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Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia welcomed the release today of the recommendations from the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

“The Government will take on board the advice from the United Nations Committee and intends to formally respond in early 2015,” says Minister Turia.

Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia welcomed the release of the second report of the Independent Monitoring Mechanism on Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ‘Making disability rights real - Whakatūturu ngā Tika Hauātanga,’ today.

The Minister for Disability Issues says the consultation report on Access to Buildings for People with Disabilities reflects the voice of the disabled community, is responsive to their needs and recognises that for a society to be fully inclusive, then disabled people must be treated as equal participants.

The Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia has congratulated disabled New Zealander Jai Waite on winning the prestigious international Apollo Award for the editing of a documentary about a man with a disability. Jai received the award in Singapore as part of the Broadcast Asia Conference.

The Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia has announced that Robert Martin will be New Zealand’s candidate for the election in 2016 for the 2017 – 2020 term of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Minister Turia presented New Zealand’s statement to the Seventh Conference of States Parties on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in New York on 10 June 2014.

The Hon. Tariana Turia will represent New Zealand at the 2014 Global Summit of Women in Paris and at the United Nations on Disability Issues. Minister Turia has left for London this week for a series of meetings and site visits with representatives from Government and the community in areas of housing, inequality and family violence prevention.

The Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia has announced the Disability Action Plan 2014-2018 today. The new plan is a collaborative effort between government agencies and representatives from Disabled People’s Organisations (DPO’s).

“I am pleased with this new collaborative approach. The Disability community is taking a leading role in policy, planning and  implementation. Priority actions will now be developed in consultation with them along with government agencies and other disability sector experts,” says Minister Turia.

The establishment of the New Zealand Sign Language Board is underway with Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia announcing further details today. The Government has committed $6 million over four years to promote and maintain New Zealand Sign Language in Budget 2014.

Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia congratulates Deaf Aotearoa today on the launch of e-book Hairy Maclary during New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The new e-book is a translation of the much-loved story of Hairy Maclary into New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) and was developed by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with Deaf Aotearoa. It is the first digital resource of its kind.

Budget 2014 confirms a range of measures to support New Zealanders who live with disabilities, Disabilities Issues Minister Tariana Turia says.

It includes:

“Celebrate - Communicate - Connect is the theme of this year’s New Zealand Sign Language week and I encourage all of us to celebrate this unique way of communicating and connecting with the Deaf community,” says Minister for Disability Issues, Tariana Turia.

Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia is saddened at the passing of Beverley Grammer, a passionate advocate for the disability community.

“Beverley worked tirelessly so that those who lived with disability and their families have access to information and resources that enable them to manage their own lives and participate fully in the community,” says Minister Turia.

Minister for Disability Issues, Tariana Turia says it has been distressing to hear of the untimely passing of Patrick Wikiriwhi Thompson (Ngāti Pāoa/Ngāti Whangaunga).

Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia has congratulated Attitude Pictures who have been awarded the online broadcast rights for the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

Attitude Pictures is collaborating with NZ On Air, ACC and TVNZ to make coverage of the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games possible.

“Attitude Pictures has continually produced high quality television. Programmes made by the disability community about issues that are important to them,” says Minister Turia.

The Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia says International Day of Persons with Disabilities is an important day for recognising the rights of disabled people and the need to change attitudes and behaviours towards those who live with disability.

Break Barriers, Open Doors: for an inclusive society and development for all is the theme for International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2013.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson and Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia today announced terms of reference and timeframes have been set for a review into building access for disabled people.

The review will look at how the Building Act and Building Code’s provisions relating to access for people with disabilities are being implemented when buildings are first constructed or altered.

The Minister for Disability Issues, Tariana Turia has reiterated her call for all public transport companies to review their policies and provide staff training immediately following further reports of incidents of discriminatory treatment of disabled people and those with pushchairs.

“I was very alarmed at news reports that disabled passengers and those with children and pushchairs are experiencing discrimination while trying to board buses in the Hutt Valley and Wellington,” says Minister Turia.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson and Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia today announced a review has begun into building access for disabled people.

The review will look into how New Zealand Standard 4121, which outlines how people with disabilities can access buildings, aligns with the Building Code and how the Code more generally represents the needs of disabled people.

Minister for Disability Issues, Tariana Turia announced the introduction of a brand new service today to help make government services more accessible to Deaf people.

Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) is being progressively rolled out around the country in key government services. It connects a Deaf person to a New Zealand Sign Language interpreter based in an Auckland call centre via an internet video connection and to a face-to-face meeting with a government service worker.

The Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia announced today that Cabinet has approved a three-year demonstration of Enabling Good Lives in Christchurch, with work starting immediately.   

Christchurch school leavers with disabilities will be the first to benefit from Enabling Good Lives – a new way of supporting disabled people that offers people greater choice and control over the supports they receive and the lives they lead. 

Minister of Disability Issues Tariana Turia has commended the courage of disabled people living in Gisborne and Tairawhiti for sharing their stories in research released today, The Hidden Abuse of Disabled People Residing in the Community; an exploratory study by Tairawhiti Community Voice and Dr Michael Roguski.

“The report is a brave account of experiences of disabled persons living in residential services, institutions, homes and the community,” said Mrs Turia.

The Government has committed to a number of initiatives in Budget 2013 to improve the lives of those who live with disabilities, Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia says.

The Minister for Disability Issues, Tariana Turia has called for Tauranga Bus Company ‘Go Bus’ and all public transport companies to review its policies and provide staff training immediately following a third incident of discriminatory treatment of a disabled resident trying to board a bus.

“I’m alarmed that within the space of a few months two disabled passengers have experienced discrimination while trying to board Bay Hopper buses,” says Minister Turia.

Senior Citizens Minister Jo Goodhew and Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia are pleased to announce the funding of a new advisory service available to Canterbury people planning to re-build or renovate their earthquake damaged homes.

The Office for Senior Citizens and the Ministry of Health are providing a total of $99,000 funding to Enable New Zealand for a free professional advisory service on sustainable housing design.