People First New Zealand

People First New Zealand We are a Disabled People's Organisation that is run by and for people with learning disability.

People First New Zealand - Ngā Tāngata Tuatahi:

- advocates to the Government and media about the rights of people with learning (intellectual) disability
- supports grassroots self advocacy in communities across NZ
- provides courses taught by people with learning disability on self advocacy, the UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities and Employment Rights.
- has an Easy Read translation service creating documents that are accessible for people with learning disability. We want the People First New Zealand page to be a:
- positive place for people
- a place to get factual information
- a place where people’s stories can be shared in a safe space. We reserve the right to remove comments that:
- are rude, obscene, indecent, or uses profane language
- are threating or have defamatory or false statements
- are personal attacks or insulting statements directed towards an individual or group of people
- have hate speech directed at race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, religion, body shape, or disability
- have false claims or misinformation; we are guided by information provided by government and public health services
- are repetitive or “spamming” (the same comment posted multiple times). The views expressed in comments reflect those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views of People First New Zealand.

The National Ticketing solution is a programme that will make it easier for people to pay for public transport anywhere ...
18/11/2025

The National Ticketing solution is a programme that will make it easier for people to pay for public transport anywhere in Aotearoa New Zealand.

It will give customers simple, easy-to-use ways to pay when they travel.

Motu Move is the name for the National Ticketing Solution.

Motu Move is now available on all bus and ferry services in Christchurch City, Selwyn and Waimakariri.

Motu Move will also roll out to more towns and cities over time, so more people can use the same system wherever they travel.

Find out more about using Motu Move in Christchurch City in this Easy Read:
https://nzta.govt.nz/assets/Walking-Cycling-and-Public-Transport/docs/motu-move-christchurch-leaflet-easy-read.pdf

You can find out more about Motu Move here:
https://nzta.govt.nz/walking-cycling-and-public-transport/public-transport/national-ticketing-solution/motu-move

National Day of Reflection - Central RegionPeople First NZ held 6 events across the country for the National Day of Refl...
17/11/2025

National Day of Reflection - Central Region

People First NZ held 6 events across the country for the National Day of Reflection.

We held one in Whanganui on the 12 of November. We visited Sir Robert’s grave to remember and honour him and Lady Lynda put flowers on his grave.

These events were for members of People First to come together to reflect on and raise awareness of the history and impact of abuse in care.

All events were successful with hundreds of members from across the country attending.

You can read the full press release here: https://www.peoplefirst.org.nz/news.../news-and-events/NDOR

National Day of Reflection - Midsouth RegionPeople First NZ held 6 events across the country for the National Day of Ref...
16/11/2025

National Day of Reflection - Midsouth Region

People First NZ held 6 events across the country for the National Day of Reflection.

Our first event was on 8 November in Christchurch.

These events were for members of People First to come together to reflect on and raise awareness of the history and impact of abuse in care.

All events were successful and hundreds of members from across the country attended this day of acknowledging, remembering and looking to the future.

You can read the full press release here: https://www.peoplefirst.org.nz/news-and-resources/news-and-events/NDOR

We are hiring!We are looking for 12 people to work with us across the country.If you have a disability and a passion to ...
11/11/2025

We are hiring!

We are looking for 12 people to work with us across the country.

If you have a disability and a passion to make sure disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori are leading their good life, are receiving quality services and are safe, we would like to hear from you.

People for Us is a new peer visiting service for disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori living in residential homes to check if they are living a good life, getting good support and are safe.

You can find more information here:
peoplefirst.org.nz/join-us

People First Wellington and Kāpiti members had a great visit to the Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People offices!Brian...
04/11/2025

People First Wellington and Kāpiti members had a great visit to the Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People offices!

Brian Coffey invited us to come and meet the team. We were welcomed with a mihi whakatau, learnt some New Zealand Sign Language, and sang the waiata Te Aroha.

After that, we enjoyed morning tea and got to talk with senior staff, including Paula Tesoreiro. We also met many other Whaikaha staff and talked about People First and the work we do.

Everyone said they had a fantastic time and felt very welcome and valued.

