Political Engagement = Disability Empowerment

Published 26 October 2011, Posted in Northland

“Disability is a political issue” says Jonny Wilkinson, CEO of Tiaho Trust; a disability lead organisation that holds a ‘Meet the Standing Candidates’ Public event every election year.

“The rationale behind the meeting is twofold, firstly to educate candidates on regional disability issues and secondly to encourage disabled people to engage in the election process & think about disability issues.”

“At the last election meeting Tiaho Trust held in 2008 we had over 100 people attend and this year we are expecting more due to the attendance of the new Human Rights Disability Commissioner, the first Commissioner with formal responsibility for disability rights, appointed in September 2011.  He will be speaking about the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Disabled People, which was ratified on 26th September 2008” says Wilkinson.

Each candidate will be given 10 minutes to speak about their party’s disability policies and to discuss local disability issues which will be raised with them prior to the meeting.  These will include:

• Disabled under 65 permanently living in Rest homes and hospitals
• Lack of facilities to accommodate disabled teenagers with very high needs in Northland as opposed to transferring them down to Auckland and beyond, away from their family or whanau
• Low uptake of individualised Funding in Northland

The date is 3rd of November 2011 starting at 10am with standing candidates being given the opportunity to address the audience for 10 minutes and receive questions from 11am until 12.30. 

“Disabled people make up 20% of New Zealand’s population as a rule of thumb, politicians ignore this constituency at their own peril says Wilkinson“.

To wrap up the Hui, Northland Regional Manager for the Electoral Commission John Ward will be speaking about where the accessible venues are in Northland and how you can take part in the elections.

Date: Thursday 3rd November
Time: 10am - 2pm
Venue: Cafler Suite, Forum North

Expected Programme for the day:

10.00 - 11.00 Disability Human Rights Commissioner - Paul Gibson
11.00 - 11.10 NZ First, Pita Parone
11.10 - 11.20 Green Party, Rick Bazeley
11.20 - 11.30 Labour Party, Kelvin Davis
11.30 - 11.40 National Party, Phil Heatley
11.40 - 11.50 Labour Party, Pat Newman
11.50 - 12.00 ACT Party, Robyn Stent
12.00 - 12.30 Question time
12.30 -  1.00   Refreshments
1.00 -  2.00 Disability Human Rights Commissioner - Paul Gibson
2.00 -  2.30 Northland Regional Manager Electoral Commission - John Ward

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Paul Gibson Human Rights Disability Commissioner.doc

Supporting document

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