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AUTUMN 2025 InTouch | 5 NEWS ROUNDUP CRICSTARS.CO.NZ fi n d o u t m o r e ! CRICSTARS INCLUSIVE CRICKET Our programme is fun, relaxed and driven by the needs of our participants. CricStars is Aucklands only adapted cricket programme for kids with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. We use the core skills and values of cricket to improve our participants lives, and allow them an opportunity to fall in love with cricket. CRICSTARS.CO.NZ fi n d o u t m o r e ! I INCLUSIVE CRICKET Our programme is fun, relaxed and driven by the needs of our participants. CricStars is Aucklands only adapted cricket programme for kids with physical nd/or intellectual disabilities. We use the core skills and values of cricket to improve our participants lives, and allow them opportunity to fall in love with cricket. and barriers to banking services will be addressed. Local Government New Zealand The Coalition met with Nelson City Mayor Nick Smith and his counterparts at Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ). LGNZ are seeking feedback on how to modernise election processes for local government. Submissions to respond to the discussion paper ( https://www.lgnz.co.nz/policy- advocacy/key-issues-for-councils/ local-electoral-reform/ ) closed on 19 January 2025. The DPO Coalition focused on barriers to participating in elections for disabled people, although LGNZ has a wider remit. This included conveying the importance of online | internet voting for disabled people. Disability Support Services Taskforce | Ministry of Social Development The DPO Coalition met with Chris Bunny, Deputy Chief Executive Disability Support Services and Kat Norman, Communications Lead, Ministry of Social Development from the Disability Support Services (DSS) Taskforce. We raised elements of concern about the recent online survey not being easy to complete for the community. We also discussed how the DPO Coalition could feed into planning around recommendations 5 and 6 from the DSS review. The Coalition are planning to have a workshop with the DSS Taskforce in February 2025 to discuss further. Whaikaha | Ministry of Disabled People The DPO Coalition met with Whaikaha in November and December 2024. The Coalition discussed several issues including: • restructuring of Whaikaha; • progress on the planned Cabinet Paper on the UNCRPD and the United Nations’ 2022 Concluding Observations; • the planned refresh of the New Zealand Disability Strategy; • representation of the disability community in Whaikaha’s work going forward. The Cabinet Paper will be proactively released and alternate formats will be available at the same time early in 2025. The Coalition looks forward to learning about outcomes of the Cabinet Paper, and when the Cabinet Paper will be released. Te Whatu Ora | Health NZ The DPO Coalition met with Rachel Noble, Head of Disability, Office of the Chief Executive, and colleagues Karen Bartholomew, Leo Goldie- Anderson and Leisa Epplett from Te Whatu Ora. We discussed the Patient Profile National Health Index (PPNHI) project, which looks at making disability information easier to access through the National Health Index (NHI) system used in healthcare. The Coalition are excited by recent developments and look forward to implementation of the project.