Friday, 6 September, New Plymouth. A protest march from Puke Ariki landing to David MacLeod's (MP for NP) office.
By: Filmed by Bryan Vickery
Bryan Vickery Media: Friday, 6 September 2024
Last Updated 9/09/2024
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Showing posts with label New Plymouth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Plymouth. Show all posts
Sunday, 8 September 2024
Saturday, 7 September 2024
Day 172 - Taranaki Daily News - Disability community marches in protest against Government changes
Disability community marches in protest against Government changes
By: Helen Harvey
Stuff: 5 am, Saturday 7 September 2024
Elisabeth Mullen, 11, told marchers she was more than just someone who couldn’t walk.
VANESSA LAURIE / STUFF
Chants of “nothing about us without us” and “disability rights are human rights” rang out through New Plymouth’s CBD on Friday as more than 200 people from the disability community marched along Devon St.
The march ended outside the Gill St office of New Plymouth National MP David MacLeod, who wasn’t there as he had a bereavement.
Once there several people with disabilities shared their stories as did those who cared for them.
Elizabeth Mullen, 11, told the crowd she had cerebral palsy, which meant she couldn’t walk.
The disability community came together on Friday to march through New Plymouth’s CBD to bring awareness to the issues they’re facing as a result of recent government policy changes.
VANESSA LAURIE / STUFF
“But that doesn’t mean I can’t do a bazillion other things. Let me live my life. I am more than just not being able to walk.”
Quinn Jones, 8, spoke about his brother Nash, 7, who has Lesch Nyhan Syndrome, which causes intellectual disability, and other issues, including severe arthritis, and poor muscle control.
Quinn told people how hard it was for Nash.
The group were protesting Government changes to funding and support that were made without consultation or warning.
Harry Harris, who is visually impaired, said they wanted basic human rights that everyone else took for granted.
VANESSA LAURIE / STUFF
In August, a restructure of Whaikaha- Ministry For Disabled People was announced. Whaikaha will lose responsibility for delivering support services, and the move to the Enabling Good Lives approach will be put on hold.
This follows on from changes to individualised funding that were made without notice in March. Pedicures, massages and some funding for respite were among the cuts.
Harry Harris, who is visually impaired, said a pedicure is not a luxury.
“It’s a basic necessity of life. We want basic human rights that normal everyday people take for granted. Many of us can’t reach our toenails.”
Some people needed a pedicure before their toe nails got infected and they ended up with gangrene, Harris said.
March co-organiser Francine Jones, and Quinn, 8, look after Quinn’s brother Nash, 7, who Lesch Nyhan Syndrome.
VANESSA LAURIE / STUFF
March co -organiser Francine Jones said she needed a monthly massage because her son, Nash, weighed 22kgs.
“He's a dead weight, and I'm lifting him all the time. And my body is freaking sore, you know? He can't do anything for himself, ever.”
And spending some funding on getting a hotel room occasionally, if they can get care for Nash for the night, was important not only for her relationship with her husband, Nathan, but for their other children, Jones said.
“Making the time so that we can actually spend one on one good time with them as well, because their lives are frigging hard.”
She was devastated when she heard about the changes, she said.
“It's causing a huge amount of anxiety.”
Co-organiser Victoria Coleman said the Government was making decisions that massively affected their lives without talking to them.
VANESSA LAURIE / STUFF
The march was organised because she had been talking to many people who were affected by it and were very stressed.
Co-organiser Victoria Coleman, whose son Levi, 5, has Down syndrome, autism and two rare bowel disorders, said they want back what had been taken away.
“They've taken away our rights that were fought so hard for. I mean, this is a fight going back decades. People put themselves on the line, put their bodies on the line. It looked like the world was changing. And now we've been shot back to the dark ages.”
The Government was making decisions that “massively impact people's lives”, taking away their freedom, taking away their choices and their independence, Coleman said.
“And they've done that without speaking to us personally. For me, it's too late for consultation. They need to reverse the changes they've made and then talk to us.”
- Taranaki Daily News
Last Updated 08/09/2024
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Friday, 6 September 2024
Day 171 - RNZ - 'We're not going to back down': 300 protest changes to disability services in New Plymouth
'We're not going to back down': 300 protest changes to disability services in New Plymouth
By: Robin Martin
RNZ: 6:30 pm, Friday, 6 September 2024
About 300 people, chanting "nothing about us, without us" and "disability rights are human rights", have marched through central New Plymouth protesting changes to disability services.
