Day 283 - The D List - Community report: Christchurch fights back in protest to funding cuts

By: Emily Coull

The D List: Friday, 20 December, 2024

Emily is a self-advocate from Christchurch who lives with Asperger’s and dyspraxia. She enjoys writing fantasy stories to escape reality, and is obsessed with ladybirds. This is her first article on The D*List.

My name is Emily Coull. I am 28 years old and I have dyspraxia and Asperger’s. Two of my favourite things I love to do are writing stories and doing art.

I attended the “Our Voices Count!” Disability Rally in Christchurch on December 7th at the Bridge Of Remembrance. It was organised by Disability Leadership Canterbury. We marched from the Bridge Of Remembrance along Cashel Street with our fighting chants “Nothing about us without us!” and “Stand up, fight back!” We then stopped at High Street for the speeches. The speakers Prudence Walker and Shane McInroe had strong messages for us to keep fighting back against these unfair and unnecessary cuts to funding for the most vulnerable people in our society. After the speeches, we marched back to the Bridge Of Remembrance while also chanting. There were some speeches of gratitude and then we all went on our ways.

I decided to attend the rally because I worry that the funding cuts could affect my activities I do - like Inclusive Performance Academy, gymnastics and Skillwise - and they could stop for good. I thought of my friends who have been affected by it or could get affected by it. I think this idea that the Government is doing is not OK and it shouldn’t be happening. There are other things they could focus on other than funding cuts to the disability community.

It was sad to hear about StarJam closing as so many people loved doing StarJam and everyone could show their amazing talents when they were at StarJam. I did StarJam a couple of years ago and it was so much fun as I got to sing and dance. My good friend Tasha went to the rally and she was very sad about StarJam closing as it made her cry talking about it. She had been doing StarJam for a very long time and she was so happy going to StarJam and she loved doing her singing at StarJam and met so many friends there.

At the rally, everyone was able to express how they were feeling towards the funding cuts. I loved all the support from all the people who came. The White Room made signs that had different sayings on them for the rally which was a fantastic idea.

Despite it being a scorching hot day it was a good turn out on a busy Christmas Saturday. It was an amazing event and there was a great feeling of support and fellowship. It was good to see friends and Skillwise staff and lots of other supporters for this cause. I am looking forward to a good outcome as a result of the outcry for these crazy funding cuts.

Last Updated 30/12/2024

RESOURCES

• https://thedlist.co.nz/newsfeed/community-report-christchurch-fights-back-in-protest-to-funding-cuts/

Day 273 - E Tu - Carers’ pay equity highlighted on Human Rights Day

Carers’ pay equity highlighted on Human Rights Day

Press Statement

E tū Union: Tuesday, 10 December 2024

On International Human Rights Day, E tū is calling on the Government to help fix gender-based pay discrimination by delivering pay equity for care and support workers.

E tū is the union for care and support workers, including those working in residential aged care, home support, disability support, and mental health and addictions. Over 65,000 care workers in Aotearoa New Zealand have been in a prolonged process for a pay equity settlement.

E tū Community Support Services Industry Council Convenor, Marianne Bishop, says it’s important to acknowledge the disparity on International Human Rights Day.

“The underpayment of people working in the care sector is a global issue, which reflects the undervaluation of work traditionally done by women,” Marianne says.

“In Aotearoa, we made some progress with Kristine Barlett’s historic equal pay settlement in 2017, but the pay has slipped back to near the minimum wage.

“A decent and enduring pay equity settlement is well overdue. Carers do this job because we want to make a real difference, and help people live their lives with dignity. Poor rates of pay are taking advantage of our commitment to helping people.

“By valuing care and support workers, we also show that we value the vulnerable elderly and disabled people who they care for.”

E tū National Secretary, Rachel Mackintosh, says fixing pay equity is an important human rights issue.

“Human Rights Day commemorates the anniversary of one of the world’s most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR),” Rachel says.

“This landmark document enshrines the rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

“To honour our commitment to human rights, we must end gender-based pay discrimination. Aotearoa has had some significant pay equity victories, but care and support workers are still waiting – and they’re fed up.

“It comes down to a political choice. The Government has prioritised tax cuts for landlords and tobacco companies, but won’t front up to pay women fairly.

