New Zealand Disability Strategy Working Group members

In March 2025, Working Groups were established to develop actions in five areas of focus, health, education, employment, housing, and justice.  Each working group is made up of people with lived experience of disability, cross-agency government officials, industry or sector experts, and will be supported by officials from Whaikaha.

Learn more about the members in each Working Group using the arrows to navigate.

Housing Working Group members

Community rep and Chair: Daniel Clay (Ngāti Whātua)

Daniel has experienced the challenges and opportunities faced by young disabled people through his 12-year-old daughter who has cerebral palsy and is a wheelchair user. Daniel is on the board of directors of the Cerebral Palsy Society of NZ Inc and is currently President and Chair.

Daniel is Chief Executive of an iwi-owned investment entity which operates in the housing sector partnering with national housing developers and working with organisations such as Kāinga Ora and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. Prior to his current role, Daniel was a practising lawyer for 20 years, holding partnership positions with two national law firms for 10 years. His legal specialties included public law, local government, and environmental and planning law.

Sector Rep: Ali Hamlin-Paenga (Te Aitanga ā Mahaki, Ngāti Kahungunu)

Ali is Chief Executive of Te Matapihi which is an independent, national body advocating for Māori housing, assisting with policy development, and supporting the sector's growth by providing advice, facilitating collaboration, and sharing resources and information. 

Prior to her role as the CEO of Te Matapihi Ali was the Chair of the Te Matapihi board taking on the CEO role to reset the organisation. She was the CEO of Ngati Kahungungu ki Poneke and Poua ki Raro Community Housing and is also currently the Chair of the Australasian Housing Institute New Zealand branch.

Community Rep: Renata Kotua (Ngāti Toa Rangatira)

Renata brings significant experience in governance and leadership roles. As an advocate for disabled people, she provides consultation to client organisations and is training workshop facilitator. Renata works as a disability and inclusion consultant for Mind Matters, a workplace psychology firm. She draws on her lived experience as hine whaikaha Māori navigating the health system, pursuing an education, facing the many challenges of working and finding suitable accessible accommodation.

Renata has Congenital Cerebral Palsy, which affects her gait, balance, coordination, and ability to walk long distances. She is driven to improve outcomes, combat stereotypes, and shift societal assumptions about what disabled people can achieve.

Renata has a special interest in psychology and in wellbeing from a Te Ao Māori perspective. Her previous and current governance and leadership roles include Vice President of the Cerebral Palsy Society, Disability Advisor for Auckland Council, and trustee positions with Whaikaha and Your Way Kia Roha.

Renata has supported research projects focused on reducing inequity for disabled people, including in the areas of driving, ageing, and reproductive health, collaborating with institutions such as the University of Auckland, The Liggins Institute, the Starship Foundation, Donald Beasley Institute, Te Kupenga Hauora Māori, and the NZ Cerebral Palsy Register.

Sector Rep: Geoff Penrose

Geoff has been General Manager of Lifemark since 2014 and is a member of CCS Disability Action’s national leadership team. Lifemark was established in 2008 to promote Universal Design principles of adaptability, accessibility, usability, safety and lifetime value in this country.

Prior to Lifemark, Geoff was the Chief Executive of Qualmark New Zealand and was also a business consultant in Europe, Asia and the Pacific. Since 2011, Geoff has volunteered for Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s assurance panel. The council is a United Nation’s initiative to establish and manage sustainable tourism standards across six continents.

Community Rep: Christine Potts

Christine is disabled and acknowledges the diversity of lived experience across the disability community. Based in the Bay of Plenty, Christine has experience of the disability sector within government departments such as Enabling Good Lives at the Ministry of Social Development, the Office for Disability Issues, DSS at the Ministry of Health and within non-government organisations such as CCS Disability Action. While Regional Manager for CCS Disability Action in Te Tai Tokerau she established the Whangarei Accessible Housing Trust. In Waikato Christine coordinated Council housing for older people and later managed home support services for older people across Waikato and Bay of Plenty for a community provider.

The group will also include representatives from Housing and Urban Development Te Tūāpapa Kura Kainga (HUD), Kāinga Ora and the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE)