A bumper edition of disability news
Whaikaha to be restructured, traffic light tyranny, and plenty of Paralympic chat
If you’re still reeling from this week’s avalanche of news - we’ve got you! We’ve sifted through it all to bring you this bumper edition of The D*List Delivered. So sit back, take a deep breath, and let’s dive into it with your friendly D*List editor.
Earlier this week the Minister of Social Development, Louise Upston, announced a new traffic light system that impacts how MSD communicate and enforce sanctions towards people receiving a benefit - including disabled people. Red Nicholson outlines how these changes will likely create further harm. And then a couple days later, the same minister announced Whaikaha would be restructured, with their role and function being drastically reduced 🤯
After Whaikaha restricted the use of individualised funding earlier this year, and a review into the agency was announced, some changes felt inevitable. But these changes go even further than that review had recommended. If you’re still playing catch-up, here’s the latest:
Whaikaha will no longer be responsible for delivering disability support services
It will become its own standalone ministry, responsible for providing advice, monitoring and advocacy across government
The nationwide rollout of Enabling Good Lives is being put on hold
Disability support services are moving to MSD. Upston says “MSD has the controls and capability already in place to better manage this funding”.
The hopeful parts of us wonder if in time, whether there might be a silver lining to be found? Will flexibility in some form be returned? Will Whaikaha be better placed to advocate for disabled people without the burden of commissioning support services?
For now, however, it feels like yet another thing stripped from disabled people. The pipe dream of a Ministry managed by us, for us, delivering the supports we need, seems to be over. We’re also thinking of all our disabled friends working at Whaikaha during this time 🫶
How are you feeling about all this news? We love hearing from you, so hit that reply button and let us know.
This week, the NZ Herald reported on the review of Whaikaha. The review found that the ministry’s establishment was “rushed” and it was “ill-prepared” for the crucial job of commissioning services for people with disabilities. The full report is available to read here, and you can read Minister Upston’s response to the report.
If the Government’s new benefit traffic light system has been confusing news for you - as it was initially for us too! - the NZ Herald has published an explainer on what you need to know about the new sanctions.
The 2024 Paralympics are kicking off in Paris in just over a week, and RNZ has profiled a few athletes represented from the Asian community. Neelam O'Neill will be the first New Zealand female shooter to compete at the games in 40 years.
While many of us are excited to watch the Paralympic Games, the coverage of the games might not feel as extensive as the Olympics. The Spinoff reported this week that TVNZ’s 11-strong Olympics reporting team drops to just one for the Paralympics. TVNZ explained that the Paralympics “is a smaller event” in that 195 Kiwi athletes participated in the Olympics versus 25 Kiwi athletes in the Paralympics.
Kiwi company Adaptdefy, makers of the excellent Lapstacker, now make versions that can be fitted to power chairs! How good 🙌
🌱 Max Cussell and his whānau craft beautiful wooden planter boxes from their home in Tāmaki Makaurau. We were delighted to trial a new accessible prototype that Max has designed especially for wheelchair-users. Ka rawe! 🤩 If you’re interested in growing your own kai in one of Max’s planter boxes, get in touch with Max and his whānau maxfactorie@xtra.co.nz
🥁 Marlo Schorr-Kon is a 21-year-old drummer based in West Auckland. He lives with cerebral palsy, and this piece about his favourite grimy (and accessible) rock venues is influenced by his lived-experience. While his review doesn’t account for every access need, we’d love you to contribute your own perspective to this conversation - get in touch!
🎬 This week, we interviewed Robyn and Jai of Sweet Productions, the duo behind Wheel Blacks: Bodies On The Line. We chatted about why it’s important for disabled people to tell our own stories and the value of seeing ourselves reflected on screen in an empowering way.
📺 Watch Wheel Blacks: Bodies On The Line on Sunday 18 August at 8.30pm on Sky Open, and on Neon from 19 August. The three-part doco series explores how wheelchair rugby encourages a sense of community among peers with the same lived experience.
🚴 What do you think about the UK Channel 4’s Paralympic advertising campaign Considering What? It features posters of disabled athletes with phrases like: She’s incredibly fast and ‘for someone in a wheelchair’ is crossed out, and: What a tackle with ‘given his condition’ striked out. They’re phrases many of us a familiar with - I’ve heard ‘She’s too young… to be in a wheelchair' one too many times 🥲 So reply to this email and let us know your thoughts!
🍎 We quite enjoyed this wee film from Apple, highlighting the similarities between disabled and non-disabled athletes. Yes, it’s also one giant ad for the richest company in the world, but hey, we’ll take some positive representation any way it comes!
📧 If you’re trying to keep track of all the ways in which this Government is impacting the lives of disabled people and our whānau, Emily Writes has got you covered, with an extraordinary compilation of cuts, changes and capitulations.
In solidarity, as always,
- Olivia Shivas, Editor
