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Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People View our
NZSL name

Regional feedback

Specific notes from various talanoa around the country. 

Invercargill - Pan Pacific languages

Strengths Challenges
  • Connection between and within communities is strong given the isolation
  • Thank you for coming to Invercargill, “NZ doesn't end in Dunedin”
  • Service providers strive to share information, but infrequent updates can delay timely communication of system changes
  • Establish a Pacific ‘information hub’ to serve as a resource for families seeking information about disability services and support options
  • Lack of access to information
  • Accessing services in smaller and more rural regions is difficult
  • Challenges faced by those living in rural to semi-rural settings
  • Ensuring the voices of Pacific disabled people are included in development and policies that has meaningful benefit to them
  • ACC funding model can create inequities due to its stringent criteria, limiting access for some individuals
  • Shortage of Pacific professionals in social service agencies limits culturally appropriate support and exacerbates language barriers

Dunedin - Pan Pacific languages

Strengths Challenges
  • Connections within their community
  • Changing of attitudes to disability is slow but encouraging
  • Pacific organisations connecting Pacific disabled community to each other, and to information
  • Focus on improving social and health outcomes for disabled children, youth and their families
  • Would like to see opportunities for elders, pastors to learn about disability as the next group to advocate on behalf of PDP
  • Low expectation of community on what disabled people can do and able to do with proper support that is provided without questions
  • Access to specialist services
  • Language and cultural barriers of health and disability workforce
  • Access to information on housing, health, education, and outdoor spaces
  • Attitudes towards the disabled person
  • Work and Income present challenges, highlighting the need for intentional and effective cross-agency collaboration for disabled people, such as requiring annual form completion for my severely disabled daughter.

Timaru - Pan Pacific languages

Strengths Challenges
  • Awareness of disability in their community is increasing
  • Increase actions to advocate for women and youth with disability in the wider community
  • Establish a disability group within local Pacific churches to promote awareness and dialogue around disability issues
  • Awareness of disability and having strength-based words in their language for it
  • Access to specialist services
  • Transport access
  • Language barriers in accessing disability support services
  • The reach of information on Pacific disability is difficult given the lack of Pacific services in the region
  • Funding should always follow the service user

Christchurch - Pan Pacific languages

Strengths Challenges
  • Strong community identity within island groups
  • Collective values
  • Interested in promoting disability
  • Pacific organisations connecting Pacific disabled community to each other, and to information
  • The priority outcomes, including accessibility and workforce development, must be central to this plan, as many of our families face challenges in these areas
  • Want to grow Pacific disabled people in the disability workforce and in ministries
  • Health and disability workforce not culturally competent
  • Having resources translated in Pacific languages
  • Having more financial support for disability initiatives
  • Raising awareness of disability in churches
  • Lack of cultural competency in health and social sector
  • Capturing accurate data on Pacific communities is important because it directly impacts the services provided to us.

Wellington, Aka Ora – Pasifika and Māori Blind Low Vision NZ members – Pan Pacific languages

Strengths Challenges
  • To serve the needs of our pacific people, we need to have small local region-based services provided by Pacific for Pacific. 
  • How are we monitoring agencies efforts on Pacific disability? We would like this to be forefront of the next Pacific disability Action Plan as part of overall pro equity approach. We know we can do better!
  • Judgement – being seen as disability, the limitations society puts on them, and decisions about their well-being made by other people
  • Misunderstanding – public perceptions and not understanding that they cannot see, lack of accessible and culturally competent avenues of contributing to their wider communities
  • Lack of cultural competency in health and social sector
  • Lack of access to Pacific services for after care after hospital
  • Health, Education, MSD   information often communicated too quickly and with lack of cultural care.

Porirua – Pan Pacific languages

Strengths Challenges
  • Appreciate commitment of Whaikaha to ‘nothing about us without us’ concept, our involvement as a community group from the outset of the Talanoa process has seen so many Pacific disabled people and their families here today to participate and share their views
  • It is important to set up a ‘Pasefika information hub’ where families can access information for services etc.
  • Pacific support groups are working for getting disabled people together to socialise and share information
  • Want to grow Pacific disabled people in the disability and health workforce and in Government agencies
  • Access to information
  • Transport
  • Culturally competent workforce and having safe spaces to talanoa and process information
  • NASC’s provider that speaks up for and does Pacific things for pacific disabled people
  • Lack of Pacific providers in the Wellington region given its large Pacific population
  • The system struggles to connect with Pacific peoples, resulting in delays in the treatment they can receive
  • Faiva Ora Leadership Group must have wider representation from around the country not just Auckland, otherwise our collective disability issues become Auckland issues, which is not the same

