National Pacific Disability Action Plan
Updated: 16 April 2024
Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People is developing a National Pacific Disability Plan and wants to hear from Pacific disabled people and their aiga or whānau (family).
The National Pacific Disability Action Plan, co-developed with the community, will help guide changes to the disability support system and services for Pacific people that Whaikaha manages.
By co-developing this plan with the community, we make sure that the Pacific community’s needs and goals guide important changes that understand and appreciate their culture.
Share your experiences with us
We have a survey with alternate formats, and we are organising a series of talanoa (conversations) around the country. We invite all Pacific disabled people and their aiga or whānau to share their experiences with us.
The talanoa are supported by the leadership of the Pacific community. By attending these talanoa you will ensure the voices and experiences of Pacific disabled people and their families are heard, honoured, and reflected in our plan.
We want to know the challenges experienced by Pacific disabled people, what systems are currently working well or not so well, and how we can make the system and sector better for them and their aiga or whānau.
The information you provide, either through the in-person talanoa or the survey, will also enable Whaikaha to accurately reflect and advocate for the changes that Pacific disabled people and their families have been calling for.
Upcoming Talanoa
If you cannot currently see a talanoa for your region here, they are still being planned and we will update this web page as they are confirmed.
- Tuesday 30 April 9:30am: Wellington Porirua, Pataka Arts and Museum, Helen Smith Room
If you are unsure if your region will be included, please contact us at pacificpeoples@whaikaha.govt.nz or text 4206.
Kai (food) will be provided at each talanoa.
Online survey
As well as our talanoa sessions, a survey with alternate formats is available for Pacific disabled people and their aiga or whānau to share their experiences.
Learn more in a video message from Tofa - Programme Lead at Whaikaha. This video has NZSL, optional captions and a transcript is available below the video.
Video transcript
Tēnā koutou katoa , mālo ni, fakaalofa lahi atu, kia orāna, tālofa lava, mālō e lelei, talofa, noa'ia, ni sa bula vinaka, mauri, kia ora and warm greetings to you all.
My name is Tofa and I am the programme lead for Pacific at Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People.
Whaikaha is developing a National Pacific Disability Action Plan and we want your help!
This Action Plan will help guide changes to Whaikaha disability supports and services for Pacific people.
We have been holding talanoa across the country to help us understand what life is like for Pacific disabled people.
We know that not everyone could get to these talanoa. So we have also developed a survey for you to fill in. The survey is on our website. It’s available in English, New Zealand Sign Language, Braille, Audio, Easy Read and Large Print.
By completing our survey, you will help Whaikaha reflect and advocate for the changes that Pacific disabled people and their aiga have been calling for.
Thank you to those people we have already met during the talanoa. It has been humbling to hear about your daily struggles and challenges.
To everyone else, we hope you will complete our survey, so that National Pacific Disability Action Plan that we bring back to the community truly reflects the hopes and ambitions of the Pacific disabled community.
This survey is available until 12 May and takes about 30-120 minutes to fill out.
You can take part in the survey if:
- You self-identify as a Pacific Disabled Person
- Or, if you are family, whānau, aiga or carer of a Pacific Disabled Person
- If you are at least 16 years old OR are supported by your caregiver to fill out the form if you are under 16 years of age
You can fill out the National Pacific Disability Action Plan survey external URL on SurveyMonkey or see other ways to complete the survey below.
Other ways to complete the survey
If you would prefer to respond to our survey by sending a video, audio message, or via email, you can email it to us at pacificpeoples@whaikaha.govt.nz.
If you would prefer to print out the word document version (DOCX 79KB) or Easy Read version (DOCX 9.7MB) of the survey and post it to us, you can send it to:
- Tofa Suafole Gush
- Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People
- Reply Paid: 262204
- PO Box 1556. Wellington 6140
If you have any questions email pacificpeoples@whaikaha.govt.nz or text 4206.
Alternate formats of the survey
- NZSL – Pacific Disability Action Plan survey external URL
- Audio – Pacific Disability Action Plan survey (MP3 4.4MB)
- Braille – Pacific Disability Action Plan survey (BRF 8KB)
- Large Print – Pacific Disability Action Plan survey (DOCX 74KB)
- Large Print – Pacific Disability Action Plan survey (PDF 200KB)
- Easy Read – Pacific Disability Action Plan survey (DOCX 9.7MB)
- Easy Read – Pacific Disability Action Plan survey (PDF 3.2MB)