I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of the Disability Advisory Panel will be held on:

Date:

Time:

Meeting Room:

Venue:

Monday, 4 August 2025

12.00pm

Room 1, Level 26
Te Wharau o Tāmaki - Auckland House
135 Albert Street
Auckland

Ngā Hui a te Rōpū Kaitohutohu Take Hunga Hauā / Disability Advisory Panel

OPEN AGENDA

MEMBERSHIP

Co-Chairperson	Martine Abel-Williamson
Co-Chairperson	Barry de Geest
Members	Ryan dos Santos Meechan
	Amy Hogan
	Aine Kelly-Costello
	Lavinia Lovo
	Gerard Martin
	Lorraine McQuigg
	Chris Orr

(Quorum 5 members)

Milly Athy-Timmins

Kaitohutohu Mana Whakahaere / Governance Advisor

30 July 2025

Contact Telephone: +6427 205 6495

Email: milly.athy-timmins@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

TERMS OF REFERENCE

(Excerpt – full terms of reference available as a separate document)

The terms of reference set out the purpose, role and protocols of all Auckland Council demographic advisory panels. Panel members abide by the Code of Conduct for members of Auckland Council advisory panels.

Purpose

As one of council’s engagement mechanisms with diverse communities, the demographic advisory panels provide advice to the governing body and council staff within the remit of the Auckland Plan on the following areas:

· Auckland Council’s regional policies, plans and strategies

· regional and strategic matters including those that Council-Controlled Organisations deal with

· any matter of particular interest or concern to diverse communities.

Outcomes

The panel’s advice will contribute to improving the outcomes of diverse communities and social cohesion as set out in the Auckland Plan. The panels will advise through their agreed strategic agenda and detailed work programme.

Strategic agenda and work programme

The panel must develop a work programme and set a strategic agenda for the term. The agendas should be focused and integrated across the panels for collaborative input into shared agendas, particularly in relation to the Auckland Plan, the Long-term Plan and regional policies. The panels should advise on council’s operational and organisational strategies relevant to diverse communities.

The panels may also consider whether they wish to choose, shape and support a project they feel passionate about as part of their work programme.

The governing body and council staff should work with the panels for the development of their strategic agendas and work programme. The Planning, Environment and Parks Committee will approve the panel’s work programme and any subsequent major changes to it.

Submissions

The panel cannot make formal submissions to Auckland Council on council strategies, policies and plans, for example, the annual plan. However, the panel may be asked for informal feedback during a consultative process.

In its advisory role to the council, the panels may have input to submissions made by the council to external organisations but do not make independent submissions, except as agreed with the council.

This does not prevent individual members being party to submissions outside their role as panel members.

Review

The form and functioning of the panels may be reviewed prior to or after, the end of the panel’s term in September 2025.

Disability Advisory Panel

04 Aug 2025

Progress report - DEI & Accessibility Tick

File No.: CP2025/15544

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. Provide an update on the Accessibility Tick accreditation process.

2. Update the panel on disability related Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) initiatives underway for kaimahi.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

3. We have successfully completed the assessment phase of the Accessibility Tick accreditation process and are currently eagerly waiting on the report from the New Zealand Disability Employer’s Network (NZDEN) to understand where our gaps are.

4. Once we have the report we will be doing a comprehensive round of stakeholder engagement across the functional areas and our staff networks to prioritise initiatives for the coming year and beyond via a to-be-created Accessibility Action Plan.

5. NZDEN will be checking in with us each quarter to monitor our progress and are available at all times to support us as needed.

6. While we are waiting for the Accessibility Tick report we are not resting, we have a number of initiatives underway to improve accessibility and inclusion for our disabled and neurodiverse kaimahi which include disability confidence training, improved guidance for management of reasonable accommodation requests, building more neurodiversity awareness, measuring kaimahi engagement, department DEI action plans and a provisional model drafted for kaimahi to disclose disability and/or long term conditions.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Disability Advisory Panel:

a) whiwhi / receive the presentation.

b) tuku / provide feedback or advice on the provisional data collection model for our new HR system.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇨	Presentation - DEI Update, Disability Advisory Panel - August 2025

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Max Wallace - Senior Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisor

Authorisers

Wendell D'Cunha - Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Reward

Jonathan Benge - Disability Advisory Panel Co-Lead Officer

Disability Advisory Panel

04 Aug 2025

Accessibility Initiatives in Parks

File No.: CP2025/16213

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To update the Disability Advisory Panel on recent accessibility assessments, key findings, and share progress on improving online accessibility information for parks.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. In November 2024, the Parks Advisory team presented to the Disability Advisory Panel on our ongoing work to assess park’s accessibility. We also sought the panel’s feedback on online accessibility information, including digital maps.

