This website is shifting

This website is shifting

By: DUNZ

Disabled United (NZ): Sunday, 4:40 pm, 31 August 2025

This website is no longer being updated and has been replaced by a new one.

Because of the growing crisis affecting disabled people, designing and building a new website had to be fast, cheap, simple and able to be done by volunteers who also faced their own health and support issues.

The intention is that the new website will eventually become a world-class, highly respected website that we can all be very proud of.

Purpose

The website has been designed to resolutely advocate for the dignity and rights of all people with disabilities, their families, and support workers. It will defend the funding of our support organisations. It's also intended to reach out to the rest of the population and win them to our common cause.

The first website was born on March 18 2024, and was used to organise the fight against the cuts. The new website will expand its scope to encompass any injustice affecting and needs expressed by people with disabilities in NZ.

While all views and opinions are welcome, the editorial policy assumes we all have a great deal in common and will seek to unite people rather than divide them.

It will also cover the wonderful work being done by support organisations, as well as disabled sports and cultural events. No one will be excluded.

All content from the old website will be transferred over time.

Volunteer created

Volunteers with disabilities have built the new 1000-page website by hand, using standard layout templates and extensive search and replace functions. Currently, all web pages are manually laid out using an outdated but fast and straightforward method: hidden nested tables. This has enabled a great deal of rapid experimentation to determine what would work. Many of the pages are still experimental mockups, and we welcome feedback and suggestions.

During this period, the website was hidden from Google Search Results.

The website is now unhidden from Google Search.

Next, the website will be automatically created by Pipi 9 CMS Engine, a database-driven content management system capable of publishing large websites using templates (another website has 90,000 pages) in the coming months.

When that happens, all the experimental web pages will be replaced with real information.

Mobile

All of the HTML code in these templates will then be converted to use CSS style sheets, which will make the website mobile-friendly (it's not yet). This will also enable the website's appearance to be improved. A separate website for mobile, similar to what Wikipedia has done, may also be an option.

Screen Reader

A significant effort will then be made to ensure it works seamlessly with screen readers, braille machines, and meets the WAI-ARIA 1.2 and WCAG 2.2 standards for web accessibility.

One language per website

In a similar way to how Wikipedia is organised, the website is in only one language, English. Later, other versions of this website will be available in Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. Versions will also be made available for any other community upon request.

Having separate websites for each language simplifies the IT work required. This approach is widespread in Europe, which has 250 native languages, as well as many more languages spoken by migrants. There will be minimal use of JavaScript because all the pages are static. Most web pages will be approximately 1% the size of those on other websites with the same amount of words. These approaches are significantly more secure against hackers and crooks who prey on people with disabilities.

Adding information

Today, as a temporary measure, many pages include links to Google Forms, allowing users to add missing information.

Over time, the different language websites will grow into a free public resource.

Login

Later, passwords will be issued, allowing readers to create a profile, subscribe to their preferred news, and submit additional content.

Thank you

All this will take time and involve open discussion within our community, as well as extensive testing by individuals who wish to contribute.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed with encouragement, comments, data, phone calls, feature requests, meetings, testing, codebooks, and other forms of assistance.

Last Updated 31/08/2025

RESOURCES

• https://eng.dunz.org.nz (English)
• https://mri.dunz.org.nz (Reo Maori)
• https://eng.dunz.org.nz/about/website/site-map.html (Site Map)
• https://eng.dunz.org.nz/about/website/roadmap.html (Roadmap)
• https://eng.dunz.org.nz/campaigns/ (What we fight for)
• https://eng.dunz.org.nz/about/join/ (Join us)
• https://eng.dunz.org.nz/about/donate/ (Donate)
• https://eng.dunz.org.nz/news-and-events/all-news.html (All news)

Day 55 - DUNZ - Invercargill video documentary to be made

Invercargill video documentary to be made

By: Mike Peters

DUNZ: Tuesday, 14 May 2024

DUNZ-Invercargill is making a 15-minute video documentary to explain the impacts of the funding cuts through the voices of 5 disabled people. Filming will start next week and be finished by the first week of June. The video will then be edited to a high standard and subtitled. It will be played at an upcoming public meeting in Invercargill and then shared on YouTube.

It will have five short interviews with disabled people and/or their families.

Each 3-minute interview will ask;

• Who are you?

• How were you affected by the effect funding cuts?

• What do you want changed?

We need five volunteers from around Invercargill who are prepared to talk about their lives.

If you are interested, please get in touch with Mike Peters.
Mobile: 022 600 5006
Email: office@dunz.org.nz

Last Updated 14/05/2024

RESOURCES

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Day 40 - DUNZ - Unite all disabled people

Unite all disabled people

DUNZ: 29/04/2024

Disabled people are everywhere. Disabled United (DUNZ) campaigns to unite all disabled people in the ongoing fight for our mana and our rights as full human beings. Regardless of place of residence, disability, national origin, religion, sex, political affiliation, sexuality, etc.

One small practical step is to make resources available in the many languages spoken in NZ.