Here’s a photo of Jerome, the Central Regional President, and some of the Kāpiti members with Brian outside the Whaikaha offices.

Parafed Bay of Plenty and Hanberg Foundation Partnership organised an Amazing Race event in the Rotorua Redwoods Forest ...
04/11/2025

Parafed Bay of Plenty and Hanberg Foundation Partnership organised an Amazing Race event in the Rotorua Redwoods Forest on Saturday, 1 November.

Local Assistant Ramil Jacinto, the Rotorua group set up a stall as one of the race stations. The activity featured the Safety Net Cyber Card Game, where participants stopped to draw a card, answer a cyber-safety question, and then continued to the next station.

The participants really enjoyed playing the game, and the Rotorua members did a fantastic job presenting it.

Members shared that they loved being part of the event and having the chance to talk to the community about People First.

Ka pai, Rotorua group – great mahi!

Auckland Council wants feedback from locals on plans for A F Thomas Park in the Wairau area.The park will be changed to ...
04/11/2025

Auckland Council wants feedback from locals on plans for A F Thomas Park in the Wairau area.

The park will be changed to help protect the community from future flooding and to make it a great place for everyone to enjoy.

The consultation is open from Monday 20 October to Sunday 23 November 2025.

You can read the Easy Read information about the project here: https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/download_file/6421/1234

You can find more information here: https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/af-thomas-park

For the past year, members of the Dunedin group have been working with Flamingo Scooters to help make local footpaths sa...
29/10/2025

For the past year, members of the Dunedin group have been working with Flamingo Scooters to help make local footpaths safer for everyone.

Last week, members Julia Young, David King, and Peter and Karena Wilson-Winterburn met with Callum Hunter from Flamingo Scooters and John Marable from Access for All to celebrate their work together with an afternoon tea.

Weather Warnings across the country.There are red and orange weather warnings across parts of the country. Please take c...
22/10/2025

Weather Warnings across the country.

There are red and orange weather warnings across parts of the country. Please take care and stay safe.

You can read Easy Read information about what to do to get ready for a storm here:
https://getready.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/documents/alternate-formats/easy-read/pdf/easy-read-storms-info-en-apr23.pdf

You can find more Easy Read information on the Get Ready website:
https://getready.govt.nz/alternate-formats/easy-read

Red Warning Areas
North Island (Lower): Wellington region, Wairarapa – strong winds, big waves.
South Island: Canterbury – strong winds, heavy rain.

What to do:
• Stay inside in a safe place.
• Stay away from trees – they might break.
• Don’t go outside unless you really need to.
• Power and internet might go out.
• Tie down or put away anything outside – strong winds can blow things around and cause damage or injury.

Orange Warning Areas
North Island: Manawatū – Dannevirke, Masterton areas – strong winds, heavy rain.
South Island: Marlborough – Blenheim, Kaikōura areas, Otago, Southland – heavy rain, strong winds.

What to do:
• Put away or secure things outside.
• Make sure drains are clear so water can flow.
• Best to stay home or inside.
• If you must go out, be very careful.

Have you checked out the new Being safe online module on our web-tool?Each course includes real People First members act...
21/10/2025

Have you checked out the new Being safe online module on our web-tool?

Each course includes real People First members acting out situations to help make learning fun and easy to understand.

This project was part of Phase 2 of the Digital Citizens Framework by Hohepa Canterbury, working in partnership with Netsafe and People First and supported by the Ministry of Social Development NZ.

Check out the new module:
www.learnwithus.org.nz

Address

Level 5, 175 Victoria Street
Wellington
6011

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 3pm
Tuesday 10am - 3pm
Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Thursday 10am - 3pm
Friday 10am - 3pm

Telephone

+6443813242

Website

http://makeiteasy.org.nz/, http://www.peoplefirst.org.nz/, https://www.linkedin.com/company/

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Our Story

People First: - advocates to the Government and media about the rights of people with learning (intellectual) disability - supports grassroots self advocacy in communities across NZ - provides courses taught by people with learning disability on self advocacy, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Employment Rights. - has an Easy Read translation service creating documents that are accessible for people with learning disability.