It certainly doesn’t appear so.

Let me detail the gross under-representation of disability issues on the campaign trail so far:

• Public meetings held at inaccessible venues (read: heaps of stairs)
• No mention of disability in any of the main candidates manifestos/policies
• No reassurance that current disability advocate roles within council will exist under the new Auckland Council

Quite simply, disability isn’t on the agenda. And given that the Rugby World Cup is just around the corner, not only is it an embarrassing omission by the mayoral candidates, it’s also downright stupid. You can expect many of the visitors to our shores next year will use a mobility aid of some kind, whether it be a wheelchair, cane, or even glasses. And don’t forget they’ll be bringing family and friends with them, so by ignoring accessibility issues (let alone making them a priority!) a huge economic opportunity is being wasted.

This is interesting. I have a lot of love for Tariana Turia, and I personally think Paula Bennett was always going to be a little bit preoccupied wither her Social Development portfolio. Let’s hope this makes it a little bit easier for disability issues to get some ‘airtime’, eh? The Disability Issues portfolio has been transferred from Paula Bennett to Tariana Turia, Prime Minister John Key has announced. In addition, Pansy Wong will be appointed Associate Minister for Disability Issues.

Apologies for not posting this sooner – some of you may have liked to be involved? Hopefully you are anyway. For updates on the Hikoi’s progress, check out The NZ Herald or search Twitter. CCS Disability Action Northern Region will join the hikoi/march on Monday 25 May in support of IHI Action Group (Iwi Have Influence). This action group is leading the opposition to the establishment of Auckland Super City without reserved Maori seats as proposed by the Royal Commission

Not impressed, Mr Obama. Not impressed at all. Hopefully the YouTube video below will stay live for you all to see this, but the gist of it goes that Jay Leno is asking Barack Obama if he has kept the bowling alley in the White House. Obama replies that yes, he has kept it, and that he even shot a “126″ the other day. Leno scoffs, as if to imply the score is a little pathetic, and Obama jokes that

Cabinet Minister Rodney Hide’s recent comments regarding building regulations have outraged the disability community in New Zealand. On TVNZ’s Close Up programme Rodney Hide recommended that a Christchurch businessman should break the law and not follow accessibility guidelines in building regulations because it was too costly. CCS Disability Action, the largest pan-disability support provider in New Zealand, believes Mr. Hide’s comments were irresponsible and based on ignorance of critical issues in peoples lives and relegate disabled people to second class

As you may be aware, two of the last major acts to visit New Zealand, Westlife and Eric Clapton, have both set exorbitant pricing for the wheelchair section Auckland’s Vector Arena. Both times I was able to lobby Vector Arena on my readers’ behalf, who then in turn spoke to the promoters, and convinced them to lower the wheelchair pricing to a more reasonable level, in line with what other consumers pay. With international rock act Coldplay announcing a one-off

Not only is he a magnificent orator, and the new President of the United States (a fact I’m sure many of us Kiwis are pleased about!), he also seems to have the right line of thinking when it comes to disability. In the YouTube video below, he supports ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as a number of other initiatives relating to education, healthcare, and independent living. Let’s hope he follows through!

Attitude TV takes a look at the minor political parties and their disability policies as we approach polling day. Check out the YouTube video below, and if you missed it, watch Ruth Dyson’s interview here.

If you missed my interview with NZ’s Minister for Disability Issues, the Rt Hon. Ruth Dyson, or perhaps you’re still undecided as to what Labour intends to do for disabled New Zealanders if re-elected for another term, check out Attitude TV‘s Grant Sharman as he grills our first ever Minister for Disability Issues.

I’m sure you all know it’s election year. On second thoughts, it seems a few of you don’t, but I digress. On Thursday the 14th of August, there will be a pre-election forum with all of the political leaders who will shape the future of the disability sector in Auckland. Representatives from Labour, National, NZ First, United Future, and the Maori party will be in attendance, all there to discuss the topic: What support will Auckland Disability Providers receive from