26 Mar 2024
Launched today, the Tapatahi Accessibility Policy and Action Plan 2023 – 2028, is a guide for Creative New Zealand and outlines the ways it will work inclusively for all New Zealanders, with a focus on Deaf and disabled artists and arts practitioners, turi Māori (Māori Deaf), tāngata whaikaha Māori (disabled Māori) and disability communities.
To develop the policy, Creative New Zealand worked with Manga Tipua, a reference group of Deaf and disabled artists, policy and disability rights advocates to understand and address barriers and access issues in Creative New Zealand’s services, information and funding.
The co-design approach was instrumental in creating a process that demonstrated a commitment to equity, Deaf and disabled leadership, value and integrity – the four principles that underpin the policy.
Stace Robertson, Lead Accessibility Advisor at Arts Access Aotearoa and a specialist advisor to Manga Tipua, says the policy recognises the contribution that Deaf and disabled artists make to the arts sector, and will open doors to new artistic opportunities.
“This policy represents a cultural shift for Creative New Zealand and sets new ways of working,” he says. “It’s been a huge privilege to support this process over the past two years, and I appreciate the care and consideration Creative New Zealand staff have taken. They understand the importance of this policy and worked hard to build valuable relationships with the community.”
Kellye Bensley, member of Manga Tipua, says, “This accessibility policy from Creative New Zealand is important because it is designed by tāngata whaikaha and turi whānau. I think it is the perfect role model for accessibility in terms of creating – if a policy is made together, in partnership, then it achieves access for all people.”
Erin Gough, co-chair of Manga Tipua, recommends that organisations wanting to create an accessibility policy take their time.
“Be led by the people in the group. And how they want to work – it may not fit within your perceived timelines, but the end result will be worth it,” says Gough.
Rodney Bell, co-chair of Manga Tipua, says the policy is about learning from each other.
“What I am hoping the accessibility policy achieves is discovery. For us to discover a way forward is to acknowledge the old, and to shift our consciousness to being more collaborative in relationship to what access for all means,” he says.
This policy is a big step in the right direction says Chief Executive Stephen Wainwright.
“Our partnership with Deaf and disabled artists, disability rights advocates and leaders to develop the policy has been crucial in achieving a policy that we feel confident will guide us to be a truly inclusive and approachable organisation for New Zealanders,” he says.
The purpose of the policy is twofold: to assist Creative New Zealand internally and the broader arts ecology who want to do better in this space; and to serve as a starting point to encourage conversations and action from organisations wishing to improve their accessibility.
The policy actions and promotes the vision of the New Zealand Disability Strategy. The seven-point action plan ensures effective and positive change will be implemented across Creative New Zealand.
Access the Tapatahi Accessibility Policy and Action Plan 2023 - 2028 and the alternate formats
Changes implemented to date include:
- ensuring Creative New Zealand’s website, funding portal and funding processes are accessible and inclusive and can be accessed by people using assistive technologies such as screenreaders
- supporting anyone who applies for funding and needs support to make an application through our Supported Application Service
- providing an additional $5000 towards access costs on top of funding awarded to Deaf and disabled artists, or those who experience disability or impairment, under specific funds
- providing a range of communication options for people to get in touch with our funding advisers
- using plain language in all our written communications and publishing our key research and organisational documents in alternative formats
- continuing to work in partnership with Manga Tipua other key organisations to ensure we have Deaf and disabled leadership across our mahi and specialist Deaf and disability knowledge.
Background information:
- In 2013, a total of 1.1 million New Zealanders (24 percent) identified as Deaf or disabled.
- This policy is guided by principles and rights reflected in:
- the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa Act 2014
- Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- the New Zealand Disability Strategy
- the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Bill of Rights Act 1990, Human Rights Act 1993, New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006 and Plain Language Act 2022.
- The policy has been developed by Creative New Zealand working alongside turi Māori, tāngata whaikaha Māori, Deaf and disabled arts and disability rights leaders in the Creative New Zealand Manga Tipua Accessibility Reference Group. Creative New Zealand has also consulted with Deaf and disabled artists and a range of disability arts, rights, and advocacy organisations.
- Four principles express Creative New Zealand’s commitments to working accessibly and will guide the way we go about our mahi (work) and make decisions:
- Mana Tautika – Equity
- Te Mana Whaikaha Hei Kaihautū – Leadership by Deaf and disabled people
- Iti Kahurangi – Value
- Ngākau Pono – Integrity
Share this
