After writing that wee rant last week about Countdown’s wonderful new inaccessible self-service checkout kiosks, it got me thinking about better alternatives. I struggled at first to think of any company, either in NZ or overseas, that takes universal access seriously enough to incorporate it into any of its product design. And then it hit me. Our much-lauded national carrier, Air New Zealand, have these amazing checkin kiosks in their domestic terminal, one of which is not only totally accessible to those in wheelchairs but clearly signposted too!

You can see the great signage in the picture above, and let me tell you, these are an absolute treat to use. I fly with Air NZ quite frequently, and even though my visits require a trip to the special assistance counter to speak with airport staff, I always check in using the kiosks first, because it’s just such a wonderful experience. Sure, the user interface is great, and the process is simple, but the fact they care enough to put in a dedicated kiosk for those with limited mobility?

Well that, as they say, is priceless.

Horrifying news coming out of Indonesia. From the NZ Herald: New traffic laws passed in Indonesia require disabled pedestrians to wear signs identifying them as handicapped. AFP reports that amendments to local Traffic and Transport Law says “handicapped pedestrians must wear special and clear signs which can be easily recognised by other road users.” Politician Ahman Muqowam told the news agency that the laws were designed to protect disabled people. “This is a humanistic act. It’s for their safety on

It’s being reported that those distasteful Cadbury dyslexia advertisements I mentioned a few days ago have been pulled, as a result of numerous complaints. Good to hear Cadbury’s listening, but let’s be honest: these never should’ve gone up in the first place. Link to NZ Herald story

Oh yup. And how, exactly, is that meant to work? Cheers to Matt from CCS Disability Action for the image

Apologies for the somewhat convoluted heading. However as it turns out, the below image depicting a (presumably) able-bodied guy sitting in a chair with wheels attached to the sides, is far from a quirky gimmick to attract customers. In fact, it’s part of an advertising campaign by Australian agency JAM to convince punters that drinking and driving is a bad idea. This ambient portion is backed up by a print campaign, which you can read here or by clicking on

A fully inclusive cafe

Firstly, apologies for the shoddy image quality, but my god, what is this lift signage trying to say?! I actually cracked up when I saw it. I’m not quite sure how I never noticed it before. I’ll leave it up to your interpretation, but it sure is um, interesting…