The government is restructuring Whaikaha, the Ministry of Disabled People.
It is losing responsibility for delivering support services, which will move to the Ministry of Social Development.
Hundreds of protesters, many in fancy dress, some using wheelchairs or walking with the aid of caregivers or family members, made their way up Devon Street before picketing the National Party offices on Gill Street.
Co-organiser Francine Jones, of Taranaki Disability Action, said they were fed up but determined.
"We're here to show we're not going to back down. We need this freedom to be able to live our best lives and we can't sit back and let this happen. They're actually taking back all the power from Whaikaha which is awful because that is something we all advocated for big time."
Her son, Nash, was living with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, and she was worried about her access to respite care.
"They've taken away our freedom in the way like a big thing for me is to be able to sleep a full night's sleep and quite often that means booking into a hotel for a night. They've taken away our choice to be able to do that."
Protest co-organiser Francine Jones of Taranaki Disabilty Action with son Nash, who lives with Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome and dad.Protest co-organiser Francine Jones of Taranaki Disabilty Action with son Nash, who lives with Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome and dad Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Jones also feared residential care would no longer be available for Nash when she was unable to care for him full-time.
Elizabeth Millen, 11, lives with cerebral palsy.
She was worried about what funding cuts would mean for her favourite hobby.
"The funding it lets me go to Riding for the Disabled which means my core strength has been really developed and I learned how to look after animals."
Her mum Stacey said their choices were being eroded.
"Elizabeth and everybody else needs to be able to determine how their funding is spent, so we can do things that are best suited for her. So, if we need to get socks or splits or things that the government don't provide we can actually get them."
Elizabeth Millen, 11, and mum Stacey are worried about funding cuts.Elizabeth Millen, 11, and mum Stacey are worried about funding cuts. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Lucy-Anne Thomas is also living with cerebral palsy.
She was anxious about the affect of funding cuts on her schoolwork.
"Specifically because I'm a girl who worries far too much about here grades ... I'm surprised it hasn't killed me yet ... without a learning assistant somethings I can't do very well, I feel bad about it. I worry without a learning assistant I won't be able to do what I need for my learning."
The 11-year-old had a message for the government.
"Please stop this it affects our lives so much that it is bad. It's really bad. It's so bad we can't demonstrate it with a metaphor."
Lucy-Anne Thomas and family wore her favourite colour for the protest.Lucy-Anne Thomas and family wore her favourite colour for the protest. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Her mum Vicky did not think the disabled community was getting a fair go.
"I'm here because it feels like the government isn't listening to the disabled community and not taking into consideration our opinion and what matters to us before making rash cuts. All we want is to be listened to and consulted."
Asked for comment, Whaikaha referred RNZ to Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston's August media statement.
In it Upston said the shift of support service delivery was "significant but necessary".
"We must now take urgent action after an independent review found the delivery of these services is in a dire state, with unsustainable spending and a lack of fairness and transparency around what support disabled people can access.
The minister said much of the problem stemmed from the "rushed" six-month establishment of the Ministry of Disabled People - Whaikaha.
The government was committed to supporting disabled people, and had provided a record $1.1 billion dollar funding boost to disability support services in the Budget, she said.
Last Updated 08/09/2024
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Day 171 - RNZ Checkpoint - Hundreds protest changes to disability services in New Plymouth
Hundreds protest changes to disability services in New Plymouth
By: Lisa Owen
RNZ Checkpoint: 5:26 pm Friday, 6 September 2024
About 300 people, chanting "nothing about us, without us", have marched through central New Plymouth protesting changes to disability services.The government is restructuring Whaikaha, the Ministry of Disabled People. It's losing responsibility for delivering support services, which will move to the Ministry of Social Development, Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin was at the protest.
Last Updated 08/09/2024
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Day 171 - 300 march in New Plymouth
By: Victoria Coleman
Facebook: 2:36pm, Friday, 6 September 2024
We had such an amazing turnout for our New Plymouth protest today. It was deeply touching to see everyone's support and hear their stories. We will need to keep it up, but it is a start.
