The 76 questions disabled people want politicians to answer

On Wednesday evening The D*List and Auckland University Disabled Students Association held The Disability Debate in Tāmaki Makaurau.

We had over 70 questions submitted for the debate. Although we couldn’t get through them all, we wanted to publish them - these are the things our communities are concerned about, and want politicians to respond to:

1. How many disabled people are employed within your party?

2. What is your parties view on foreign companies coming to NZ to run drug trials on NZ disabled citizens with that do not appear to have to follow local regulations? Should there be any post approval support for participants on drug trials?

3. What will your party do to support the livelihoods of disabled beneficiaries?

4. In my time at this university and elsewhere, I have not seen the voice of the disadvantaged who are ignored and persecuted by the society being provided adequate platforms. I have not seen the homeless, the poor, the disabled etc. given a platform to speak at. Our voices are utterly suppressed. Our criticisms are utterly suppressed. Only diplomatic voices are encouraged and criticisms are discouraged and suppressed. Our voices die with us. What would you do to ensure that the critical voices of the disadvantaged are provided adequate platforms?

5. Transmissible illness like COVID continue to put strain on the health system. Will your party make Covid boosters available for under 30 year olds?

6. ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis) has seen a surge in incidence due to COVID, yet it remains one of the most under-researched disabilities. Furthermore, the only approved medications are not covered by Pharmac and cost thousands to find out of pocket. How would you ensure proper funding is allocated to its research and treatment?

7. Does your party support creating a disability rights law based on the UNCRPD and Te Tiriti, with enforceable accessibility standards?

8. And access to NZSL interpreters>

9. Will you guarantee essential assessed needs are funded?

10. How can we address the growing number of people with disabilities in poverty?

11. DEI has been mentioned a couple of times which is Diversity Equity and Inclusion which in the employment space falls on institutions but how will you ensure there is belonging once hired. Disabled can be included but they should feel a sense of belonging also

12. What does honouring Te Tiriti in a disability context entail for your party?

13. Do you think Tourette Syndrome should be recognised as a government-funded disability? Labour said they would be interested to receive more information but also believe the election is more important than those suffering from Tourette Syndrome.

14. What will your party do to make the welfare system more dignified and work towards ending poverty?

15. Tāngata whaikaha Māori What would Māori-led disability services mean in practice?

16. would any of the candidates be able to indicate whether or not their party has any standpoint on mandatory RTO working for some public servants be rolled back or amended to allow WFH agreements between some public servants and their employers under a new government?

17. Why can people be declined disability support services before a needs assessment has even occurred?

18. Will you commit to investing in complaint pathways for disabled people to raise concerns about health services, MSD, etc?

19. Ask The Opportunity Party how a beneficiary ( under 65 years) will be impacted if they have inherited land - How will they pay the land tax?

20. The current government has made sweeping cuts to disability support and ACT are proposing cuts of $650 million from disabled people’s benefits. Disabled people can’t face another three years of this. Are you committed to replacing the government so disabled people can have good lives?

21. Does your party plan on making any positive changes to ORS funding and if so what?

22. Is your party committed to making funding for disabled people easier to access?

23. What will your parties commit to implement clean air in schools? This would prevent new and worsening disability

24. If someone’s assessed disability needs cost more than their funding, what happens?

25. ACT wants MSD-approved doctors to reassess people receiving health and disability benefits. Why should their assessment override the person’s own doctor or specialist?

26. What steps will you take to ACTIVELY ensure the Abolishment of DISCRIMINATION and ensure disability rights are progressive within Nz Disabled people are often consulted after life changing decisions have already been made. what specific mechanism would you put in place to ensure disabled people have a genuine decision-making power in policies that affect them, rather than simply being consulted?

27. Are you in favour of legalising or decriminalising cannabis? Yes/No

28. Who has the final say about what a disabled person needs: the person or the government funding the support?

29. The genocide in Gaza has been one of the biggest mass disabling events in history - do you commit to sanctioning Israel, recognising Palestine as a state, and expelling the Israeli ambassador?

30. If a person is unable to consistently manage activities such as cleaning, cooking, self-care, work, study, or community participation because of ME/CFS or Long COVID, what pathway exists for them to access practical support?

31. The NZ First leader says diversity is a bad thing. The current government has stripped diversity provision from the public sector. Are you committed to replacing the current government so disabled people can work? Yes/No

32. Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a Disability rights issue. And the humans rights approach to disability only makes sense in the context of Aotearoa through the lens of Te Tiriti. How will you ensure that iwi, hapū, and whānau hauā are at every decision making table on disability issues in the coming term. Spoilers.. one token role on a committee with non-binding advisory powers won't cut the mustard (see Accessibility Standards Bill)

33. The Greens support disability rights and self-determination. What are your top three funded disability commitments?

34. What are you doing to make our society more accessible for us?

35. Do you believe support is accessible for disabled people in New Zealand, or should accessibility be made easier, or harder?