3. This report provides an update on the work Parks Advisory have undertaken since November 2024.

4. Parks Advisory completed accessibility assessment of 19 new sites, with a range of local and regional parks. In addition to past assessments, Parks Advisory identified key recurring issues that hinder usage for people with access needs.

5. To address these issues, Parks Advisory is working with specialist teams within Parks and Community Facilities (PCF) to ensure that accessibility continues to be embedded into operations, investigations and design, and project planning.

6. We also found that reliable online accessibility information is lacking and submitted a business case to improve parks content on the Auckland Council website. The project is in early planning and awaits prioritisation.

7. The Parks Advisory team presented to the Disability Advisory Panel in November 2024. This presentation covered the teams’ ongoing work around assessing parks’ accessibility. It also invited the panel member to provide feedback on online information and mapping accessibility through static and digital maps.

8. Since November 2024, we have completed 19 new assessments across three local board areas and five regional parks. In total, 39 park assessments have now been completed.

9. While we continue to assess additional parks, the volume of data collected provides a clear understanding of recurring accessibility barriers across the wider network.

10. Ongoing assessments are still valuable, helping to highlight site-specific issues and raise awareness with elected members and council staff.

11. Assessments are guided by our Accessibility and Inclusivity Checklist, developed by Parks and Places Specialists and the Universal Design Team, covering the full visitor experience.

12. A consistent issue identified across accessibility assessments is the lack of reliable, clear online information about accessible park features.

13. Parks Advisory is exploring improvements to accessibility information sharing, including changes to the ‘Find a park or beach’ webpage, which is part of the Auckland Council website, and a digital map that shows accessible assets.

14. This work is in the early stages, and currently waiting on prioritisation before development can begin.

15. We will inform and seek feedback from panel members when this project moves out of the backlog.

2024/24 local board assessments accessibility

16. We conduct annual accessibility assessments for local boards, typically covering around 12 parks each year, and deliver local boards with detailed reports at no cost to assist with planning and improvements.

17. Between December 2024 and April 2025, Parks Advisory undertook assessments within the Rodney, Kaipātiki and Papakura Local Board areas.

18. The resulting reports include short-, medium- and long-term recommendations tailored to each park. Exemplars of assessment reports can be found in Attachment A and B. Specific reports can be shared upon request.

19. Parks Advisory has presented these findings to elected members, with all three local boards adopting the full reports and the underlying universal design principles.

20. Rodney Local Board has allocated $100,000 in additional funding to address identified issues in the draft 2025/2026 work programme to progress priority improvements.

21. PCF staff will progress the recommended actions from the assessment reports, typically through renewal programmes.

22. The reports will assist work programme leads and project managers to scope upgrades and estimate additional costs, ensuring improvements are prioritised based on need.

23. Recommendations that cannot be implemented immediately will be considered for future renewal phases.

Accessibility assessments within regional parks

24. Auckland’s 24 regional parks offer important recreation and nature experiences. Accessibility is a key outcome in the 2022 Regional Parks Management Plan.

25. Parks Advisory completed accessibility assessments at five high-use regional parks, selected for geographic spread:

· Shakespeare Regional Park

· Long Bay Regional Park

· Waitawa Regional Park

· Ambury Regional Park

· Gannet Colony (Muriwai Beach).

26. The Accessibility and Inclusivity Checklist was updated to reflect regional park needs, including trails and campgrounds, and aligns with Recreation Aotearoa’s new Outdoor Accessibility Guidelines. For personal interest, the webpage to view Recreation Aotearoa’s new Outdoor Accessibility Guidelines can be found here.

27. The resulting reports provide regional parks staff with practical short-, medium-, and long-term recommendations.

28. We aim to continue this work to support more inclusive access across the regional park network.

29. While some issues are similar to those in local parks (e.g. toilets, parking), regional parks face additional challenges due to size and terrain. Particularly around access to tracks, viewing points, and beaches.

30. The Regional Parks team is currently considering three initial areas of focus:

· Improvements to parking and toilet facilities

· Accessible camping options

· Accessible trails.