Source: Stats NZ

For a start there are the official languages, English, Maori and NZ Sign Language. But there are many more spoken in migrant communities. The campaign needs to reach everyone.

In Invercargill, DUNZ supporter Kahutaiki kindly translated some English text to Maori for the "Join DUNZ" poster used in the campaign.

If you can help, we need volunteers who speak other languages to also translate material for the campaign.

For example: Samoan, Mandarin, Hindi, Tagalog, French, German, Spanish, Hebrew, Arabic, Tongan, Panjabi, Korean, etc.

English version

Maori version

Last Updated 30/04/2024

RESOURCES

• Join Disabled United A4 Poster - English ver. 4 (pdf)

• Join Disabled United A4 Poster - Hindi ver. 4 (pdf)

• Join Disabled United A4 Poster - Mandarin ver. 4 (pdf)

• Join Disabled United A4 Poster - Maori ver. 4 (pdf)

• Join Disabled United A4 Poster - Samoan ver. 4 (pdf)

• Join Disabled United A5 Poster - English ver. 3 (pdf)

Day 38 - DUNZ - National Meeting of DUNZ on Zoom

National Meeting of DUNZ on Zoom

DUNZ: 27 April 2024

Summary

In the wake of recent developments, a national meeting of DUNZ members using Zoom is being organised over the next 2 weeks using different time slots.

Background

The March 18 announcement of changes to how we can use our funding evoked outrage within the disabled community.

• Successful protests have been held in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.

• Public meetings have been held in Auckland, Nelson, Palmerston North, Porirua, etc.

• Many people and groups made statements

• Local protest groups are being established.

• Most of the news and events are recorded on the DUNZ website.

Ways to Communicate

To reach the broadest possible audience, DUNZ uses everything that works.

• Email messages

• Google Groups

• Google Meetup

• Meetings and protests

• Printed posters

• Text Messages

• Website

• WhatsApp

• YouTube

• Zoho

• Zoom

Facebook

Most disabled people don't use Facebook. It's also a barrier for many blind people, older people and those without access to technology.

Zoom

Zoom is the best option for a meeting at the moment. The Zoom Free Basic Plan can host a meeting.

• 100 people

• 40 minutes

• Automatic meeting captions in English

• Screen sharing

• 3 whiteboards

• Chat

• Video can be recorded, downloaded and shared on YouTube and Facebook later on

• Participation using a web browser.

DUNZ Membership Growing

Over the last few weeks, people from the disabled community have been joining DUNZ using the online join form.

• This includes the majority of the local leaders who organised the recent protests.

• Those starting up in Palmerston North and Tauranga.

• 40 people have indicated they want to volunteer with a local group or national team somehow.

• 20 indicated they may be able to volunteer in the future.

• DUNZ members who only want the weekly email newsletter to be informed.

Invite

This Zoom meeting is for those who have offered to help. The invite will be sent.

• DUNZ members who ticked the "Yes, I want to volunteer" box.

• The email address provided when joining.

• The invite will give the different time slots available.

• Each meeting will have the same agenda.

• People can then register for the time slot that suits them.

Format

Mike Peters will give a 10-minute summary, including visual slides for the deaf community.

• The attack on our rights

• How do we fight this and win?

• How could DUNZ be structured?

• Jobs for DUNZ volunteers

• Open discussion

Date and Time

The Zoom meeting will be repeated at these times on different days to ensure all members have a chance to participate.

• Friday, 3 May, 1:00 pm - 1:40 pm

• Saturday, 4 May, 7:00 pm - 7:40 pm

• Sunday, 5 May, 10:00 am - 10:40 am

• Monday, 6 May, 1:00 pm - 1:40 pm

• Monday, 6 May, 7:00 pm - 7:40 pm

• Wednesday, 8 May, 10:00 am - 10:40 am

Further, longer meetings can be held to discuss details for volunteers in national teams or local group committees.

Blind Citizens NZ

An additional meeting with members of Blind Citizens NZ (BCNZ) could be held using Zoom, which is very accessible.

Deaf Community

An additional meeting with members of the Deaf Community could be held using their preferred communication system.

Other Meetings

• More Zoom meetings can be held if required.

• One-on-one can also be held.

• Migrant Communities using a second language interpreter

Last Updated 28/04/2024

RESOURCES

• Zoom

• Zoom on Wikipedia

• Join DUNZ

• Our History

• The Plan

• What We Fight For

• Our People

Day 30 - Disabled United - Invercargill Organising Meeting April 18

Notes of Invercargill Organising Meeting 18/04/2024

By Melissa Corbin
Organiser, Disabled United - Invercargill
021 502 504 lisla35@hotmail.com

On Thursday we held another meeting at the Main Street Cafe with 10 people in attendance. 

Posters - Thank you to those who have made the effort and placed the posters around town and other places such as staff rooms, dairy's and community noticeboards. There are still plenty more to go up as we near the next protest. If you would like some copies there is one on the website that can be downloaded and printed. If you are unable to print then do reach out to the team and we can arrange to drop some off.

