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Invitation: disabled people's experiences during COVID-19

Issue date:

The Independent Monitoring Mechanism (IMM) is writing a report about disabled people’s experiences during the COVID-19 emergency.  

We want to talk to disabled people, their family/whanau, and people working in the disability sector to find out about:

  • the things government agencies did well 
  • the things government agencies did not do well 
  • what you think can be done to make things better 
  • other things you may want to tell us about your experiences during the COVID-19 emergency.

The IMM looks at how the New Zealand Government is following what the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the Disability Convention) says. 

It is made up of the Disabled People’s Organisations’ Coalition, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Human Rights Commission. 

The Disability Convention says what the New Zealand Government should be doing to make sure disabled people: 
•    have the same rights as everybody else 
•    can live a good life. 

The IMM is holding public meetings around the country to talk about these things. We would like you to come to one and tell us about your experiences. Invitations in New Zealand Sign Language and Easy Read formats can be found at the bottom of this page.

Public meetings: 12 August - 2 September

Scheduled consultations 
Date Event Venue RSVP
12 August 
4:00pm - 6:00pm
Wellington consultation
*Postponed due to COVID-19*
Conference Room
Blind and Low Vision New Zealand
Ground Floor/121 Adelaide Road
Mount Cook
Wellington 6021
7 August
19 August 
11:30am - 2:00pm
Auckland consultation (Albany)
*Postponed due to COVID-19*
YES Disability Board Room
Lion Foundation House
Ground Floor/3 William Laurie Place
Albany
Auckland 0632
10 August
24 August 
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Invercargill consultation
*Postponed to 21 September due to COVID-19*
Details below  
25 August 
3:00pm – 5:00pm
Christchurch consultation
*Postponed to 22 September due to COVID-19*
Details below  
26 August 2020
11:30am – 2:00pm
Dunedin consultation
*Postponed to 23 September due to COVID-19*
Details below  
31 August 2020
1:00pm – 3:30pm
Whanganui consultation The Quiet Room Conference Room
The Quaker Settlement
76 Virginia Road
Otamatea
Whanganui 4500
21 August
1 September 2020
11:30am – 2:00pm
Palmerston North consultation Conference Centre
Ground Floor Reception
BKs Premier Motel
102 Cuba Street
Palmerston North 4410
21 August
2 September
11:30am – 2:00pm

Auckland consultation (Central/South)

* Due to COVID restrictions a 
Zoom meeting has now been scheduled for 8 September at 10:30am – 12:30pm*
 

Tōtara Conference Room
CCS Disability Action
14 Erson Avenue Royal Oak
Auckland
21 August

4 September 2020
11:30am – 2:00pm

Virtual consultation (Zoom) 
Note: This is intended for anyone
who was unable to make the in-person meetings

Online 21 August

9 September 2020
11:30am - 2:00pm

Whangārei consultation Cafler 1 Room
Forum North
7 Rust Avenue
Whangārei 0140
31 August
21 September
4:00pm – 6:00pm
 

Invercargill consultation
 

Mararoa Room
Ascot Park Hotel
Cnr Tay Street and Racecourse Road
Invercargill 9810
 
14 September
22 September
3:00pm – 5:00pm
 
Christchurch consultation

Rārākau: Riccarton Centre 
199 Clarence Street
Riccarton
Christchurch 8011

14 September
23 September
11:30am – 2:00pm
 
Dunedin consultation Pam Warren Room (first floor via lift access)
Dunedin Community House
301 Moray Place
Dunedin Central
Dunedin 9016
 
14 September

 These meetings will help us to write a report about disabled people’s experiences during the COVID-19 emergency. 

The main goal of this COVID-19 report is to make sure things will be better for disabled New Zealanders if an emergency like this happens again in the future.

Attending a consultation meeting

If you are interested in attending a consultation meeting, please RSVP via email [email protected] or call the Office of the Ombudsman on 0800 802 602 and ask for the Disability Rights team.

Please share this information with your friends and whānau – everyone is welcome. 

Accessibility

  • All venues are wheelchair accessible and accessible car parks are available.
  • Please tell us if you need a New Zealand Sign Language interpreter by the RSVP deadline of the consultation meeting that you want to attend.
  • Please let us know about any other access needs you may have or anything else you think we need to know to support you to attend a meeting.

Dietary needs

  • Light snacks will be served. 
  • Please let us know if you have any dietary needs.

Virtual consultation - 4 September 2020

If you're unable to attend a meeting in person, we would still like to hear from you.

You can participate in an online Zoom meeting on 4 September.

  • Please RSVP via email [email protected] or call the Office of the Ombudsman on 0800 802 602 and ask for the Disability Rights team. We will send you the Zoom link.
  • Please tell us if you need a New Zealand Sign Language interpreter by the RSVP deadline (21 August).
  • Please let us know about any other access needs you may have or anything else you think we need to know to support you to attend the virtual meeting.

Invitation - in New Zealand Sign Language 

Credit: Deaf Aotearoa

Invitation - in Easy Read 

Please note: The Easy Read invitation does not currently include information about the consultation in Whangārei on 9 September. For information about this event, please refer to the table above.

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