The Law Commission has published its Second Issues Paper in their review of the law relating to adult decision-making capacity. The Law Commission is seeking feedback how should the law respond when an adult’s decision making is affected — for example, as a result of a learning disability, dementia, traumatic brain injury or mental distress?


We have translated the Second Issues paper as 5 separate documents – and its still quite complex, it’s a complex topic!

1) Key topics - Information sheet
2) Key Topic 1 - Court appointed representatives 
3) Key Topic 2 - Decision making support

4) Key Topic 3 - Enduring Power of Attorney
5) Key Topic 4 - Practical improvements 

Here is the link to all the Key Topics in alternate formats including Easy Read.

https://huarahi-whakatau.lawcom.govt.nz/the-key-topics/

You can find the Submission Form at the above link; submissions are due by 5pm 

Here is the Easy Read documents for:
Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission – Review of Adult Decision-Making Capacity Law

Law Commission – Review of Adult Decision-Making Capacity Law

This is our response to the latest sudden changes by Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People.

On Monday, Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People, announced changes to the Purchasing Guidelines and Equipment and Modification Services (EMS). 

You can find more information about these changes on the Whaikaha website: 




Purchasing Guidelines say what disability support funding can be used to buy, through Individualised Funding, Enhanced Individualised Funding, Choice in Community Living, Personal Budgets or Carer Support.


We know that these changes and the way they were communicated has created a lot of anxiety and confusion for many disabled people, tangata whaikaha Māori, whānau / families and carers. 


These changes are not in line with Enabling Good Lives (EGL) principles and having choice and control. There was a lack of meaningful consultation about these changes. People First NZ is seeking further clarification and our Make it Easy service is working closely with Whaikaha to create Easy Read information about the changes, so the guidelines are clear. We will share the links to the Easy Read information as soon as they are ready.


People First New Zealand will continue to speak up about choice and control with our members, in the community and to government.


Helpful Links:
Sign the petition for re-evaluation: 


Whaikaha Q&A Section for these changes: 

Our response to Whaikaha changes

The People First Annual General Meeting will take place on November 6 2023.

The Annual General Meeting is when a lot of people from People First get together to talk about everything People First has done this year.


The Annual General Meeting is also called the AGM.

You can be part of the AGM in Wellington or by Zoom.

 by 23rd October if you want to go to the AGM.

There is more information about the AGM in the document below.

Notice Of AGM - Easy Read

Notice of Annual General Meeting 2023

Secretariat to Disabled People’s Organisations (DPO) Coalition

You can find an advert and the Position Description below.

Advert for Secretariat to Disabled People’s Organisations (DPO) Coalition

The DPO Coalition has an exciting new opportunity available for an exceptional person to support us. The secretariat will provide a full range of administrative and executive support to the DPO Coalition and DPO Managers. Minute-taking experience is essential. There will be significant variation in the hours worked from one week to the next. This role will be challenging and rewarding. If you live outside Wellington travel will be required.

Easy Read information - Tuesday 9 May 2023


Information about the local state of emergency in Auckland 

Easy Read information about what to do for this local state of emergency including finding an evacuation centre and who to contact if you need support.



Easy Read information about the state of local emergency in Auckland.pdf

Looking after how you are feeling during and after an emergency

Information about mental health wellbeing, who to talk with, and information about 1737: Need to Talk.



Looking after how you are feeling during and after an emergency.pdf

Person-centred care, United Kingdom | May 2020

A guide to managing anxiety for adults with learning disability and autism. There are four activities that can be used to help people feel calmer and more relaxed.



Here is some Easy Read information to assist people with learning disability about the local state of emergency in Auckland.

You may want to read this information with a whānau or family member, friend or support worker.

Local state of emergency in Auckland

Easy Read information if you still need to do the Census.

Here is the Easy Read information if you still need to do the Census:

Easy Read in Word

Easy Read in PDF

 but you can still complete the census after this date. When people complete their census forms, they just fill them out for where they were on 7 March.


Census collectors are visiting households to follow up with people who have not yet completed their census forms and to offer support. Collectors will be in communities offering support until 


People do not need to wait for a census collector to visit. They can complete the census online using any access code provided to their household, or by requesting a new access code through the website 

) for help or to request information in Audio, Braille, Large Print or Easy Read.


NZSL videos with captions in English can be viewed online here: 

https://www.census.govt.nz/new-zealand-sign-language/

There are community places and events across the country where people can get support to complete the census. There will be paper forms available.


Places like libraries do not have paper forms, but offer internet and devices for people to complete the census online.


Find out about places and events in your area by visiting the census website 

A reminder letter will be mailed to some households this week.


Some people may have already completed their census forms by the time the letter arrives. If they have already done the census, they do not need to do anything else and can ignore the letter.

For people in areas impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, there will be more time and support to do the census.


Census collectors will be in affected areas offering help until 


There will be community locations and events that people can go to for guidance on how to fill out their census forms if they have had to leave their homes.