“They must choose a different path, to prioritise working people and our communities. A decent and enduring pay equity settlement would be an excellent start.”

E tū is part of the Pay Equity Coalition Aotearoa (PECA), an alliance of civil society organisations working together to bridge the gender pay gap.

Last Updated 10/10/2024

RESOURCES

• E tū
• Pay Equity Coalition Aotearoa (PECA)
• Human Rights Day
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

Day 271 - An ‘awful’ year of cuts and heartbreak for disabled community

An ‘awful’ year of cuts and heartbreak for disabled community

By: Maddy Croad

The Press: Sunday, 8 December, 2024

Disabled people, carers and whānau took to Christchurch’s city streets in protest of an ongoing lack of consultation from the Government.

Maddy Croad

Disabled people, carers and whānau took to the streets of Christchurch to protest against the Government’s lack of consultation with the disabled community for the past year.

The rally was organised by non-profit organisation Disability Leadership Canterbury in response to the “enormous” toll disability funding changes were having on the people in Christchurch.

This is the second time this year that the disabled community has gathered at the Bridge of Remembrance to protest for their rights.

Members of the disabled community gathered at the Bridge of Remembrance and made their way down the inner city centre.

Maddy Croad

In March, former disability minister Penny Simmonds, who had since been stripped of her role, announced sudden changes to disability funding.

It left disabled people, carers and whanau unable to access funding for support such as travel, respite and physical aids like tablets and phones.

In August, disability minister Louise Upston removed Whaikaha - the Ministry of Disabled People’s funding responsibilities, handed them to the Ministry of Social Development, and downsized its staff and funding in the process.

The nationwide rollout of Enabling Good Lives - a partnership between government and the disabled community to gain more control over their lives, was also paused.

Tash Eyres’ had singing lessons for eight years to help with her intellectual disability, but the funding for the lessons was cut.

Maddy Croad

Tash Eyles went to the same singing class for eight years as an outlet for her intellectual disability. Her funding was cut earlier this year and she can no longer afford to go.

“It’s actually broken my heart. It was really important to me, I love performing, it was just part of who I am.”

She said this year had been “awful”.

Marty Vanderkley, who has spina bifida, had gone to the rally in his wheelchair so “disabled people have their voices heard”.

He said he felt uneasy about what other changes could happen in the year to come.

Marty Vanderkley says he believes all disabled people’s voices deserve to be heard.

Maddy Croad

“The disability funding cuts are having a wide impact across a whole range of people in all sorts of way and all walks of life, right from early intervention right up to the older disabled population,” he said.

Disability Leadership Canterbury chairperson Ruth Jones said many of their members did not see the point of leaving their home any more.

“This whole year has felt as if we’re living in 1974 - our whanau and support people are unable to use funding to catch a break, and members of the disabled community feel disempowered, helpless, and anxious.

“We feel like we’re being deliberately harmed and no longer have any autonomy in our own lives.”

Researchers who have supported Whaikaha, from left, Dr Catherine Leonard, Dr Lesley Campbell and John Leonard.

Maddy Croad

Disability Minister Louise Upston said during the Whaikaha review she conducted “targeted engagement” with the disability community to seek their feedback.

She said changes announced earlier this year were “necessary” to tackle problems such as overspending and unsustainable costs.

“The Government has not yet made any decisions regarding eligibility criteria for flexible funding, and this will not happen until there has been a period of consultation with the disability community.”

Dr Catherine Leonard, along with other members of research teams that support Whaikaha, attended the rally. She said there had not been enough research behind the Government’s decision-making.

Disability Rights Commissioner Prudence Walker says she hopes the commitments Disability Minister Louise Upston has made will be upheld.

Maddy Croad

“There’s a lack of tangata Whaikaha and disabled people’s voices in those decisions. They should be a big part of making decisions for themselves,” she said.

Disability Rights Commissioner Prudence Walker said she hoped the commitments made by Upston to have a “responsive disability support system” would be upheld next year.

“I would really like to see that that does involve disabled people in the decisions that affect us.”.

Last Updated 10/12/2024

RESOURCES

• https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360514310/awful-year-cuts-and-heartbreak-disabled-community

• Disability Leadership Canterbury