Members of the new working groups tasked with developing actions for a refreshed New Zealand disability strategy have been appointed by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha.
The working groups, whose members were drawn from the disabled community, industry and government agencies will together develop actions in the five key areas of education, employment, health, housing and justice.
“There has been a particularly strong response from the disability community, reflecting the commitment of people who want to be part of this important work,” said Disability Issues Minister, Louise Upston.
The Ministry received almost 350 expressions of interest from the disability community before making their appointment decisions.
In total, Whaikaha is announcing 26 members of the groups, including chairs:
- Education – Grant Cleland. Mr Cleland has lived experience and worked in the health, disability, education and employment sectors for more than 30 years at governance, senior leadership and practitioner levels. Recently, he has worked extensively in the education sector on the development and implementation of Disability Action Plans and as a member of the NZQA Board.
- Employment – Lorraine Toki. Ms Toki has a background in community development and held leadership roles supporting hapū and iwi development.
- Health – Dr Josephine Herman. Dr Herman is a Public Health Physician, a GP and the Chief Clinical Advisor for Pacific Health, with the Pacific Health Directorate, Public Health Agency, Ministry of Health. In 2020 as Secretary (Director General) of Health for the Cook Island’s Ministry of Health she helped lead the national emergency health response to COVID-19.
- Housing – Daniel Clay. Mr Clay is chief executive of iwi-owned Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara Whenua Hoko Holding Ltd, a property and housing investment and development entity. Daniel’s daughter has cerebral palsy and is a wheelchair user. He is President and Chair of the Cerebral Palsy Society of New Zealand.
- Justice – Paul Gibson. Mr Gibson has lived experience of disability and is a former Disability Rights Commissioner and a former Commissioner for the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry.
“The Ministry is taking a new approach to developing the new strategy, and I will be excited to see the results,” said Minister 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.
“We know 1-in-6 New Zealanders are disabled, yet three quarters of unemployed disabled people want to be working which means creating employment opportunities must be an important focus.
“Disabled people, like non-disabled people, want to participate in their communities, to thrive and make decisions about their own lives.
“The strategy refresh represents huge opportunities to make a positive difference,” she said.
The Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha is managing the refresh process. The draft strategy will go to the wider disabled community later this year for further review before being agreed by Cabinet.