T-shirts - We are currently looking into getting t-shirts printed with the wording of Disabled United at the top, the QR code in the middle and the website on the bottom. Once we have figured out costs these will be available to purchase.

Banners -To make us seen we are looking at getting banners made up that can be shared around the country. We will be using the same set up across banners, posters and other items to show a clear message that can be
easily replicated.

Public Meeting - Hopefully we will get some progress on this soon once we can find a venue and arrange speakers etc. More info to come.

Protest Organisation - Plans are going well for the upcoming protest on Thursday 2nd May with the following people in charge.

• Traffic - Melissa to arrange to get car parks blocked off for better access

• Live stream - Sammy will be in charge of filming via Youtube 

• Safety box with supplies and blankets - Melissa to sort

• Crowd management - Shauna to monitor with help

• Mike - MC and speakers

If anyone has any hi vis vests please bring these to the protests. We look forward to seeing you all there as we come together to fight these changes.

Many thanks

Melissa

Day 26 - Disabled United - A Plan

A Plan

By Mike Peters

Disabled United: 15/04/2024

There are 100,000 people with recognised disabilities in NZ, and 35,000 are on Individualised Funding (IF). There are even more family members, carers and support workers directly affected by all this nonsense.

We want all the March 18 changes reversed immediately.

So what can we do?

We need to start with ourselves and then work together to reach out to others.

So, let's establish local groups in every town and city across NZ, each with a committee that can lead and organise the disabled community to defend our human rights.

Each committee needs to meet in person and prove themselves by their actions.

As each group becomes stronger, the campaign can take many different forms.

Putting up posters, creating mailing lists, letter writing, petitions, information tables, getting donations, sending speakers to other groups, public meetings, peaceful pickets, protests, rallies, marches, national days of action — anything that works and positively builds momentum.

We need to involve thousands of people, and this will take time.

Along the way, we face these challenges.

Health

Many have health challenges or limited "spoons" and need rest.

Having committees with lots of members means we can cover for each other. Everyone can help when they can.

Funds

We are poorer as a community than the general population. This means we will need frequent financial help from our supporters in the broader community for everything from printing to protests.

Respect

The last government made changes because they were "being kind". This government decided to be "unkind".

The suffragettes fought and won the right to vote for all women. We also need to fight for our rights and win. We have to win the support and respect of most people in NZ, not their pity.

Nothing for us without us (EGL)

Some disabled people mistakenly believe we need to rely on others. They have an attitude of dependency and reliance on support agencies and government departments. Terms like "vulnerable people" and "special needs" deeply erode our self-confidence and self-respect. This needs to change. We need to take control.

We need to awaken disabled people to their humanity, capability, self-worth, and ability to fight this by combining together, winning, and proving the doubters wrong.

We can win.

Please join us.

Last Updated 19/04/2024

RESOURCES

• Join Disabled United

Day 26 - Disabled United - Changes to the website

Changes to the Disabled United website

By Mike Peters

National Tech Support Team

13/04/2024

Mobile: 022 660 5006

Disabled people are increasingly self-organising to defend their rights, and the website had to be changed to better support the growing campaign.

Finding information

It is becoming harder to find specific information on the website, such as event details, resources, and contact information because it is growing daily.

Solution

Create a home page that helps people find what they are looking for. This page will be updated every day. > more

Building local groups

The efforts of a local group can get lost in the noise of the big picture.

Solution

Create a home page for each local group that allows the promotion of specific campaigns. This page can be updated whenever needed. > more

Creating information

To build a successful national campaign that wins, good, consistent, accurate information must be provided to the audience at the right time in the proper format.

Solution

Set up a national media team of volunteers from anywhere in Aotearoa-New Zealand who have excellent media skills. > more

Website reliability

The website needs to be reliable, easy to navigate and able to feed into email newsletters and social networking, accept donations, protect people's privacy, be accessible and support thousands of members.

Solution

Set up a tech support team of volunteers from anywhere in Aotearoa, New Zealand, with excellent IT skills. > more 

Day 23 - Disabled United - Palmerston North - Sign-up Email Message

Sign-up Email Message

By Kylee Maloney
Coordinator, Disabled United - Palmerston North

Email: silvercords@icloud.com
Mobile: 027 412 6733

This is the text used in the standard email message when someone signs up to join Disabled United - Palmerston North.

------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for agreeing to be part of the pushback to Whaikaha’s funding changes, led by Disabled United NZ.

This will not be an easy road, and your stance in signing up is heartily appreciated. The more of us there are, the stronger our case, the louder our protest and the lighter the load for each of us.

Firstly, though, there are some decisions which need to be taken immediately so we can get started.

Group Messaging
I would like to suggest we use WhatsApp rather than Facebook for this. Facebook is busy, cluttered and less accessible by design than WhatsApp. WhatsApp is secure, is purely for voice, video or text chat and is as usable and accessible on any device. (I have it on my Apple iPhone and my desktop PC). For me, at least, it is the most efficient, quickest and cleanest option. It will also allow for easily-recorded voice or video messages in case anyone wishes or needs to vent.

