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Submissions

Auckland Council Annual Plan 2025-2026

Posted in Submission, Regional; Tagged Accessibility, Emergency management, Transport; Posted 18 months ago by DPA Less than a minute to read

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To: Auckland Council
Date: March 2025

 

Purpose

This submission’s core purpose is to advocate for a fully accessible, inclusive Auckland that actively plans and invests in meeting the needs of its significant and growing disabled and older population. DPA seeks equity of access for disabled ratepayers across all council services and projects, including transport, the built and natural environments, economic and cultural development, and local government operations, while also ensuring the distinct voices of disabled people are heard in all decision-making processes.

Summary of DPA submission

DPA highlights several key positive initiatives from the last year, including Council’s engagement with the Auckland disability community on emergency preparedness, providing accessible formats (NZSL, Easy Read) for some consultation documents, and the development of accessible playgrounds.

DPA notes that Auckland’s disability community, who directly or indirectly pay rates, often cannot use services or attend events because they are inaccessible, stressing the need for equity of access. They reiterate the need for investment in affordable, accessible, active public transport, including road safety, walking, and cycling improvements.

DPA would like to see Council work towards free public transport for Total Mobility and Community Services Card holders and asks that no further increases in transport fares are made due to disabled people being disproportionately high users.

DPA recommends that Council conduct an accessibility audit on the 'Making Space for Water' programme and engage with the disabled community during this process. DPA stresses that Council’s contractors need to be regularly reminded of Council’s commitment to Universal Design, as anecdotal evidence suggests inaccessible or ineffective build designs are common.

DPA has made many submissions on accessible playgrounds and cites Mission Bay as an example of an inaccessible playground. DPA suggests that the best way to get quality advice on accessibility improvements is through Council contracting Barrier Free auditors.

DPA also supports that tangata whaikaha Māori disabled people’s organisations are involved in the design of fully accessible marae, as well as having representation on the Tūpuna Maunga Authority.

DPA recommends that Total Mobility and community service card holders are not charged the bed levy, and that there should be an exemption for Auckland residents.

DPA also advocated for Council to continue investing into emergency preparedness alongside disabled people and keep working collaboratively to implement disability responsive solutions to emergency preparedness and responsiveness.

 


Key Recommendation/Finding:

A central recommendation is that Council contractors with all major builds and building upgrades are required to commit to Universal Design and accessibility needs to be included in all the investment impact assessments.

 


Supporting Statement 1:

“New homes should be designed and built to suit a wide range of households, including individuals and whānau who have accessibility needs.”

 


Supporting Statement 2:

“Feedback included in Kāinga Ora’s own policy said 15% was too low, and the target for full universally designed homes should be 100%.”

Download

DPA Submission 2503 Auckland Council Annual Plan 2025/2026 (DOCX)

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