all care and support workers, while the second and third claims ensured that all sectors employing care and support workers were included. The three claims have been made separately for technical reasons, and we expect all three to be considered together by the Government when we get to the end of this process.
An update from Whaikaha on the working groups who will draft actions to deliver New Zealand’s new Disability Strategy.
Chairs of the five working groups are as follows – see more here.
- Education – Grant Cleland
- Employment – Lorraine Toki
- Health – Dr Josephine Herman
- Housing – Daniel Clay
- Justice – Paul Gibson
“The Ministry is taking a new approach to developing the new strategy, and I will be excited to see the results,” said Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston.
“Ultimately, the purpose is to improve the lives of disabled people. For instance, recent data from the Stats NZ Household Disability Survey found disabled New Zealanders continue to face many barriers, for example in education, employment and housing.” – read more.
A call for expressions of interest to participate in a six-person delegation from Aotearoa.
This is a leadership development opportunity, a learning opportunity, and an opportunity for ongoing collaborative work to promote effective school based mental health services and supports in Aotearoa and across the Pacific.
Please note: there is no cost to attend but delegates and / or their organisations will need to cover travel and accommodation fees themselves.
When: June 30-July 2, 2025
Where: Oahu, Hawaii