Mutual Support
I would also like to ask whether each of you would consent to sharing your contact details with each other. We will all need one another’s support over the coming weeks and months, so having other involved people to reach out to will be crucial for all our survival through this. Please let me know whether you consent or decline to share your contact with everyone else on our group.

First Meeting
I’m aware that school holidays are nearly upon us, which means that some of us will be away throughout the next fortnight. Knowing how little spare time and energy there is here, please let me know whether it is best for you to meet during the day or in the evening or at weekends. It had been suggested that 23 April would be a good first date. However, Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Labour Disability Spokesperson, is proposing to visit us here in PN and call a public meeting for that evening. Please watch this space for updates. If you want to meet before then, please let me know. There are many things to discuss at that first meeting and I’d like your ideas.

Immediate Action
Here are some things you can do before we meet.

Check out www.dunz.org.nz

There you will find plenty of information to get you inspired.

While you’re there, you can:

Read the blog of daily activities. Headquarters at Invercargill is already very active and there is plenty of helpful information to inform and inspire.

Sign both petitions on the Resources Page if you have not already done so;

Join the Disabled United Facebook Group

Sign up to the weekly mailing list.

Consider adding your contact to the DUNZ site as a representative of our group.

Read the attached leaflet for ways to help, print and distribute it to as many supporters as you can.

Contact all your friends and family in other areas to encourage them to set up or connect with local Disabled United groups in their area.

If you have other suggestions of things to do or ways to help, please feel more than free to let me know so our knowledge can be increased.

Once again, thank you for agreeing to be part of this pushback. It can’t happen without you; but with your input we can win!

Warmest wishes

Kylee Maloney
Coordinator Disabled United - Palmerston North

E: silvercords@icloud.com

P: 027 412 6733

Day 23 - Palmerston North - Take Back Control

Take Back Control. 

Speech given by Kylee Maloney at the Palmerston North Community Led Forum Monday, 6th April 2024

Kylee Maloney

027 412 6733 silvercords@icloud.com

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s customary to say how delighted one is to be here, but that would be being disingenuous; I’m not delighted. Every fibre of my being wants to be in my quiet, comfortable home — preferably inside my own head where I have built a safe place over which no one but me has dominion or control. But I can’t stay in my safe place because it’s control about which I must speak: the control which humans can exact over one another. 

Where I grew up, every aspect of our lives was under someone’s control: when we rose and retired, what we wore, when and what we ate. Even when choices were presented they were carefully controlled. You could have peanut butter, marmite, golden syrup or honey on your toast (no plain butter allowed); but don’t choose the same one too often else that choice will be taken from you. Even down to bodily functions: you can’t be allowed to go to school until you have done number twos. “Please can someone check my duty.” 

Do everything without question or complaint or be branded a troublemaker — forced to comply by any and all physical, psychological and emotional means necessary including force feeding, physical restraint, medical neglect, psychological abuse and physical isolation.

If you think those days are past, if you think I’m being overly-dramatic, if you think this is irrelevant, consider this. The faces may have changed but the minds, the attitudes, the bigotry behind them, have not. The institutions have mostly closed, but the kind of people who once assured desperate parents that ‘experts’ could take better care of their defective offspring than they could, who herded those offspring into cages of compliance and cruelty and who then had the gall to parade themselves as pillars of their communities are still around. They’re currently in power. As I said, they wear different faces, they use different tools and they’re forced to be a bit more creative now, but they still seek to exercise the kind of control over our lives which they themselves would neither countenance nor tolerate. 

Why? Because they can — because they have built a society in which our divergent brains, senses and bodies have to work harder to survive, because it suits them that we are made small, insignificant, vulnerable. They foolishly believe that by doing this we are rendered helpless, less able, less human. 

And if you still aren’t convinced? Remember 18 March? Until that time we had been asked to trust, just as thousands of parents had been asked to trust that their children would be cared for. We were reassured that a brighter day was coming, just as those same parents were reassured that they were doing the right thing — no, the best thing — for their children and families. Then we were deliberately failed — just as those parents, their children and families were failed. Oh, you can talk of faulty ministries, blown budgets and suspect strategies; you can share all the feedback you wish but you will never convince me that this was an honest mistake made by innocent ignoramuses who failed to anticipate the impact of their decisions. This was a well-planned and deliberate move by a group of people who are currently wielding their power against us — as they always have. The rest is only window dressing.

These people are in the same mould as those who sold our parents a bill of goods, who then thought it appropriate to separate us from our families and from society. They are in the same mould as those who denied women the vote, who stole Māori lands, who segregated black people, who refused to sign laws which allowed disabled people equity; and who are now trying to teleport us back to a time which many of you (thankfully) have never been. The rest of us can never forget and we cannot — and must not — let this continue. 