Last Updated 08/09/2024
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Tuesday, 3 September 2024
Day 168 - Taranaki Disability Rights Protest.
Taranaki Disability Rights Protest.
By: Victoria Coleman
Friday, 6 September 2024. 11 am. Meet at Puke Ariki, 1 Ariki St, New Plymouth. March to the office of David McLeod, National Party MP.
In the video below, five affected people explain the importance of this protest: Fracine Jones, Victoria Coleman, EJ Barrett, Craig Nielsen, and David Prentice.
Last Updated 3/09/2034
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Monday, 6 May 2024
Day 47 - Taranaki Daily News - Celebration of New Zealand Sign Language highlights need for inclusion
Celebration of New Zealand Sign Language highlights need for inclusion
By: Catherine Groenestein
Taranaki Daily News: 5am, May 06, 2024
Chris and Chanelle Waite of Stratford are part of Taranaki’s small deaf community and use sign language as their first language, even with their three children, all of whom are hearing.
LISA BURD/TARANAKI DAILY NEWS
A Taranaki couple who have both been deaf since childhood don’t see it as a disability, and they’d like others to do the same.
This week is New Zealand Sign Language week, an annual celebration of the country’s third official language, which aims to dismantle barriers and foster inclusion for deaf people.
New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) is the first language of Stratford couple Chris and Chanelle Waite, both of whom have been deaf since childhood.
“It’s just that the ears don’t work,” Chris said. “It’s not a disability, but more a different culture.”
The couple use NZSL at home and arrange interpreters to assist at some meetings and appointments with hearing people.
This interview was done with the assistance of an interpreter from Interpreting Services Ltd at Fonterra’s Whareroa site, where Chris works as a milk tanker driver.
Chris works as a tanker driver for Fonterra, covering Taranaki, Manawatu and Waikato.
LISA BURD/TARANAKI DAILY NEWS
He loves his job, which takes him all around Taranaki and sometimes to Manawatu and Waikato.
“I enjoy truck driving, I love working for Fonterra. I’ve been here 3½ years. It’s awesome to be able to drive and look at the view — fabulous,” he said.
Chris, who is one of about 170 drivers, communicates with his dispatcher and colleagues using text messages.
Chanelle is a photographer and advocate for the deaf community.
LISA BURD/TARANAKI DAILY NEWS
Whareroa depot manager Brent (Hoppy) Hopkins said because Chris was the first deaf tanker operator to be employed by Fonterra, there was some initial apprehension.
“We did a risk assessment and were able to tick all the boxes. It’s worked well, it hasn’t even been an issue” he said.
“It shows there shouldn’t be any roadblocks.”
Chris’ wife, Chanelle, who has struggled to find a job, has started a business as a photographer.
She is also an advocate for and influencer in the deaf community, with two social media platforms, one on TikTok and one on Facebook – both handles @signwithchaz
“[Getting employment’s] the biggest barrier for deaf people in New Zealand,” she said.
“It’s frustrating. I understand that in some workplaces there are health and safety things going on, but there are other ways to do things if you have a deaf person in your workplace.
“It would be good to see more accessibility for the deaf community, both in breaking down barriers and in the workplace.”
In Taranaki the deaf community was quite small, and not everyone uses sign language, she said.
Chris grew up in Stratford and Chanelle in New Plymouth, but they knew each other from attending Keep In Touch days, which are get-togethers organised by teachers of the deaf for students in mainstream classes and schools.
After leaving school they lost touch, but a few years later Chanelle was in Christchurch one day shopping with a friend, and noticed someone drive past and flash their car lights at her, which she thought odd.
“I crossed over to the other side of the road,” Chanelle said.
“Then I saw the person signing my name through the window, and said to my friend: ‘He knows my name’.”
Then, she recognised Chris, and they arranged to meet up.
“The rest is history, and here we are,” she said.
The couple have three sons, Noah, 14, Lance, 13, and Josh, 9, all of whom are hearing, but have sign as their first language, Chris said.
“Their first words were in sign. Then they started to have spoken language from family members as they grew up and went to school.”
Chanelle’s advice for people who want to learn NZSL or to communicate with deaf individuals was to keep it simple.
“Start by learning basic signs and the alphabet. Practice using the language with others, perhaps by attending a class or joining a group.”
- Taranaki Daily News
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