Hutt Valley – Samoan, Youth Focus

Strengths Challenges
  • Parents focus on teenager takes away the ability to earn to support the family
  • College does their best to support but only limit to what they are funded for
  • Need to gather and form support groups within churches and places where pacific youth are
  • The Education system plays a key role in ensuring they have the information to prepare families as their young person transitions out of the system into the adulthood system
  • Poverty both economically and in terms of opportunity for youth
  • Lack of services for young people post-secondary schools, real difficulty to seek out where to next
  • Sense of frustration and hopelessness as navigating the system adds to stress and financial burden
  • Not a same size fits all scenario most of the time
  • Pacific growth for carers and a pipeline and career pathway for youth
  • Have flexibility, accessible and reciprocal approach when working with our families
  • Access to part time work

Wairarapa – Pan Pacific languages

Strengths Challenges
  • Drive to be champions within their own communities
  • Encourage those with lived experience to share the challenges of living with a disabled family member 
  • Involvement of churches in supporting families with disability  
  • Difficult to access services in more rural areas
  • Awareness of disability and disability services
  • Want more Pacific disability providers and workers
  • Our pride often hinders us from seeking help and support

Horowhenua – Pan Pacific languages

Strengths Challenges
  • Planning takes a holistic approach to the person and their family’s (whole-of-life)
  • Community hub set up (pacific provider) where families can get support with information
  • Family values important in support of our disabled people
  • Keen to set up more workshops so community are informed of disability
  • Having a connector is helpful in accessing services
  • We have a long way to go in the Pacific community to accept Disability exists and families are silent and non-existent about their daily struggles
  • Ways to support families /parents to learn NZSL –lack of resources i.e. Alphabet
  • Mainstream services to have a workforce that is diverse that can support us
  • Look to set up a one-stop shop makes it easier for disabled people to go to one location for all their needs and information, as well as its accessibility to such place
  • Education to do more to support families with more teacher aide time etc

Hawkes Bay – Pan Pacific languages

Strengths Challenges
  • Starting to gather families with common disability needs to set up groups across the Hawkes Bay region
  • No clear sense that system transformation has or will help Pacific – need a system within so that concerns can be listened to appropriately and families can engage and start trusting. 
  • Not all service providers share information readily and not all information is given when needed
  • Processes to ensure fair allocations across population
  • Funding support to meet needs that unpaid natural supports can’t.
  • Minimal transport options in rural areas
  • There are day programmes – NASC Training of Assessors is insufficient, they should use Workforce that is fully trained and understand Pacific cultural norms 

Waikato – Pan Pacific languages

Strengths Challenges
  • Develop a pipeline for Pacific disabled people to gain higher quals by offering scholarships to further their careers
  • Enhance the Pacific leadership to engage their communities, that will help engage the support needed for families
  • Connect to churches and community, important the visibility of providers in places where pacific gathers
  • Culturally appropriate and early response can support families in need
  • We should look to create a model of NASC that is Pacific, that will also build the Pacific workforce
  • Assessments should not be done on one visit, should be more time allocated so all the information received are accurate
  • Include us in decision making
  • Digital platform can assist families – build knowledge around financial literacy
  • The constant form filling from one agency to another is not fair to families as the same information is provided often results to waiting and no better outcomes

Online webinar – English

Strengths Challenges
  • Acknowledgement from Whaikaha of the community’s contribution to all the talanoa
  • Comprehensive cover of the Pacific disabled community to have a say on what the focus of the plan should be
  • Have we covered those who are in residential – a focus group to be arranged given the small number and wide spread of locations
  • Limited reach due to IT capacity and access to data
  • The system is not equitable – it falls short of meeting our needs
  • Support systems and ties need to be strengthened as pacific people don’t know where to go for assistance 

Auckland (Youth, providers, lived experience, Aiga, elderly) – Pan Pacific languages

