I’ve recently returned to New Zealand from going on the trip of a lifetime. Conquering the steep streets of San Francisco, driving my wheelchair on the road in Barbados because its safer than the footpath and getting swept in the pedestrian stampedes of New York City are no easy tasks. However, all three experiences gave me a greater appreciation of New Zealand. Of course, I have and always will love these beautiful lands of ours, but I now have a deeper understanding of how far we’ve come, how far we still have to go and feeling hopeful that we’re headed in the right direction in creating a fairer and totally inclusive society for all.
This was until I came home to the heart breaking news that we’re in the process of taking a step backwards in this regard. The Canterbury Earthquake Royal Commission released a report that basically said that cost-effectiveness is more important than wheelchair access. Section 112 of the Building Act 2004 currently states that all buildings being renovated or altered after this date have to comply with regulation regarding disability access and means of escape in the event of an emergency. The Commission suggested that this particular section should be amended because many building owners would not be able to afford the whopping 1.3% extra it would cost to make their buildings disabled friendly while they’re in the process of strengthening them. And, surprise surprise, this lovely, progressive, “lets move forward together” government of ours is considering this recommendation.
I can’t believe I have to point out how detrimental and regressive this is. Job opportunities will be further limited than what they already are, and if an employee in a wheelchair is lucky enough to find employment in one of these buildings, would they not want to escape in the event of an emergency?
This world just said goodbye to the greatest leader of our generation. Nelson Mandela showed us that any adversity could be overcome so long as we persist and hold our heads up high. His only mission was inclusion, acceptance and fairness and this is the only mission of the differently-abled community. What I’m seeing in this situation is a total disregard for the disabled voice, as I highly doubt anyone from this particular community of who this act directly affects was consulted, and if they were then they clearly weren’t taken very seriously.
Now, I’m not saying that this is comparable to the brutal regime of Apartheid. Obviously! But what I am saying is that as a nation and as a world, we still have a very long way to go. In all three places I recently travelled to, people are constantly struggling to have the disabled voice heard at the legislative level and I would even go so far as to say that it is one of the most ignored. If we genuinely and sincerely want to continue the great Madiba’s legacy as we so proudly claim to, this has to change.
Hi Latifa – good post for your information and other if interested. Bill wrote this on the standard and he has a link, which has the like to the petition and what other are doing. http://thestandard.org.nz/get-me-inta-here/
If you have a read what going on in Christchurch the people what a disabled friendly city – it’s the government that is moaning like a little boy, who broke his own toys. Because the reality is as we get older, we get less mobile. It really is a no brain argument – but hey politicians are involved, so they only give a stuff about there pockets.
Yes, you are right, it is appalling to see such disrespect towards disabled, especially those with walking impairments, in wheelchairs and on crutches. Also the blind have a major struggle to get around in NZ.
But is it any wonder, in this country, where we did away with the right to sue, for malpractice, medical misadventure, accidents and so forth, all more or less to be covered by ACC, who do only care well enough for those that have temporary impairments, and try all to throw others off their books.
And while building standards (like those in Christchurch) need a review and reform, I feel the Health and Disability Commissioner Act does as well, as we have an office and office-holder there, who do stuff all to address grievances by disabled and sick:
http://accforum.org/forums/index.php?/topic/14923-health-and-disability-commissioner/
Just look at the annual report by that office, where over 1,600 complaints were made, and only about 60 formally investigated, of which only 42 were found to have represented “breaches” against the code of consumers’ rights. Only 16 cases were referred to the Director of Proceedings, who again could have thrown some of them by the wayside, given he has also some “discretion”.
The numbers tell us something, re how the rights of disabled and sick are really treated in this country. It seems that it is rather all about protecting the ones that do things wrong, the doctors and health professionals in their area, and the developers, engineers, architects and builders in their area.
Add to that the dim view towards cyclists in car mad NZ, where there are few proper, safe cycleways in this country, and we know, where there are huge deficiencies, in a country that wants to call itself “developed”!
So where to start, I ask, while surely Christchurch could and should have set new standards?!
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