People First New Zealand

28/02/2026

So good to see our ! Thanks Palmerston North City Council for promoting these awesome Easy Read resources from NZ Civil Defence / NEMA at the Explore Esplanade day.

Explore Esplanade is on Sunday 1st March 10am to 3pm at the Victoria Esplanade in Palmerston North. Pop by for fun and grab your free copy of What to do in an Emergency Easy Read at the Palmerston North City Council stand.

26/02/2026

People First members Neville and Morgan spoke at the Paraparaumu Community Board submit and present a funding application. They did a fantastic job, spoke clearly and the board were very impressed with the speeches.

We are happy to share that our funding application was successful.

Thank you to the , Paraparaumu Community Board for supporting People First NZ, and well done Neville and Morgan!

This funding will go towards running the Kāpiti group meetings.

24/02/2026

Do you live in the Mana area? The People First Mana Local Group is having an Open Afternoon.

Come and learn about People First and our monthly meetings. We will also run a workshop about Speaking Up – self-advocacy and your rights.

Afternoon tea will be provided.

Who can come?
Adults with learning disability who want to find out about being a People First member. Whānau are welcome.

Date and time
Tuesday 24 March, 4pm – 6pm

Where
Linden Community Centre
10 Linden Avenue, Tawa

Please RSVP and contact below.

Contact:
Catherine Mu (Mana Local Assistant) – 022 510 1843
Elizabeth Bennett (Central Region Coordinator) – elizabethbennett@peoplefirst.org.nz

We hope to see you there.

23/02/2026

People First is proud to see our Top of the South Regional President, Lysandra McKenzie at this forum.

Its great seeing leadership at this table and look forward to the positive changes this forum can bring to Tasman and Nelson.

In case you weren’t aware, Tasman District and Nelson City Council share the Regional Accessibility Forum, a collaborative group focused on improving universal accessibility across our region.

The forum looks at how our built environment works (or doesn’t) for people with disabilities - from safe and comfortable walking routes, to access to public transport, to ensuring there are places to rest along the way.

I’m excited to be co-chairing this forum alongside Campbell Rollo Nelson City Councillor.

Accessibility isn’t a niche issue it’s about making our towns and cities work better for everyone.

Would you like to join the forum? Email so we can add you to the list….

23/02/2026

On 19 and 20 February, our Te Puke, Tauranga and Rotorua groups held two free community seminars.

We worked with and Aotearoa Disability Law.

Our members hosted and spoke at the events. For some, it was their first time speaking in public, they did a great job!

Over 50 people came along, including disabled people, whānau and community groups.

We talked about:
• Your rights at school
• Supported decision making
• The PPPR Act, Welfare Guardianship Enduring Powers of Attorney and Wills
• Consumer rights

NZSL interpreters were there to make sure everyone could take part.

Thank you to Your Way | Kia Roha for funding these events.

16/02/2026

Good Lives Wairarapa, People First and are hosting Wairarapa’s second Disability Expo!

When?
Saturday 28 February 2026
9.30am – 3.00pm

Where?
Wairarapa Events Centre, Carterton

There will be over 40 exhibitors from across the disability sector, showcasing products, services and more. Workshops will run throughout the day, with the morning sessions repeated in the afternoon so everyone has a chance to attend the ones they’re interested in. There will also be performances happening during the day.

People First will have a stall, so come and say hello! We’d love to meet you, share what we do, and talk about how you can get involved.

We hope to see you there! 💙

16/02/2026

IHC New Zealand has just released new findings in their Data to Dignity 2026 report. The report shows how people with learning disability are doing in Aotearoa.

People First NZ believes the findings should lead to real action from government agencies and services. This includes better access to healthcare, regular health checks, easier information, and assistance that respects people’s rights and choices.

National Chairperson Desrae Turvey says, “Reports like this confirm what the members already know. People with learning disability are still being left behind. We want action. We want services that listen to us, include us, and assist us to live good lives like everyone else.”

Read People First NZ's full response to the findings:
https://www.peoplefirst.org.nz/news-and-resources/news-and-events/DTD-2026

Read the IHC report here:
https://www.ihc.org.nz/get-involved/advocacy/from-data-to-dignity-2026

14/02/2026

Disability Support Services has shared an update about improvements to:
• How people are assessed
• How funding is decided
• How flexible funding works

To make this information easier to understand, they have created an Easy Read Fact Sheet.

You can read or download it here:
Easy Read PDF:
https://www.disabilitysupport.govt.nz/assets/disabled-people/Easy-read-file-of-Feb-2026-update-on-AAFF.pdf

Easy Read Word version:
https://www.disabilitysupport.govt.nz/assets/disabled-people/Easy-read-file-of-Feb-2026-update-on-AAFF.docx

You can also find more information and other formats here:
https://www.disabilitysupport.govt.nz/disabled-people/changes-to-disability-support-services/february-2026-fact-sheet

These changes might affect the support you get, so it’s good to have a look.

People First New Zealand asks members and families to read this and share it with others.

13/02/2026

Have your say on the Total Mobility Scheme 📢

Ministry of Transport is reviewing the Total Mobility Scheme and wants to hear from people who use it.

They have created an Easy Read online survey here:
https://accessiblesurveys.com/v2/7eMphoYqmKAllvYOsHpz?easyread=true

You can also find more Easy Read information here:
https://www.transport.govt.nz/area-of-interest/strategy-and-direction/review-of-the-total-mobility-scheme

Your ideas and experiences are important. This is your chance to help improve the scheme.

You have until 22 March 2026 to share your feedback.

Please share this with friends and whānau.

12/02/2026

We want to tell you all about the fantastic and free to use Easy Read Library on the People First New Zealand website 🤩 Our library has been created with accessibility in mind so that its easy to use.

The library is the home of all our long term Easy Read like:

- Getting a flu vaccine
- Guide to Supported Decision Making
- How to use Zoom on a phone or tablet

Find over 80 FREE Easy Read documents in the People FIrst Easy Read library at https://www.peoplefirst.org.nz/easy-read-library

12/02/2026

We’re Hiring Local Assistants / Kaiāwhina in:
• Hamilton
• North Canterbury
• Whangārei

Want to make a real difference in your community?

We're looking for three part-time Local Assistants (8 hours a month per local group) to support our People First groups in Hamilton, North Canterbury and Whangārei.

In this role, you’ll be working alongside people with learning disability to:
• encourage learning about self-advocacy and speaking up
• assist members to represent their peers in community forums
• promote the local group within the community

👉 Find out more and apply here:
https://www.peoplefirst.org.nz/join-us
or
https://www.seek.co.nz/People-First-NZ-jobs/at-this-company

Applications close: Friday, 27 February 2026