Recurring accessibility issues within our parks

31. Parks Advisory identified similar recurring issues across all assessed parks. These issues impact visitors with access needs and limited equitable use of the parks’ assets and facilities.

32. Attachment A provides a table summarising the common recurring issues identified, along with recommended actions to address these.

33. All assessed areas of parks have had issues identified. Some issues identified are:

· Accessible parking not marked properly,

· facilities and furniture not being connected to an accessible path,

· signage being mis-positioned and not readable, and/or

· accessible toilets being too small, missing fixtures, having small steps or narrow entrances.

34. This list and the table in Attachment C are not exhaustive and are supposed to give an idea of recurring issues, park-specific issues and recommendations may vary.

35. To address these issues, Parks Advisory is working with internal teams across PCF to embed accessibility into standard project planning and renewal processes.

36. This includes presenting and upskilling relevant staff on universal and accessible design and explore options to ensure (where feasible) accessibility is considered early on in project scoping and treated as a core requirement, rather than an add-on.

Updating Auckland Council online information and creating a digital accessibility map

37. Assessments consistently highlight a lack of clear and reliable online information around accessible features within our parks.

38. Parks Advisory previously raised this issue during our presentation to the Disability Panel in November 2024, where we sought feedback on static and digital accessibility maps.

39. The panel highlighted that maps alone are not sufficient and that accessible information must also be provided in clear text format. In response, Parks Advisory is exploring broader website changes to support the inclusion of both map-based and text-based accessibility information.

40. Parks Advisory is exploring updates to the ‘find a park or beach’ webpage on the Auckland Council website and development of a digital map to display accessible assets across the park network. This could:

· clearly display park-specific accessibility features

· enable users to filter and search for accessible assets

· ensure information is accurate, standardised, and regularly updated

· improve transparency, inclusivity, and public engagement.

Rationale and alignment (online information and accessibility map)

41. Improving digital information is a cost-effective and immediate way to support visitors with access needs, while physical upgrades are underway.

42. This initiative aligns with the Auckland Plan, Disability Operational Action Plan, and several local board objectives.

43. In March 2025, Parks Advisory submitted a business case to the Continuous Improvement Team and Technology Services to introduce and progress this project. However, it is currently in the backlog, with no confirmed timeframe.

44. As the proposed changes would involve updates to the Auckland Council website, the project must go through official internal processes. This includes sponsorship from Parks and Community Facilities, oversight by the Continuous Improvement Team, and delivery by the Digital team.

45. We are working with these teams to explore a solution, though implementation may take up to a year due to stakeholder involvement and prioritisation.

46. Once this project moves from the backlog and direction is confirmed, we will seek further input from the Disability Advisory Panel to help guide the projects implementation.

Next steps

47. Parks Advisory is currently undertaking or planning the following actions:

· Continue accessibility assessments to provide site-specific recommendations for parks.

· Continue to embed accessibility into Parks and Community Facilities operations, investigations and design, and project planning.

· While broader website updates are backlogged, we will share assessment findings with the Digital teams to enhance the “Find a Park or Beach” webpage by adding information and additional photos to park listings.

· Advocate for a digital accessibility map and website updates through memos and presentations to leadership and elected members.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Disability Advisory Panel:

a) whiwhi / receive the Parks Advisory team presentation.

b) whakamihi / thank the Parks Advisory team for their update.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇨	Shoesmith Reserve Accessibility Assessment
b ⇨	Long Bay Regional Park Accessibility Assessment
c ⇨	Table Key Accessibility issues and recommended actions within parks
d ⇨	Presentation - Disability Advisory Panel Updates on Parks Accessibility Initiatives

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Sophie Heusel - Parks Project Specialist

Authorisers

Thomas Dixon - Principal Parks Advisor

Jonathan Benge - Disability Advisory Panel Co-Lead Officer

Disability Advisory Panel

04 Aug 2025

Experience of Disabled Aucklanders in Medium Density Housing: Update

File No.: CP2025/16244

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To provide the Disability Advisory Panel with an update on the research project: Experience of Disabled Aucklanders in Medium Density Housing (MDH).

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. Ten in home immersions were completed.

3. First draft of Technical Report completed.

4. Technical Report to go for Internal Review July 2025.

5. The objectives of this study are to:

· Explore how well the design of MDH are accommodating the needs of disabled Aucklanders by understanding how they are experiencing living in their homes.

· Record modifications (both planned and completed) to homes and functionality of spaces following modification.

