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Submissions

Kaipara District Council Kaipara Proposed District Plan

Posted in Submission, Regional; Tagged Accessibility, Parks and recreation; Posted 8 months ago by DPA Less than a minute to read

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To: Kaipara District Council
Date: June 2025

 

Purpose

This submission is to engage with the Kaipara District Plan to ensure that the needs of disabled people are integrated as a central and essential component of the council's planning for growth and community development.

Summary of DPA submission

DPA, emphasized that accessibility is an "essential and central component" of planning for Kaipara's growth, not merely an add-on. The submission acknowledged Kaipara District Council's staff involvement with the Taitokerau Regional Accessibility Strategy, however were disappointed that it was not adopted by the KDC Councillors.

DPA notes that Northland has a 23% disability population rate and an aging population, reinforcing the need for an inclusive Kaipara.

The document states that accessibility affects every area of disabled people's lives, including choices about where to live, learn, work, play, access to transport, public spaces, information, and leadership positions. A key concern raised is the Council's non-adoption of the Tai Tokerau Regional Accessibility Plan and the lack of a formal disability advisory mechanism within its governance structures. The submission also addresses specific barriers faced by rural disabled residents and the disenfranchisement of tangata whaikaha Māori disabled people due to the disestablishment of Māori wards.

 

Key Recommendation/Finding:

DPA asks the Council establish a Disability Advisory Group to ensure disabled people's voices are elevated in planning the future of Kaipara.

 

Supporting Statement 1:

For disabled people, accessibility is not an add on but an essential and central component of planning for Kaipara’s growth.

 

Supporting Statement 2:

DPA asks that all council decision-making bodies consider the needs of disabled people and that engagement processes fully involve disabled people and disabled people’s organisations in all aspects of decision making.

 

 

Download

DPA Submission 2506 Kaipara District Council Kaipara Proposed District Plan (DOCX)

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