Strengths Challenges
  • The strong value of family and faith.
  • Family provides a support system and companionship in overcoming challenges faced. Including families in decision making is the collective's best interest.
  • Collective values underpin Pacific cultures
  • Shared beliefs and values
  • Resilient community identity within Island groups
  • Community connections
  • Having younger employees who can relate to and empathise with youth issues
  • A sense of humour, you don’t need to be serious all the time!
  • Receiving services in our homes, rather than needing to travel to their offices constantly.
  • The lack of resources in Pacific languages
  • Limited employment programs that are specifically set up to support disabled people into work
  • The lack of available tools, information, and resources to help disabled people to achieve their goals, whether through education, career guidance, or other support
  • Tagata Sa’ilimalo (TSM) are vulnerable to enduring financial abuse – It would be great to have access to budgeting services to increase our knowledge of how to protect ourselves so that we are not taken advantage of
  • Culturally aware when they are engaging with our language, cultural values, and protocols
  • Providing safe spaces where we feel comfortable sharing our concerns and asking for help
  • Limited Pacific speaking staff that can engage with our people would go a long way to building a trustworthy relationship.
  • Continuous training for staff: Ensure staff members are trained in disability awareness, sensitivity, and up to date on best practices to provide effective and respectful support.
  • Need for increasing carer services, as family members stay home to look after TSM instead of working.
  • Need to involve families in the planning and support process, recognising their crucial role and insights in understanding the needs of the individual.
  • Need to empower the wider family supports to enable them to provide better care and support for the disabled person.
  • Prioritising the wellbeing of carers, the quality of care for those they support is significantly enhanced.
  • Need help with the excessive cost of living, housing is expensive, not enough money in the household.

National, Youth and Autism focus – Pan Pacific Languages

Strengths Challenges
  • Safe spaces for youth to fully participate as representative of their voice in key decision-making areas.
  • Develop a pipeline for Pacific disabled people to gain higher quals by offering scholarships to further their careers
  • Enhance the Pacific leadership to engage their communities, that will help engage the support needed for families
  • Connect to churches and community, important the visibility of providers in places where Pacific gathers
  • Accessible education through safe spaces in schools, workplaces, places of worship and other community centers
•    Providing funding and scholarships opportunities for Pacific disabled children.
  • Often feel left out, not seen or heard in decision making processes that affect them.
  • Participants highlighted the need for services that are accessible, user-friendly, and responsive to the diverse needs of Pacific disabled individuals and their family.
  • Need for accessible information and communication to empower Pacific disabled individuals and their families to make informed decisions
  • Employment and training opportunities for Pacific disabled individuals to enhance their independence and economic participation. Many Pacific people with disabilities aspire to have meaningful employment and contribute to society through their work.
  • Improvement, including early diagnosis and interventions, support for families and partners, accessibility in education, employment, financial support, cultural competency, funding allocation, inclusion, mental health support, education and training, and respite care.
  • Accessibility to services in rural communities.
  • Limited awareness and understanding for Pacific families around disability.
  • Service providers need to have a deep understanding of Pacific cultures, values, and practices to ensure effective support.
  • Having a balanced workforce with specific ethnic providers, such as Māori for Māori and Samoan for Samoan, can improve cultural competency
  • Advocate for the rights and inclusion of Pacific disabled individuals at a policy level to address systemic barriers and inequalities
  • Financial burden on families should be reduced through the provision of scholarships specifically for individuals with disabilities
  • The transition process in the current system is not working well, causing difficulties for families and caregivers
  • Individuals with disabilities should have more control and autonomy over funds allocated for their support and services.
  • More opportunities for Pacific disabled people to develop leadership skills and have self-autonomy in making decisions about their lives.
  • For families with a PLWD  (specifically autism), a critical concern was ‘safe’ spaces and zones for the PLWD to (a) function within their daily lives in school, work, place of worship
  • Need for Pacific advisory and governance group to ensure ongoing community involvement and leadership in developing and implementing the Action Plan.
  • Collaborate with Pacific community organisations to leverage their expertise and resources in supporting Pacific disabled people and their families
  • Empowering Pacific disabled people and their families to advocate for their rights and needs, ensuring their representation in decision making processes and policy development

Online Survey

Strengths Challenges
  • Family as a source of support for disabled people
  •  Pacific disability support groups
  • Pacific disability providers
  • Support for carers is inadequate
  • Language – need more resources in Pacific languages and NZSL, as well as more interpreters.
  • Access to transport, housing, disability, health and specialist services, and employment
  • Promoting awareness and visibility of disability is crucial for Pacific communities' healthcare providers, educators, employers, social service professionals, and the broader New Zealand community.
  • Mental health and access to mental health support
  • Lack of cultural competency of workforce
  • Data collection
  • Access to earlier intervention
  • I would like to access Pacific disability and legal advocates to help navigate the system and services.