NZ Disability Rights

05/03/2026

This is a meeting of influential thinkers from various backgrounds to share ideas about how to ensure our democracy is preserved and enhanced.

05/03/2026

The Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha, in partnership with Creative HQ, is seeking applications from across New Zealand for the Access Activator pilot programme. 

05/03/2026

Blind Low Vision NZ has issued its ‘Shining a Light on Blindness’ report: An Analysis of Outcomes for Working Age New Zealanders who are Blind and Visually Impaired. The link to the report is https://blindlowvision.org.nz/shining-a-light-on-blindness/

05/03/2026

04/03/2026

Confused or concerned about the funding changes coming in April? Join us online on Wednesday 11 March at 10.00 am for a practical hui with Disability Support Services (DSS).

We are pleased to be joined by Alastair Hill, General Manager from DSS Transformation. who will talk through what the changes mean in real life, what is staying the same, and answer common questions.

✅ What the changes mean in practice
✅ What is changing and what is not
✅ Clearing up common misunderstandings
✅ How people with disabilities, whānau and carers can access supports

There will also be time for Q&A.

👉 Register now - Phone: 0800 227 363, send us a DM or email: information@drct.co.nz

24/02/2026

The breadth of evidence reported today by the People’s Select Committee on Pay Equity reaffirms that recent changes to our pay equity laws unquestionably undermined human rights in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The 2025 amendments to the Equal Pay Act limit the scope of pay equity claims that aim to balance often longstanding inequities between men and women doing work of equal value. The changes meant 33 active claims -representing thousands of workers – were stopped in their tracks.

“The Government’s changes make it harder to correct pay inequities for potentially hundreds of thousands of people working in women-dominated professions, undermining their fundamental human right to equal pay for work of equal value,” says Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner, Professor Gail Pacheco.

The right to pay equity is protected under New Zealand law and international conventions we are party to. The amendments not only undermine our human rights obligations, but are a step backwards, which is inconsistent with human rights best practice.

“It must not go unnoticed that as a country we are committed and obligated to not only advance pay equity but also to protect the hard-fought gains we have made.”

Click here for more: https://tikatangata.org.nz/news/peoples-select-committee-on-pay-equity-report-confirms-law-changes-undermine-human-rights

24/02/2026

21/02/2026

An advocacy group says the 'tectonic' changes have had a significant impact.

16/02/2026

"Many of the inequities we highlighted in 2023 remain, and in some cases are getting worse." - IHC New Zealand

I welcome this report released today by IHC New Zealand on the health and wellbeing of people with intellectual disability.
The 'From Data to Dignity 2026' report draws on Government data and updates IHC's 2023 work. Quality data on how disabled people are faring is essential for monitoring that our rights are being upheld and what needs improving. I encourage you to share this report in your networks. - Prudence Walker, Disability Rights Commissioner at Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission

IHC’s research report reveals people with intellectual disabilities are experiencing poor outcomes in most areas of life.

12/02/2026

Submissions on the Emergency Management Bill No. 2 close at midnight on Sunday February 15. Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission's submission is publicly available giving disability rights and Te Tiriti perspectives. Links to our submissions are in this news story.

04/02/2026

Heading to Waitangi? The D List NZ talks through some access things to consider.

01/02/2026

The deadline for submissions on the Emergency Management Bill has been extended to 11.59pm on Sunday, 15 February 2026. This is a significant opportunity to have disabled people explicitly included in emergency management legislation.
Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission has shared resources and key messages to help make submissions in the link below.