They may have the power to run our country, but we have the power of our deviant bodies, our divergent minds and senses, spiky skill sets, creativity and strength. We also have our families and allies who — unlike those who’d rather we didn’t exist — are not morally bankrupt but who know that we are all whole human beings which include all those above descriptors. 

Yes, we have fewer spoons (fewer units of energy) to put towards the inevitable fight for our full and rightful places as citizens of this country, but there is no marginalised group in any country or throughout any history for whom this is or has been an easy journey; and it will be neither easy nor short for us. 

So you have a choice. I am asking you, whether you’re disabled or only disadvantaged by association for being our families and allies — or all of the above, to now decide whether you wish to continue being treated as lesser beings or whether you wish to make a change. If you know that you are a unique, worthwhile and valuable human being which includes all those above qualities which help make you what you are, if you want to take back the power from those who have sought to steal it, if you’ve decided that enough is enough, fill in your name and details and sign up to the movement which is already growing through Aotearoa. We need organisers, creatives, campaigners, marketers, coordinators, spokespeople, writers. We need you. Even one teaspoon of your time and energy will do; the more people, the fewer spoons each of us needs to contribute. United, we can reverse the regression for our good, for our families, allies and fellow New Zealanders. It’s time to raise your voice, stand in your own power and take control. Oh, and to paraphrase Tracy Peters, one of the movement’s founders, if you’re worried about rocking the boat, let me assure you. We won’t be rocking the boat; we’ll be scuttling it. So, grab your life-jackets, swim-fins and snorkels and join us in the long swim towards the shore of true equity, self-determination and control which is the right of every human being!

Day 22 - Disabled United - Invercargill Organising Meeting April 8

Notes of Invercargill Organising Meeting 08/04/2024

By Melissa Corbin
Organiser, Disabled United - Invercargill
021 502 504 lisla35@hotmail.com

Today, we held another meeting at Main Street Cafe at 3 p.m. Thank you to those who took time out of their busy days to attend.

National Update:

Mike updated us on what has been happening throughout the country in the last week. He reported that five other groups around the country are sharing Disabled United NZ as a way to reach disabled people and the public and as a way to protect the government funding of disabled groups and support organisations.

Setting up systems to share common knowledge so that anyone can jump on board and replicate what works is fantastic.

Mike will send out a weekly newsletter to update those not on Facebook and others about what is happening in NZ.

Invercargill:
We then discussed what we would like to see happen moving forward as we continue to raise our voices against the recent changes to disability funding by the Government. After some discussion, it was decided that tasks needed to be delegated so we could spread the load amongst ourselves and look after each other.

Below is a list of areas we felt needed to be covered in Invercargill and who is responsible for that task:

Protest Organisers:
Mike will be the main organizer, with support from the Harvey family and Shauna. They are responsible for organizing everything we need and making sure the space is accessible and safe for all.

Media:
Tracy and Carolyn will be assisting with media and are available to share their experience and support anyone doing interviews, etc. Melissa will contact Jack to do an interview on the community radio. Also, Sammy may help with live streaming.

Public Meeting:
Melissa and Gordon will approach possible speakers at a public meeting, including getting people to share their stories and, hopefully, some members of Parliament or others who may be able to clarify what is going on. They will find a venue to hold an event, possibly after the next protest, with suitable access for all. Melissa will contact Darren Ludlow to see if he can help.

Other matters

Posters:
We will share the load by focusing on areas where we live or are close to and distributing them around shops, businesses, etc.

Safety Vests:
The Harvey family will look into getting some high-vis vests printed with Disabled United on the back and a logo on the front.

Communication:
To make it easier, a messenger group under Invercargill Disability United on Facebook will be created. This way, the committee can communicate quickly and more efficiently. 

Our next meeting will be held at 10am on Thursday 18th April at Main Street Cafe.

Day 21 - DUNZ - Monday 8 April 2024 - News about the protests

Monday 8 April 2024 - News about the protests

Disabled-United-NZ newsletter

https://groups.google.com/g/dunz

In late March, peaceful protests by disabled people had a significant impact in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill. 110 people attended in total, a great start.

There are about 100,000 officially disabled people, and 35,000 are on Individualised Funding. Disabled people are everywhere; most don't attend "network meetings" but need to become part of this fight. So how do we reach them, their families and support workers?

Disabled people have realised this is going to be a long, hard fight, so we had better get organised. Efforts are now underway in Auckland, Hamilton, Napier, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, and Invercargill to establish local groups that can last the distance and organise public meetings, protests, media interviews, information tables, and petitions to win a majority of support so we can win.

Disabled United NZ has been set up to encourage people to come together without risking cuts to the government funding of support organisations.

The website lists all groups, events, resources, ways to get organised and media coverage. There are 100 articles so far. It is also shared on the Facebook Group. Please share any of this information anywhere you can, and make sure everything your group is doing is put on the website.

www.dunz.org.nz

www.facebook.com/groups/disabledunitednz

This weekly newsletter will be published every Monday morning, with the news from the previous week on the website.

