Amy Hogan & Rebekah Graham - Co-Chairs Access Matters Aotearoa Trust

Amy Hogan & Rebekah Graham Oral Submission Video: Social Services & Community Select Committee - Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - 27 Feb 2023 - YouTube

Access Matters Aotearoa Trust Written Submission - Social Services & Community Select Committee - New Zealand Accessibility Bill 27 Feb 2023 - PDF only

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David Lepofsky

David Lepofsky Oral Submission Video: Social Services & Community Select Committee - Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - 27 Feb 2023 - YouTube

David Lepofsky (AODA Alliance) Written Submission - Social Services & Community Select Committee - New Zealand Accessibility Bill 27 Feb 2023 - Word Doc

David Lepofsky (AODA Alliance) Written Submission - Social Services & Community Select Committee - New Zealand Accessibility Bill 27 Feb 2023 - PDF

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Dianne Rogers

Dianne Rogers Oral Submission Video: Social Services & Community Select Committee - Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - 27 Feb 2023 - YouTube

Dianne Rogers Oral Submission Notes - Social Services & Community Select Committee - New Zealand Accessibility Bill 27 Feb 2023 - Word Doc

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Guy Pope-Mayell

Guy Pope-Mayell (DFNZ) Oral Submission Video: Social Services & Community Select Committee - Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - 20 Feb 2023 - YouTube

Guy Pope-Mayell (DFNZ) Written Submission - Social Services & Community Select Committee - New Zealand Accessibility Bill - PDF only

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Juliana Carvalho

Juliana Carvalho Oral Submission Video: Social Services & Community Select Committee - Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - 12 Dec 2022 - YouTube

Juliana Carvalho Written Submission - Social Services & Community Select Committee - New Zealand Accessibility Bill - PDF only

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Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - Social Services & Community Committee Hearing - 9 Nov 2022 Oral-Only Submissions

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Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - Social Services & Community Committee Hearing - 5 Dec 2022 Subcommittee A

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Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - Social Services & Community Committee Hearing - 5 Dec 2022 Subcommittee B

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Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - Social Services & Community Committee Hearing - 12 Dec 2022 Subcommittee A

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Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - Social Services & Community Committee Hearing - 12 Dec 2022 Subcommittee B

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Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - Social Services & Community Committee Hearing - 9 Feb 2023 Subcommittee A

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Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - Social Services & Community Committee Hearing - 20 Feb 2023 Pt1 

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Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - Social Services & Community Committee Hearing - 20 Feb 2023 Pt2

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Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - Social Services & Community Committee Hearing - 22 Feb 2023

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Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - Social Services & Community Committee Hearing - 27 Feb 2023 Pt1 

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Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - Social Services & Community Committee Hearing - 27 Feb 2023 Pt2 

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Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - Social Services & Community Committee Hearing - 28 Feb 2023

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Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - Social Services & Community Committee Hearing - 22 Mar 2023 

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On 2 August, MPs debated the Government’s 'Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill'. The Bill passed the First Reading stage and was referred to the Social Services and Community Select Committee. A group of nine MPs on the Select Committee have examined the Bill in more detail and have heard both written and oral submissions from the public in November and December 2022, and February 2023, as per the videos and documents above.

We deserve better

Access Matters Aotearoa doesn’t believe the Government Bill will remove barriers, so that that every New Zealander has the opportunity to learn, to get a job, and to take part in community and social life.

Many disabled peoples' groups don't believe this legislation will deliver real progress or improvements, because the Government Bill:

• has no means of enforcement
• only applies to central government, and is NOT applicable to the private sector
• has no standards
• has no regulator
• has no dispute-resolution process
• has no obligations or timeframe
• only creates a new advisory committee - which does not require an Act of Parliament - and will only perpetuate the slow and fragmented system currently in place
• relies on the values, priorities and decisions of future Ministers.

Want to know more?

Read the Government's proposed 'Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill' with alternative formats also available.

Read Access Matters Aotearoa's Example Bill. This Example Bill imagines what it might look like if the 13 Principles were turned into a new law, to fast-track accessibility. You can refer to this Example Bill in your submission if you wish.

Check out Auckland Disability Law's initial response to the Government Bill.

See our Submission Guide for more information about making Select Committee submissions.  Also our Select Committee Submission for Organisations webpage and template letter.