36. If someone could work but cannot find an accessible workplace, are they really “work ready”?

37. Do you think tv shows should be required to have captions? What would you do about the lack of captioned content?

38. disabled ākonga are protected by the Code of Pastoral Care Act 2021, secondary legislation. There is currently risks of it being dissolved, which will harm disabled ākonga disproportionally and stop them from being able to access needed pastoral and wellbeing support. Will your party protect the PCC and its relationship with disability action plans, yes or no?

39. What steps will you take to urgently resolve the pay equity claims for care & support workers, and learning support workers the workforces that deliver basic needs to disabled people are forced into poverty to do their jobs

40. Does your party have a policy for better pandemic prepardness?

41. Disabled people are having an exceptionally hard time right now to get jobs. What will your party do to help create employment pathways for us? and considering disability support is being gutted what other financial support will you offer those who cannot find employment or cannot work period?

42. Labour says it will replace the Disability Support Services Act 2026. What rights will disabled people actually gain?

43. Will you reinstate the 75% subsidy for total mobility card holders?

44. What will your party do to challenge the disability support services bill as it currently stands?

45. Will you make sure Deaf-Disabled people have more access to funding for NZSL interpreters for work and meetings related to work, education and other vital areas of life?

46. Disability assist dogs including guide, mobility and medical alert dogs are essential mobility aids that enable people to access their community safely and independently. Yet, when these dogs are denied public access or are put at risk by roaming and uncontrolled dogs, it is the disabled person who pays the price through lost independence, safety and freedom. What specific policies, funding and enforcement measures will your party commit to ensuring disability assistance dog handlers can access public spaces without discrimination and dog attacks.

47. Accessible housing in South Auckland (wheelchair accessible)

48. What support will you commit to offering disabled students completing unpaid placements in areas like nursing, counseling, and social work?

49. Does your Party commit to reinstating the 75% Total Mobility subsidy through central government funding?

50. What does “choice and control” mean if the support is outside their budget?

51. Where is the evidence that (your party) care about disable people?

52. How is a system that declines people based on diagnosis rather than functional need consistent with a disability support system that is supposed to be needs-based?

53. What are your aspirations for supporting tangata whaikaha Māori and tangata turi Māori to access culturally appropriate disability support assessments and support?

54. Do you have any policy to amplify meeting digital accessibility requirements (Digital Accessibility Standard in draft lining up with EN 301549 internationally) to lift awareness for everyday NZers businesses, staff (not just government agencies)?

55. (Resending for confirmation) In my time at this university and elsewhere, I have not seen the voice of the disadvantaged who are ignored and persecuted by the society being provided adequate platforms. I have not seen the homeless, the poor, the disabled etc. given a platform to speak at. Our voices are utterly suppressed. Our criticisms are utterly suppressed. Only diplomatic voices are encouraged and criticisms are discouraged and suppressed. Our voices die with us. What would you do to ensure that the critical voices of the disadvantaged are provided adequate platforms?

56. Covid showed employers that flexible working and working from home was possible and enabled some disabled people to work remotely who hadn’t had that opportunity before. The current government has wound back flexible work and work from home making it harder for disabled to maintain work. Are you committed to replacing the current government so disabled people can continue to work flexibly? Yes/No

57. What's your party's position on the Acceptable Standard of Health immigration criteria that treat migrants with disabilities and health conditions, including children, as cost burdens to the state?

58. Does your party have a policy for supporting Long Covid patients access diagnosis and treatment through the health system? If not, why?

59. Will your party change the current policy that ties Supported Living Payment for disabled people to their partners income? Which takes away individuals autonomy, why, why not?

60. the DSA at Victoria university has been advocating for policy change on Metlink buses due to disabled students being denied access, facing hate, and being put in unsafe conditions from drivers. will your party address this in policy and how?

61. If someone’s assessed disability needs cost more than their funding, what happens?

62. Who has the final say about what a disabled person needs: the person or the government funding the support?

63. ACT wants MSD-approved doctors to reassess people receiving health and disability benefits. Why should their assessment override the person’s own doctor or specialist?

64. If someone could work but cannot find an accessible workplace, are they really “work ready”?

65. Labour says it will replace the Disability Support Services Act 2026. What rights will disabled people actually gain?

66. What did the last Labour government fail to achieve for disabled people?

67. The Greens support disability rights and self-determination. What are your top three funded disability commitments?

68. Should family members doing substantial disability support work have employment rights?

69. To NZ First - Your Accessibility Standards Bill aims to remove barriers. What would actually be mandatory?

70. What would Māori-led disability services mean in practice?

71. Name one disability policy your party will not trade away in coalition negotiations.

72. Will you make accessible communication a right in healthcare, rather than something patients have to keep asking for?

73. Before restricting AI, smart glasses or other technology disabled people rely on, will you assess the impact on disabled people?

74. Why should disabled people have to keep asking for access instead of organisations being required to provide it from the start?

75. Will you support independent, disabled-led monitoring of government disability policy?

76. What is your single most important disability commitment, how much will you fund it, and when will it happen?