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.

Last Thursday, People First member Craig and Regional Coordinator Holland ran a Speaking Up Workshop with Papanui High t...
16/09/2025

Last Thursday, People First member Craig and Regional Coordinator Holland ran a Speaking Up Workshop with Papanui High transition students.

The course went really well with everyone getting a certificate at the end!

One student shared: “I learned about speaking up for myself and my choices.”

Great mahi team!

A bit of news from us!On Sunday People First members Ronnie, Philippa and funding manager Sandy went to Sharjah in Unite...
15/09/2025

A bit of news from us!

On Sunday People First members Ronnie, Philippa and funding manager Sandy went to Sharjah in United Arab Emirates to attend the Self-Advocacy Summit by Inclusion International

Ronnie was invited to take part in the Congress opening film. He had only a few minutes to prepare and a few words to share his dream.

We will be presenting about Easy Read and accessible formats soon!

This week is Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week)!There are free and paid events happening across Aotearoa, incl...
14/09/2025

This week is Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week)!

There are free and paid events happening across Aotearoa, including singing waiata, fun te reo Māori games, quiz nights and more.

Find events near you: https://www.reomaori.co.nz/events

You can also celebrate by sharing and printing free resources to learn te reo Māori with friends and at meetings:
https://www.reomaori.co.nz/resources

Ngā mihi.

The Nelson and Richmond People First groups went to the Te Tauihu Accessibility Expo.It was a great day with lots of peo...
11/09/2025

The Nelson and Richmond People First groups went to the Te Tauihu Accessibility Expo.

It was a great day with lots of people interested in People First. We also had some new members join and made good connections with others in the community.

Great mahi from the members! Thanks to everyone who came along.

On Saturday 6 September, Whakatāne members went to the community launch of the Te Kaunihera ā-rohe o Whakatāne - Whakatā...
09/09/2025

On Saturday 6 September, Whakatāne members went to the community launch of the Te Kaunihera ā-rohe o Whakatāne - Whakatāne District Council's new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy.

The members were part of making this policy through the Whakatāne Accessible and Inclusive Group. They were very pleased to see the finished policy and were especially happy that there was an Easy Read version.

The event had a guest speaker and a panel discussion about why the policy is important and what it means for our community. Members also joined a “Where to next” workshop and shared that they want to see an Action Plan and to be part of making it.

This was a great opportunity for our members to have their voices heard.

Do you live in Christchurch?Many Hats Theatre Company have a new show called Octopus.Featuring live music and original s...
08/09/2025

Do you live in Christchurch?

Many Hats Theatre Company have a new show called Octopus.

Featuring live music and original story telling, this performance explores the experiences of the performers with honesty, creativity and impact.

Come and be part of a performance that is authentic, thought provoking and unlike anything you've ever seen before.

Come along to see a performance that is honest, different, and will make you think.

Show dates:
Wednesday 17 September, 7–8pm
Thursday 18 September, 7–8pm
Friday 19 September, 7–8pm

Tickets:
Waged $15 + booking fee
Unwaged $10 + booking fee
Accessible $10 + booking fee

You can buy tickets on: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/many-hats-presents-octopus/christchurch

Many Hats Theatre Company is made up of actors with lived experience of disability. Taking a number of individuals with little or no theatrical experience and introduce them to a wide range of performance techniques. Everything from poetry and puppets to improvisation and verbatim theatre.

Tauranga members Sharyn and Cara went to the Arts Access Aotearoa Hui last week.Sharyn and Cara are both artists who do ...
08/09/2025

Tauranga members Sharyn and Cara went to the Arts Access Aotearoa Hui last week.

Sharyn and Cara are both artists who do drawing and painting.

They shared what Arts Access means to them and to other artists with learning disability.

They also talked about how important it is to get support with funding, and to have more chances for their art to be shown and sold.

Sharyn was part of the Creative New Zealand Manga Tipua Deaf & Disabled-led Accessibility Reference Group from 2022 to 2024.

She helped with the Tapatahi Accessibility Policy and Action Plan 2023–2028. Sharyn said it is good to see the policy and plan guiding the work now.

Well done to Cara and Sharyn for their great mahi.

The Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston has announced changes to disability support services, following consult...
02/09/2025

The Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston has announced changes to disability support services, following consultation earlier this year.

These changes apply to people who get their supports through a Needs Assessment Service Coordination organisation (NASC). They do not apply to Enabling Good Lives (EGL) sites.

The changes will not happen straight away.
• From February 2026, new people using Disability Support Services will come under the new changes.
• From April 2026, people already receiving DSS-funded supports will move to the new changes.

The main changes are:
• People will have more choice and control over flexible funding.
• The purchasing rules will be removed.
• People will be given a budget they manage within, with guidance to help.
• All NASCs will use the same assessment process to make decisions fairer and more consistent.
• Families and carers will be included in assessments when that is relevant.

More than 1,800 disabled people, families and carers took part in consultation about services. The Minister says the feedback helped shape these changes.

For more information, visit: www.disabilitysupport.govt.nz

On Monday Whakatane local group had their September meeting, the group looked at the Disability Strategy 2026-2030 feedb...
02/09/2025

On Monday Whakatane local group had their September meeting, the group looked at the Disability Strategy 2026-2030 feedback in the meeting, 10 members attended the meeting.

This is a long document, they asked questions and had lots of discussion among them.

Members said they wanted to see Enabling Good Lives Principles in the strategy and that it will be put in good practive.

If you're in Wellington today come see us at the What's Outside the Box Transition Expo!Where?Ākau Tangi Sports Centre72...
01/09/2025

If you're in Wellington today come see us at the What's Outside the Box Transition Expo!

Where?
Ākau Tangi Sports Centre
72 Kemp Street
Kilbirnie, Wellington

Awesome to have some of our Central members connecting with the community.

Want to make a difference in people's lives?If you have a disability, and/or a passion for making sure disabled people a...
01/09/2025

Want to make a difference in people's lives?

If you have a disability, and/or a passion for making sure disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori live good lives, get quality services, and are safe, we’d love to hear from you!

People for Us is a new peer visiting service for disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori living in residential homes across Aotearoa New Zealand.
It is funded by Disability Support Services and run by People First NZ.

About the roles:
Part-time roles available (10–15 hours per week)
Kaiārahi / Peer Worker - Person with disability who leads the visit
Kaiāwhina / Assistant - Person who assists the Kaiārahi / Peer Worker

About the job:
You will work alongside another person to visit people in residential homes.
Together, you will talk with people about:
• What safety means to them
• What good support looks like
• What makes a good life

Locations: Counties Manukau, Waikato, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty, Palmerston North, Nelson/Marlborough.

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you!

Apply here: https://www.seek.co.nz/jobs?advertiserid=61464434&jobId=86834797

Alternate formats available here: https://www.peoplefirst.org.nz/join-us

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.