Regards
Mike Peters
Disabled United NZ

www.dunz.org.nz

Mobile: 022 600 5006
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https://www.dunz.org.nz/2024/04/diy-how-to-be-public-speaker.html

https://www.dunz.org.nz/2024/04/day-photos-from-invercargill-protest.html

https://www.dunz.org.nz/2024/04/diy-how-to-be-interviewed-by-media.html

https://www.dunz.org.nz/2024/04/day-19-dpa-disability-funding-changes.html

https://www.dunz.org.nz/2024/04/day-19-nzlp-public-meeting-about.html

https://www.dunz.org.nz/2024/04/day-19-manawatu-standard-frustration.html

https://www.dunz.org.nz/2024/04/day-18-diy-how-to-organise-in-11-easy.html

https://www.dunz.org.nz/2024/04/day-18-palmerston-north-community-led.html

https://www.dunz.org.nz/2024/04/day-17-april-19-dunedin-disability.html

https://www.dunz.org.nz/2024/04/day-15-invercargill-protest-on-thursday.html

https://www.dunz.org.nz/2024/04/day-15-icompa-statement-by-institute-of.html

https://www.dunz.org.nz/2024/04/day-15-rnz-detail-ministry-funding.html

https://www.dunz.org.nz/2024/04/day-14-leaders-of-protests-meetup.html

Day 21 - Disabled United - Disregarded and Disrespected

Disregarded and Disrespected: Disabled Citizens Speak Out Against Funding Restrictions and Ministerial Indifference

OPINION: Disabled United

08/05/2024

As citizens with disabilities, we refuse to be relegated to the margins of society, overlooked, and undervalued by those entrusted with our care and well-being. Yet, recent actions by Whaikaha, Ministry of Disabled People, and the callous remarks of Penny Simmonds, Minister of Disability Issues have ignited a firestorm of indignation within our community. We demand to be heard, respected, and treated as equal members of society, worthy of dignity, autonomy, and support.

The recent funding restrictions imposed by Whaikaha have sent shockwaves through our community, threatening our ability to access vital support services and exercise our right to self-determination. By narrowing the scope of available options and imposing arbitrary limitations, these restrictions undermine our autonomy and reinforce harmful stereotypes of dependence and incapacity. We refuse to accept a future where our aspirations are stifled, and our voices silenced by bureaucratic red tape and budgetary constraints.

Adding insult to injury, Penny Simmonds has displayed a shocking lack of empathy and understanding towards our community, with her dismissive remarks and insensitive comments. Instead of championing our cause and advocating for our rights, she has chosen to diminish our lived experiences. Us needing help to overcome the systemic barriers to our participation, does not diminish our worth as people. Penny Simmonds callous words serve as a stark reminder of the systemic ableism that pervades our society, perpetuating discrimination, and exclusion at the highest levels of government.

In stark contrast to the actions and the inactions of the Minister, the Principles of the Enabling Good Lives approach offer a beacon of hope for disabled citizens. By emphasising individual strengths, being able to make decisions about our own lives, and belonging in our communities, EGL embodies the values of dignity and respect that every New Zealander holds dear. It recognizes our inherent worth as human beings and empowers us to pursue our dreams and aspirations on our own terms.

We refuse to be silenced or sidelined any longer. We call upon the Government to reconsider the errant path it has turned down, and continue to embrace Enabling Good Lives, a more inclusive and person-centred approach to disability support. We demand that the Minister apologize for her insensitive remarks and either commit to meaningful engagement with our community, or step aside, for someone with a heart to uphold our place in New Zealand. We will not rest until our voices are heard, our rights are respected, and our status as valued citizens is acknowledged and affirmed.

We are neighbours, workmates, pupils and terrific families, living in every corner, of every region, we are tired of being treated as second-class citizens, and refuse to accept a future dictated by funding restrictions and ministerial indifference. We stand united in our demand for justice. It is time for society to recognize our worth, celebrate our diversity, and embrace the principles of Enabling Good Lives for all.

Day 20 - Disabled United - Photos from the Invercargill Protest

By Sammy Morton

28/03/2024 Disabled United

A big thank you to everyone who came down and supported the Disability community today, and everyone who had our backs today really appreciated your support.

A big thank you to Melissa Corbin, Tracy and Mike for organising this peaceful protest.
Thank you everyone for toots and waves.

Can't wait for the next one I hope to see you all there.

Please come stand with us.

We didn't choose to be disabled.

EQUALITY 4 DISABILITY

Disabled-united peaceful protest.

Thank you to my brother's work mate Bruce and his daughter for coming down and supporting us this morning. It means the world. It was lovely seeing you and catching up with Bruce.

Thank you for having our backs. I appreciate it so much.

RESOURCES

• More Video

Day 15 - Invercargill protest on Thursday May 2

The Invercargill Organising Committee met today by phone to set a date for the next protest. 

A peaceful protest will be held outside the Electoral Office of the Minister of Disability Issues at 10 am on Thursday, 2 May, 22 Kelvin St, Invercargill, to demand that all changes to Individualised Funding for Disabled People be reversed immediately.