Some people have said they are worried about being prosecuted or fined for not doing their census by 7 March. Fines are sometimes given to people who do not fill in their census, because it is a legal requirement. But this is the last thing we want to do. We want everyone to be counted in the 2023 Census and are working hard to provide the support and assurance that they need.


Stats NZ will be revising the prosecution process for people affected by Cyclone Gabrielle who have been unable to complete the census.


There has also been general feedback from disabled people about the confusing language used in the census. Concerns that neurodiversity is not represented have also been raised. These concerns have been shared with the relevant teams at Stats NZ.

If you still need to do the Census, it's not too late.

The Census team have put out some Easy Read information about the ways you can get assistance to complete your forms for the 2023 Census.


We've also added some of the key information below about the Census collectors, community places and events, and what to do if you're in a flood affected area. There's also contact details and links for more information if you have questions.

2023 Census – it's not too late!

Information in Easy Read to support people with learning disability recover from the floods.

Cyclone Gabrielle: Support from Work and Income – Civil Defence Payments

Information about ways Work and Income might be able to help you if you have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, including help with urgent costs:



General information and links to all alternate formats

Looking after how you are feeling

Here is some Easy Read information to assist people with learning disability to understand what support is available during the recovery from the floods and cyclone.

You may want to read this information with a whānau or family member, friend or support worker.

The North Island floods and Cyclone Gabrielle

Information about the Māori Electoral Option – Te Kōwhiringa Pōti Māori

The Māori Electoral Option is a choice for Māori about which electoral roll they want to be on: the Māori roll or the general roll. Here is some Easy Read about that choice:



The latest Pānui Newsletter updating us about the Crown Response Unit’s progress on their work programme:



Information about the plan to make Aotearoa New Zealand smokefree by 2025 in: 






Complaints and feedback about disability support services

 Ministry of Disabled People | February 2023

Information about how to make a complaint and give feedback about disability support services in:



Cyclone Gabrielle: Support from Work and Income 



Removing barriers: Reasonable accommodation of disabled people in Aotearoa – update

The Disabled People's Organisations Coalition, the Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman | February 2023

Under the Disability Convention disabled people have the right to reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation is making changes that disabled people need to live a good life. This guide helps people to know what reasonable accommodation is and how to do it.



Link to all formats including alternate formats

Finding it hard to keep track of the latest Easy Read documents? Think you might have missed some important information?

Here's a list of the latest information.

The latest Easy Read information

Latest calls for consultation

Cindy says she is “very proud to be recognised with a New Year honour. My son Tyler and others with learning disability have and continue to be my inspiration.”

Cindy’s pioneering influence in the disability rights field started with her experience of being a mum who only wanted the best for her children.

Since she first advocated for her son Tyler, who has Down Syndrome, to attend a mainstream primary school more than 30 years ago, Cindy has blazed her own trail. “His birth really set me off on a whole other journey, unexpectedly, but in a good way.”

Since then, Cindy has worked, both voluntary and professionally, alongside people with a learning disability and their families.

In the 1980s, Cindy set up the Taranaki branch of the New Zealand Down Syndrome Association and served on the Associations national board, two IHC committees, and Kāpiti Special Olympics for many years. She is the current chair of Family Networks NZ.



In her role as national advocate for IHC in the 2000s, Cindy assisted with establishing People First NZ. Today, as the National Manager, Cindy oversees its day-to-day running as a disabled persons organisation, led by and for people with learning disabilities, where members learn about disability rights and speaking up in their life and community.



She has promoted Easy Read, a way of writing in everyday words and images that assist understanding, to be a recognised alternate format. In her role, she also works closely with the Disabled Persons Organisation Coalition to implement disability rights to improve the lives of disabled people in New Zealand.



For the past 6 years, Cindy has assisted People First NZ life member, Sir Robert Martin, to undertake his role as an independent expert on the United Nations committee for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.



One of the most memorable moments of her career was in 2001, when she organised a march involving hundreds of people to Wellington in support of a petition calling for the closure of the Kimberley Centre in Levin.



The day the group arrived at Parliament, then-Minister for Disability Issues Ruth Dyson announced the centre, where people with disabilities were sent to live, would be shut.

And whilst Cindy continues to advocate for deinstitutionalisation, she acknowledges, there is much work to be done, like ending the minimum wage exemption, before our New Zealand communities are truly inclusive of people with learning disability.

, please contact Pip Townsend, Communications Manager:

People First New Zealand are proud of Cindy Johns, National Manager, who becomes an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to people with learning disability.

Cindy Johns receives New Year Honour 2023

This is the space to find out what is happening at People First NZ - from the latest news and Easy Read resources to events and more.

News and events

Law Commission – Review of Adult Decision-Making Capacity Law24/04/24

Our response to Whaikaha changes21/03/24

Notice of Annual General Meeting 20238/10/23

Secretariat to Disabled People’s Organisations (DPO) Coalition28/08/23

Local state of emergency in Auckland9/05/23