Accessibility Statement

This accessibility statement is for the website at www.whaikaha.govt.nz external URL .

‘Accessibility’ means designing things that disabled people can perceive, use, and understand.

How we support accessibility

We support accessibility by:

• providing alternate formats
• including accessibility in our policies
• training our staff
• checking our websites for issues, keeping track of issues, and fixing them
• responding positively to complaints
• delivering on the Accessibility Charter external URL
• working to meet the NZ Government Web Accessibility Standard external URL .

Accessibility Charter

MSD is a signatory to the Accessibility Charter external URL . The Accessibility Charter is a commitment to providing accessible information to the public. As part of this commitment, we developed a 5-year programme of work. We have a dedicated team to carry out this work.

Alternate formats

Contact us if you need information in alternate formats, such as:

• Easy Read
• New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL)
• Braille
• audio
• large print
• plain text.

In your message, include:

• the web address (URL) of the information you need
• the format you need — for example, Braille.

Feedback

Contact us if you find accessibility issues on this website. We aim to respond to feedback within 3 business days.

Formal accessibility complaints

To make a formal complaint, follow the complaints information on the Whaikaha website.

If you make a complaint and you're not satisfied with the response, you can learn about your options from:

• the Human Rights Commission external URL
• the Ombudsman external URL .

Conformance status

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) external URL defines requirements for web accessibility. This website aims to conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA. We are progressively working to become fully conformant to WCAG 2.1 Level AA.

Compatibility with browsers and assistive technologies

This website should work with common browsers and assistive technologies, such as:

• Safari with VoiceOver on iOS
• Edge with JAWS on Windows
• Chrome with NVDA on Windows
• Chrome with keyboard-only input on Windows.

Assessment approach

This website’s accessibility was last checked by MSD in November 2023 by:

• evaluating selected pages against WCAG 2.1 Level AA
• testing selected pages with assistive technologies.

Approver of this statement

Digital Accessibility Team

Ministry of Social Development

Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora

Last statement review date

28 November 2023