The Organising Committee of 9 disabled volunteers will meet weekly to build the coming protest.

Any supporters can come to the meetings to get jobs and pick up posters to distribute.

The dates for the following protests will be set a long time in advance so that posters can be handed out at one protest to advertise the next one.

More volunteers are welcome.

Many hands make light work!

Organising Meetings

• 3 pm, Monday 8 April. Main Street Cafe, Kelvin St, Invercargill.

• 10 am, Thursday 18 April. Main Street Cafe, Kelvin St, Invercargill.

• 10 am, Thursday, 25 April. Main Street Cafe, Kelvin St, Invercargill.

Invercargill Protest

• 10 am, Thursday, 2 May. 22 Kelvin St, Invercargill.

Organising Meetings

• 10 am, Thursday 9 May. Main Street Cafe, Kelvin St, Invercargill.

• 10 am, Thursday 16 May. Main Street Cafe, Kelvin St, Invercargill.

Day 10 - DIsabled United - Invercargill disabled people organise to win

After the successful Invercargill protest today of 30 disabled people and their families, we all went to the Mainstreet Cafe on Kelvin St for a cuppa and a chat.

Over hot cups and nibbles, we met to determine our strategy for winning. Here are some of the notes.

Useful ways to help

• Sign up for the monthly email newsletter
• Invite a speaker to your meeting
• Donate funds to help with printing
• Put up posters
• Help organise the next activity
• Send a message of support

Contact People for the Public

• Carolyn Weston QSM cgweston@kinect.co.nz
• Gordon McKewen gordonmckewengreens@gmail.com
• Melissa Corban Lisla35@hotmail.com
• Mike Peters 022 600 5006
• Tracy Peters tracy@redworks.co.nz

Notes from the protest speeches given

• 30 attended this time, aiming for 100 next time and 500 the time after that.
• We need to collect donations to pay for printing costs
• We need to build up the confidence of disabled people to stand up for themselves
• Add your name to the mailing list. Use personal emails rather than work emails to protect people
• We need to build our network to cover all of Southland, Gore, Winton, Riverton etc.

Here is a summary of today's protest. (Melissa)

Despite the weather we had a good turnout with about 30 people .It has been suggested that at the next event there are things like hot soup and cups, more blankets and chairs and definitely more signs. We also need to be louder with chants. Also an interpreter for the deaf community.

Action moving forward:

• Emailing family, friends and local organisations and ask them to share the information about what is happening
• Email letters of concern to all Parliament members
• Radio spot with Jack on Southland community radio after Easter - Melissa
• Flyers to go out to the community via supporters
• Making sure we share the load amongst us all!!!

National Day in May

Possible next opportunity to protest again. I am unsure what this would look like, but maybe a protest picket outside the National Party on Kelvin St, followed by a march through the Esk St Mall.

To do this, we will need to contact:

• Council
• Police
• Mall Management
• Maori wardens

More (Mike)

• $31.80 was raised in donations to help with printing.
• 3 more disabled people volunteered to join the organising committee and take on responsibilities. This gives an organising committee of 8.
• A first committee meeting will be called next week.
• We are establishing direct contact with the leaders of other groups around the country so we can learn from each other and coordinate future actions.
• Please send copies of all support messages so they can go to the website.
• 2 union delegates and a FIRST Union organiser attended to show support.
• Somone offered to reach out to the churches and LGBTQ community.

Thank you to the Mainstreet Cafe owner and staff for their kindness.

Day 9 - Disabled United - Invercargill Blind Woman speaks out

By Carolyn Weston

27/03/2024 Disabled United

Opinion

When I heard the announcement that Government was restricting disabled people’s access to fund equipment and how we can spend our Individual Funding, I was dismayed and confused. 

Recently, I attended a forum about “Engaging Good Lives” informing us we now have self-determination and can make our own choices about our lives. 

Last year, I purchased a special lens for my reading glasses and upgraded my screen reader for my computer with my funding allocation but today I can’t do this anymore. 

For me, adaptive equipment and other blindness supports are equally important as my need for a wheel-chair or walking-frame. Government expects us all to interact with the internet and bank, pay bills, attend meetings, etc online but I and other blind people can’t do that without adaptive technology. 

Let blind people take our rightful place in today’s society.

Carolyn G Weston QSM

Invercargill disabled woman

Day 9 - Disabled United - News about the protest tomorrow at 10am

 Hi everyone

This is a reminder about the peaceful protest we are holding at 10 am on Thursday, March 28th, at 22 Kelvin St, Invercargill, to defend our funding for disabled people.

• There will be some speakers, and we will be using a megaphone.
• Please email messages of support to put on our website for the media to quote.
• We couldn't find a deaf interpreter. But there will be a next time.
• Melissa has made placards. And you can make some and bring them.
• There will be people with yellow high-viz vests to help people and ensure everything goes OK.
• There will be sign-up sheets to get the names and contact details of supporters so we can get stronger over time.
• There will be a poster you can all take home and put up at your church, workplace, club, local shop, cafe, pub, agency, and car.
• People have been putting posters up all over town.

