Photo: 123RF
It's been a year since the Government established Whaikaha - the Ministry of Disabled People. It was launched at the same time that Health New Zealand and the Māori Health Authority took effect. The new ministry promised a commitment to delivering "bold and transformational change" for the disability community, announcing over one billion dollars of new funding for the sector. The government also promoted the ministry as an opportunity to realise "true partnership" between Government and disabled people, their whānau, carers and supporters. So one year on, has it shifted the dial for New Zealanders living with disabilities? And how is its partnership with Māori working? Kathryn speaks with Joanne Dacombe, the president of the board of the Disabled Person's Assembly and Tania Kingi, the former general manager and now researcher at Te Roopu Waiora, a kaupapa Māori organisation supporting Māori with disabilities.
