File an access barrier 'incident report'!
The 'Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill' has been introduced to Parliament! Let’s make sure we get it right, through the Select Committee process.
We want to collect information about the access barriers you encounter in your everyday life, to demonstrate why robust legislation is the only way to create the inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand we all want and need.
What are the access barriers you experience?
Write them down, take a photo or video, or tell us about them in an audio or video recording. If you require any assistance in sharing your story please email [email protected]. NZSL video is welcome.
Let’s show Aotearoa New Zealand why Access Matters for all!
The Access Denied Diaries will be presented to Members of Parliament to show the types of barriers you face every day. This will help us prove why we need a simple and easy-to-use system to report and fix access barriers. This system must be included in the new access law.
To help all Kiwis understand why Access Matters, we also want to share your experiences on the Access Matters website and social media channels.
Use the form below to add your experience to the Access Denied Diaries.
You can upload as many Access Denied Diary entries as you like. Please share with your friends, whānau and anyone you think is interested in creating a fairer and more inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin.
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Facebook TwitterI wanted to register with Milford Asset for my Kiwisaver. Naturally, I don’t have a driver’s license to register. Had to send them certified copies of the documents via post for them to be able to accept my registration.
This is the requested email from Milford:
Thank you for posting in your KiwiSaver Application.
However, we will need a few things from you before we can finalize your application:-
1. A copy of your Passport will need to be re-certified by a trusted referee (such as a justice of the peace, registered doctor, solicitor, registered teacher, etc.).
The certifier must:
• Make the statement “I certify this to be a true copy of the original which I have sighted and represents a true and correct likeness of [name of the person presenting the documentation for certification].”
• Include their name, occupation, and capacity to be a certifier e.g. registration number (if applicable), signature, and date of certification.
• Not be living at the same address, as a relative or spouse of the individual presenting the documents or, be involved in the transaction or business requiring the certification
Once this document has been certified it will need to be posted to us a PO BOX 960, Shortland Street, Auckland, 1140. Alternatively, it can be emailed directly to us by the certifier from their professional email address.
I called them and suggested if they would maybe think about using “Realme” verification, I went through the whole ordeal to get registered with them, but they only said they couldn’t verify me through them. Not using that verification method.
They still want the person who can’t see to go and get documents certified, then go to the mailbox and get it mailed.
I can’t understand why NZ does not have a legal identification document. I also went through the whole process to get myself a New Zealand Kiwi Access card, which is a photo ID similar to a drivers license, and the supposedly use of this card is that I don’t have to carry my passport around everywhere or that I have been through the entire process of identification and all is in order. But they wouldn’t accept that either.
This was Milford’s response via email:
Thank you for taking my call yesterday,
I have discussed the setup of Jackie’s Kiwisaver account with my Team Leader and our Onboarding Team. To avoid any further delays in getting the account opened, we can move ahead with opening an account for Jackie based on what we currently have on hand. The account is currently being set up under an temporary exception basis, What this means is that we will open the account with the documentation that we currently hold on file, this way your contributions can flowing through into your Kiwisaver account. However, we will require a certified copy of the passport with the correct wording at some point within the next 3-6 months.
We understand that this has been a frustrating experience with trying to open this Kiwisaver Account and we apologize the the service that you received from the JP. The true likeness wording on photographic has been in circulation for a while now, and most JPs write the statement on the documents they certify. It may be best when trying to get the passport re-certified with the true likeness wording to try a different JP, or a try registered doctor if you are seeing one in the next few months, or a registered teacher etc. I am happy to send you a prepaid envelope so it is easy for you to resend the certified copy of the passport back to us and therefore you do not need to incur any further costs on mail expenses.
Another alternative, Milford does have a small regional office in Cambridge that would be able to take a copy and certify Jackie’s passport in person. If you are interest in this option, please let me know which day and time would suit you both to come into the office so I can make sure someone is at the office for you.
If you have any questions regarding the above, please do not hesitate to reach out to me via email or you can give me a call on 0800 662 345.
I got my passport re-certified for them and mailed it via post.
Welcome email received from Milford on 16 May 2022.
Constant issue because I don’t have a driver’s license :-)
Thank you kindly
Jackie Botha