Mānawatia a Matariki from all of us at Disabled Person’s Assembly! This is a special time of remembrance, celebration and hope for the future. It is a chance for us to reflect, share kai and reconnect. Learn how to sign "Matariki" and "mānawatia a Matariki" in NZSL. ➡️ tinyurl.com/3wfjbmyk

My take on the NZF accessibility standards bill open.substack.com/pub/huhanahi...

Happy Disability Pride Month! This year's theme is "The World Works Better With Us". You experience this daily. Disability-led advocacy and design created changes many now rely on: curb cuts, captions, audiobooks, voice dictation. What accessibility feature makes the world better for you?

#CripTheVote26 open.substack.com/pub/huhanahi...

The work we did with kākāpō is now not possible because the govt has said that our funding should go to science that makes money. Members of our current govt have said that if an endangered species is in the way of a mine or a new road then it’s goodbye #nzpol peterkdearden.substack.com/p/on-kakapo

NZ First MP Jenny Marcroft says she's using “scientific consensus” in defining a woman and a man in her Bill. When asked where intersex people fit in, she says: “I’m not a scientist or a biologist.” I'm a former Science and Biology teacher. She's so WRONG! #NZpol newsroom.co.nz/2026/06/30/i...

To repeat: NZ finds itself at the bottom of the OECD on lobbying - we basically have no effective rules governing lobbying This is eroding voter trust in democracy. It is corruption in plain sight NZ needs fair transparent regulations-any political parties ensuring this will get voter support

How air conditioning has become a flash point for the far right in France A thoughtful reflection by @henrygrabar.bsky.social of the Atlantic - please read www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

If you’re planning to be a candidate in the upcoming general election and have a disability, the Election Access Fund Te Tomokanga — Pūtea Whakatapoko Pōtitanga is available to support you. Find out more about the Fund and how to apply here: elections.nz/getting-invo...

Back when I was in Parliament I exposed the fact that ACC staff were receiving bonuses for stopping compensation for people with long term disabilities. MSD seems to now be taking this model further: punishing staff for housing people in need

Closes 30 June petitions.parliament.nz/0e32836b-625...

Sign This Parliamentary Petition Today: petitions.parliament.nz/0e32836b-625... For ppl living with a lifelong disability or chronic illness, this petition asks MSD to remove joint-income testing measures from: ✅️ COMMUNITY SERVICES CARD ✅️ DISABILITY ALLOWANCE ✅️ SUPPORTED LIVING PAYMENT

Here’s the international committee report on targeting Palestinian children by Israel’s forces. It is horrific reading. Yet some seem more outraged about the finding of genocide than the documented killing, sexual violence & torture & starvation of 1000s of children www.ohchr.org/sites/defaul...

We have just launched a parliamentary petition calling for mandatory AI transparency in the public sector. If AI is going to be used in the delivery of public services, it must be AI that is worthy of our trust. Sign: petitions.parliament.nz/7bfe1c60-b99... Read more: www.trustworthyai.nz

Environment Canterbury Regional Council are reviewing the bus and ferry network within Christchurch and the surrounding townships in Selwyn and Waimakariri. Complete the survey 👉 ecan.govt.nz/metroreview Feedback closes at midnight on Wednesday 24 June 2026.

I believe indigenous disability models offer solutions open.substack.com/pub/huhana62...

"As tāngata whaikaha and whānau hauā, we are not problems to be solved. We are descendants of our ancestors, holders of knowledge and experience, and contributors to our communities. Our diversity is part of the natural human condition" - Dr Huhana Hickey

It doesn't help when a Minister literally tells ppl to can have their say via Select Committee. Louise Upston refused to consult on the DSS Bill, telling the disability community to make submissions instead. We did. Now the SSC is overwhelmed with submissions and most won't get heard properly.

Disability Support Services want to hear from you. They are asking people who receive DSS funding, and support or advocate for those who do, to take part in their consultation period. For information about how you can have your say go to: www.tinyurl.com/5bm2937s

I'm old enough to remember what happened to Clare Curran after a couple of undiarised meetings with Carole Hirschfeld (who also lost her job). But here we have Goldsmith just doing whatever he pleases off the record, with no repercussions. #nzpol

A big mihi to everyone who helped share the word about the Disability Support Services Bill. We are always amazed by the speed at which our community can band together to support important kaupapa. 🙌 You can read our submission here: tinyurl.com/5455aw3d

Dr Ben said she was "outraged" and that many of her colleagues locally and nationally were angry at this unprecedented move by a health minister. "Cultural safety does say, look at your own biases, I wonder if the minister needs to look at his," #nzpol

There was real power in the room at our Finding Common Ground hui in Ōtautahi Christchurch ❤️ The survey is now open and will help shape a shared Declaration of Disabled Peoples’ Rights in Aotearoa New Zealand. Survey: tinyurl.com/yz9ybnjm Easy Read version available: tinyurl.com/3s6wn8ft

NZ temporarily ended homelessness (during Covid) - but failed to provide all the wraparound services needed Then given the choice between improving a temporary solution, or returning to homelessness, the incoming NZ Govt choose homelessness. Proudly 🫣 #nzpol www.beehive.govt.nz/release/emer...

