Update on Accelerating Accessibility

It is well established that change is needed to improve accessibility in New Zealand

1 in 4 New Zealanders have a disability and can face challenges with...

Buildings that are inaccessible
Public services and facilities that are hard to access
Barriers to using public transport
Barriers to employment
Digital information and communication formats that are inaccessible

Currently, there is no coordinated, effective system to remove or reduce accessibility barriers that disabled people face across society

The existing accessibility system has a number of issues:

No single point of leadership driving change
Knowledge and awareness of accessibility in New Zealand is unevenly understood, distributed and applied
There are limited channels for people experiencing accessibility barriers to bring these to the attention of decision makers
Policies, services and buildings are designed by people unaware of the accessibility barriers people face
Existing accessibility regulations and obligations on those responsible for preventing accessibility barriers is fragmented and not consistently applied

In June 2020, Cabinet agreed to officials developing further work on a legislative framework and other mechanisms for accelerating accessibility, broadly endorsing that…

A new accelerating accessibility system needs to...

Provide enhanced system leadership & accountability - Will ensure a clear focus and drive to address systemic accessibility issues
Create clear processes for considering & removing barriers - Will enable a consistent and effective approach to removing accessibility barriers, including new accessibility regulations or standards to drive change
Incorporate the voice of expertise - Will allow those with expertise - disabled people, the community, the private sector and government - to all play a role in shaping the accessibility system
Build knowledge of accessibility barriers - Will help individuals and organisations to understand their rights and obligations around accessibility measures

While ensuring that it does so in ways that are…

Flexible and progressive - Will allow governments to set priorities to resource accessibility measures and ensure that obligated parties have time to meet measures & can do so in innovative ways
Transparent, consistent, equitable - A system must bring all New Zealanders on the accessibility journey, be consistent with Te Tiriti o Waitangi & the UNCRPD, and ensure predictable and consistent accessibility outcomes for obligated parties
Universal - An accessibility system must be able to influence and change behaviours towards accessibility across all of society
Inclusive & easy to use - Disabled people must be involved in all aspects of decision making to ensure the system is robust, while also ensuring that the system is user friendly

My officials have been working in partnership with the Access Alliance and have identified a range of approaches for how this new system could work

I am aware that any approach to legislation needs to find a balance between creating powers and functions that:

Allows a flexible and innovative approach to realising accessibility outcomes, including different transition arrangements for accessibility measures to be realised over time while;
Providing a directive approach to ensure that groups in both the public sector and wider civil society prioritise and act on accessibility barriers.

Note for HTML version

The A3 featured a chart showing potential types of legislative powers and functions, and potential types of institutional arrangements. It put these on a spectrum ranging from "flexible approaches" to "directive approaches". These approaches have been redacted, because they are under active consideration [Official Information Act 1982 Section 9(2)(f)(iv)].

I will seek Cabinet agreement to a complete policy proposal in September

I had intended to present a complete policy proposal in May, however I consider it necessary that more time is spent undertaking careful and thorough analysis of the legislative approach.
New accelerating accessibility legislation is a once in a life time opportunity. Time taken now to work through the legislative implications will ensure that legislation delivers a more inclusive and accessible Aotearoa.
Considering this approach in September will ensure that a new accessibility system is considered in conjunction with the work being undertaken around the broader transformation of Disability Support Services.
My officials will consult with key stakeholders across the public sector, business and wider community over the next few months to ensure that the final policy approach is robust.