About Access Matters Aotearoa
Access Matters Aotearoa is a solutions-driven, non-partisan advocacy trust working to secure strong accessibility legislation so everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand can participate fully.
Our vision
An Aotearoa New Zealand where access is universal, disability is valued, and everyone fully participates, supported by what they need to succeed.
Our approach
We advocate for systemic change so disabled people can fully enjoy the same rights other New Zealanders take for granted. At the same time, we highlight that accessibility helps everyone, including families, older people, and anyone who experiences temporary barriers.
We work constructively across political lines, grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, lived experience, and evidence.
Our reason
Right now, too many New Zealanders run into everyday barriers that make it harder to join in at work, in the community, and with whānau. A step at the entrance, a form you can’t read, a bus you can’t board, or a video without captions might seem small — but these barriers add up and shut people out.
Disabled people feel this most in their everyday lives. Alongside disabled people, older people, parents with young children, and people recovering from injury also experience accessibility barriers. Many New Zealanders already understand barriers to access due to their caring roles with whānau.
Accessibility benefits all of us
An accessibility Act will set simple, fair, consistent rules so places, services, and information work for everyone, now and into the future.
Our goal
To win public and political support for an accessibility Act that delivers:
- Clear, enforceable standards for access across public life
- Accountability through an independent body that helps fix barriers
- Disabled leadership, including tāngata whaikaha Māori, through genuine co-design
- Fair, flexible support people can rely on
- A future where accessibility is the norm, not an optional extra.