FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2 April 2013

Hui An Opportunity For Maori With A Disability To Have Their Say

CCS Disability Action’s Northern Region is running a series of community hui for Māori with a disability to provide a platform for voices that are often marginalised. It’s hoped that the hui, dubbed Karanga Maha, Many Voices, will attract Māori from iwi and hapu across Auckland and lead to stronger guidance and presence from Māori. Three separate hui are being held from 10am-3pm on Wednesday 3 April, Thursday 4 April and Tuesday 9 April at Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae at Manukau Institute of Technology, Otara.

“We want to see Māori with a disability taking leadership in their own lives, in the life of their community and shaping service delivery to ensure it’s done in a way that’s culturally appropriate for them,” says Dairne Kirton, member of CCS Disability Action’s Local Advisory Committee. “I’m excited that we’re creating a space where we can hear the voice of our people – it’s about shifting the power back to the person so we can create supports to enhance their mauri (life force),” she says.

The hui are an acknowledgment that the needs of Maori are often not fully met by disability support providers because their voice is absent. “Many Maori are disengaged with the supports within their community and with agencies. As a result our people are often doubly disadvantaged. They can easily become cut off from their culture, they face the same social and economic challenges that the rest of the Māori population face plus have to negotiate the barriers that all disabled people in Aotearoa.”

For Recenia Kaka who is organising the events they’re about bridging these cultural barriers through grassroots experience and feedback.

“I’m hoping whānau will take the time to attend so that we can have a chance to hear their aspirations and vision for their own life. We’d like to know what people would change. Where are the gaps for them? What’s working well? We hope that by hearing the call of a number of voices we can improve the lives of Hunga Haua Maori,” explains Mrs Kaka.

The event is open to all, whether people are currently supported by an agency, or may have dropped out of a service provider because it wasn’t working for them, or they may receive no support at all.

www.Northern.ccsDisabilityAction.org.nz

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CCS Disability Action Background Information

CCS Disability Action works in partnership with disabled people, their families, and whānau to ensure equality of opportunity, quality of life, and by helping to create environments of inclusion. New Zealand is made up of disabled people, their families, and whānau; CCS Disability Action aims to assist all people who face barriers on the basis of disability.

CCS Disability Action delivers regular services to over 5,000 people with disabilities, making us one of the largest disability support service providers in New Zealand. We also administer the mobility parking permit scheme which has over 114,000 permit holders. CCS Disability Action works closely with other disability agencies to make the best use of shared knowledge and resources, helping us to adopt best practice across the sector. CCS Disability Action also works with government to make sure that those with disabilities have the same rights to relationships, learning, work, recreation and community as everyone else.

Our foundation statement, Te Hunga Haua Mauri Mo Nga Tangata Katoa, forms the basis of our identity. It reminds us that all people have mauri (life force) and that all life force is equal. Our vision is to build a truly inclusive New Zealand, a country that embraces diversity.

ENDS

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