The next Kōrero for Change webinar will focus on Political and Democratic Processes and explore how we can strengthen political and democratic processes in Aotearoa to be inclusive, equitable, and representative of everyone.

Please take 5 minutes to complete the Finding Common Ground survey. This is our chance to: ✨ speak up about what matters ✨ protect our rights and dignity ✨ influence the future of disability rights in Aotearoa ✨ build collective power together Survey info: tinyurl.com/yz9ybnjm

ENTITLED #nzpol www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...

This is SOLID reporting from Emily and every working NZ journo who's regurgitated this government's propaganda about "low attendance" or "tackling truancy" or framed the issue as Tough-Talking David Seymour vs Lazy Teacher Unions should sit down and take some goddamn notes

I hate to use this word but this is a scoop: parents are being fined and chased by schools for having unwell, dying, and disabled children. Some have been fined of threatened for - among other things - keeping kids home when a parent has died. www.emilywrites.co.nz/parents-fine...

This is an important one from @emilywrites.co.nz on families with unwell, disabled, or dying children being fined because those kids are not at school - and the schools protecting them from "Seymour's Ministry". Emily does incredible work - please do consider a koha if you've got the means.

The evidence already exists open.substack.com/pub/huhana62...

In total, $2.5 million has been paid in accommodation entitlements during this Parliamentary term to MPs who own homes in Wellington.

The closing date for submissions on the DSS Bill is 1.00pm on Friday, 12 June 2026. Find out more here: tinyurl.com/yc5x3je4

It is an old line, but it remains true: every dollar invested in early childhood support saves around 13 dollars in criminal justice costs later on. A society that keeps expanding its prisons is admitting its social policies are not working. #nzpol

DPA are proud to announce that we will be sending a virtual delegation to the UNCRPD COSP19 Conference in partnership with Te Ao Mārama Aotearoa (TAMA). Find out more & register at: tinyurl.com/3bm6kcsk

National: corrupt pay rises for their mates; austerity for everyone else. Kick them out. Kick them all out. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...

We now know that within the Prime Ministers Office there was a political lobbying pathway operating via the PM's Chief Policy Advisor's private email. Fonterra says it was told to send the lobbying docs via this pathway. It may still be operating via other staffers private email addresses.

the current NZ government is rushing through another legislative change this one denies voting rights to Iwi/ youth appointees to local councils- these are appointees who local councils value & support. The decisions to remove any voting rights is snuck in after select committee hearings have ended

#NZpol Capturing this "for the record", esp. as I haven’t seen anything about it elsewhere. The National party fairly quickly deleted their post. On the face of it, deleting the post tacitly admits they made a false claim.

sorry for the delay, this budget was depressing me open.substack.com/pub/huhana62...

The Govt wants to give itself more power over disabled people’s medical information. Buried in a new welfare “modernisation” Bill are provisions allowing MSD to require medical examinations “at any time” while expanding automated decision-making #nzpol Read more: open.substack.com/pub/drbex/p/...

“There are no limits on how much a person or entity can donate to political parties.” Democracy for sale is not Democracy at all, it’s fucking oligarchy & it’s fucking corrupt. This needs to stop! #nzpol #OneTermGovernment #NZ www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

National-led government sneaks through social welfare automation under urgency before a long weekend. #NzPol

On the first day of Eid, heartbroken Palestinians in Gaza visited the graves of their loved ones murdered by Israel. The last six Eids, which should be days of celebration in Gaza, have instead become days of mourning for families missing their loved ones.

☠️ christ it never ends. with Parliament under urgency, Oriini Kaipara & Ricardo have been posting on how they're battling the use of AI by MSD. "Minister for this Bill isn't even here to speak to it or us who're here doing our best to fight for vulnerable communities she's responsible for" - Oriini

Breaking: The Ministry of Social Development will receive broad powers to let computers make decisions as part of a bill being rushed through Parliament. newsroom.co.nz/2026/05/29/5...

Of all the disgraceful uses of urgency under this government, this is the worst. People will suffer. People will die.