From our website

Disabled United spokesperson Tracy Peters was interviewed on the front page of The Southland Times about tomorrow's protest. 
https://disabled-united.blogspot.com/2024/03/day-8-southland-times-funding-changes.html

The Southland Deaf Community executive and members sent a message of support. 
https://disabled-united.blogspot.com/2024/03/day-8-southland-deaf-community-hear-my.html

Disabled people in Christchurch are protesting at the Bridge of Remembrance tomorrow. 
https://disabled-united.blogspot.com/2024/03/day-8-disability-community-fights-back.html

Disabled people are protesting in Dunedin Octagon tomorrow. 
https://disabled-united.blogspot.com/2024/03/day-7-dunedin-protest-on-thursday-march.html

Christchurch disabled people are interviewed in The Press. 
https://disabled-united.blogspot.com/2024/03/day-5-disempowering-and-dehumanising.html

There was a protest in Auckland last Saturday. 
https://disabled-united.blogspot.com/2024/03/day-5-auckland-protest-attacks-on.html

Rare Disorders NZ made a great statement. 
https://disabled-united.blogspot.com/2024/03/day-5-new-changes-to-support-funding.html

Disability cuts are ‘devastating’, disabled Mosgiel mother says. 
https://disabled-united.blogspot.com/2024/03/day-5-disability-cuts-are-devastating.html

A Wellington-disabled woman wrote a great opinion piece for RNZ. 
https://disabled-united.blogspot.com/2024/03/day-4-why-we-cannot-let-disability.html

How you can help. 
https://disabled-united.blogspot.com/2024/03/day-3-how-to-help.html

Please send us more information and photos to put on the website so we can get lots of support and win.

See you all tomorrow, Thursday, March 28, at 10 am at 22 Kelvin St, Invercargill. 😀

Mike Peters

-----------------------------------

Disabled United

https://disabled-united.blogspot.com

PO Box 902

Invercargill 9840

New Zealand

M 64+ 22 600 5006

Email mike@redworks.co.nz

Facebook www.facebook.com/NZMikePeters

------------------------------------------

Day 3 - Disabled United - How you can help

Community support is growing for the coming protest. There is a lot to do and you can help.

Posters

People are putting A4 posters up around the city to promote the protest.

Download copies here to print. Then, find a shop, cafe, school, workplace, pub, community centre, club, union, farmers group, community group or church and ask them to pin it on their noticeboard or tape it to their window. Ninety percent are saying yes. We have a lot of support, and it's growing.

Mailing List

An email mailing list has been set up for the public using Google Groups. You can sign up to receive short updates on upcoming protests and other efforts to defend our funding support. The list is private, so no one can see your details. The leaders will send messages only, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Subscribe to Disabled United News

Please share articles from the newsletter and this website on social media, your group's mailing lists, and anything else you can think of.

Marshals

Volunteer marshalls are needed to help keep people safe during the event. Contact us if you can help. You need to bring and wear a yellow safety vest.

Speakers

Organisations that support the protest's demands are welcome to provide speakers at the protest. Speeches need to be short and snappy. A hand megaphone will be available for you to use. We are trying to get a sign interpreter for the speaker from the deaf community.

Meeting After

After the protest, the plan is to go to the Mainland Cafe, next to WorkBridge on Kelvin St where we can all sit down, have a cuppa and discuss what to do next.

Day 2 - Disabled United - Protest on 28 March 2024 Kelvin St, Invercargill

The Ministry of Disability - Whaikaha's announcement of the Disability Guidelines on Monday, March 18, is an attack on Enabling Good Lives, turning back decades on gains made by all disabled people in New Zealand.

It takes away the fundamental human right of all disabled people to decide what is best for their own lives.

Individualised Funding (IF) has massively changed our lives. We refuse to accept that things will return to the way they were, with patronising government bureaucrats making decisions about our lives.

As one of many coming responses, a peaceful protest will be held outside the Electoral Office of the Minister of Disability Issues at 10 am on Thursday, 28 March, 22 Kelvin St, Invercargill, to demand that all of these changes be reversed immediately. 

And that is just the start till we win.

RESOURCES

• Link to pdf poster to download and share

• About

Day 1 - Disabled United - Disabled people in Invercargill get organised

In response to the shocking announcement yesterday by the Ministry of Disabled People, a small group of Invercargill disabled people affected by the cuts got together by phone to decide what to do.

Actions agreed on

• We are going to fight this till we win
• A protest date was set for Thursday, 28 March, at 10am outside the Minister of Disability Issues' electoral office at 22 Kelvin St, Invercargill.
• Urgent messages were sent out to our friends to gather support.
• The Disabled United website was established.
• Create a poster in PDF format that can go up on noticeboards around the city.
• Every meeting and opportunity between now and March 28 will be used to build support and participation