· Record impact on participant and their whanau of completing modifications (e.g. financial, disruption, etc.)

· Include participants with of a range of disabilities and long-term conditions including those with physical (e.g. stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy), sensory (e.g. blind/low vision, deaf/hard of hearing), intellectual/cognitive needs (e.g. Down syndrome) and neurodiversity (e.g. autism) and mental health conditions (e.g. depression, anxiety). It was anticipated that 10-15 households would be recruited.

6. The following steps have been completed:

· Ethics approval was received for this study from Aotearoa Ethics Research Committee in December 2023.

· Participant recruitment commenced March 2024.

· Ten in home immersions were completed April-August 2024.

· First draft of the Technical Report was completed January 2025.

· The following step is in progress:

· Final drafting of the Technical Report.

7. The next steps for this study are:

· Technical Report to be internally reviewed by two staff members.

· Research dissemination and development of guidance.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Disability Advisory Panel:

a) whiwhi / receive the update on the research project: Experience of Disabled Aucklanders in Medium Density Housing.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇨	Presentation - Experience of Disabled People in Medium Density Housing Aug 2025

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author	Elise Copeland - Principal Specialist-Universal Design, Urban Design
Authoriser	Victoria Wicks-Brown - Principal Advisor Panels

Disability Advisory Panel

04 Aug 2025

Review of the Terms of Reference - Disability Advisory Panel Perspective

File No.: CP2025/16246

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. This item provides an opportunity for the Disability Advisory Panel to provide its perspective on Council’s demographic advisory panels’ Terms of Reference.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. When making decisions, the council is required to consider the diversity and interests of communities across the Auckland region.

3. One of the Mayor of Auckland’s responsibilities is to ensure effective engagement between the council and Aucklanders - including those too young to vote. 

4. The Mayor also holds the authority to establish engagement mechanisms tailored to specific communities, whether demographic, geographic, or sector-based.

5. Advisory panels are one such mechanism, helping the council meet its legislative responsibilities and enabling elected members and staff to gain insights from specific communities of interest.

6. Through the lens of lived experience, advisory panels provide advice to the council on:

· Regional policies, plans, and strategies.

· Regional and strategic matters, including those handled by council-controlled. organisations such as Auckland Transport.

· issues of particular interest or concern to their respective communities.

7. Nine demographic and sector panels were established for the 2022–2025 term: Youth, Seniors, Pacific Peoples, Ethnic Communities, Rainbow Communities, Disability, Rural, City Centre, and Small Business.

8. The panels are governed by their Terms of Reference. The demographic advisory panels’ Terms of Reference are attached as Appendix A.

9. The panel’s reflections and recommendations on the current terms of reference would be welcomed.

10. The panel is asked to discuss and provide feedback on the current Terms of Reference, identifying any aspects it believes could be strengthened, clarified, or added to better support the panel’s purpose and effectiveness in the next term.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Disability Advisory Panel:

a) arotake / review and provide feedback on the current Terms of Reference, identifying any aspects it believes should be strengthened, clarified, or added to better support the panel’s purpose and effectiveness in the next term.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇨	Demographic Advisory Panels Terms of Reference

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author	Victoria Wicks-Brown - Principal Advisor Panels
Authoriser	Jonathan Benge - Disability Advisory Panel Co-Lead Officer

No.	Title	Page
a ⇨	Disability Advisory Panel Draft end of term report

Disability Advisory Panel

04 Aug 2025

Panel member updates and reports

File No.: CP2025/15532

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To support the Disability Advisory Panel in discussing updates and activities its members have been engaged in since the previous meeting that do not appear as standalone items.

2. To provide feedback on activities where appropriate.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

3. Panel members are encouraged to speak to activities they have been engaged in since the previous meeting which do not appear as standalone agenda items, and other individual activities.

4. Notable activities are discussed below and reiterated in the recommendations.

5. Áine Kelly-Costello, panel representative working with Council's policy team on a climate adaptation project, to report on activity.

· Council's policy team requested the assistance of the Disability Advisory Panel as they work towards a climate adaptation pilot relevant to the disability community.

· At Disability Advisory Panel meeting Monday 3 March 2025, Member Áine Kelly-Costello was appointed to this position. A factor that was considered in this appointment was Áine’s role as the climate portfolio lead within the Panel.

6. Elections Working Group panel representatives to report on activity of interest.

· The Auckland Council Elections team hold monthly meetings with a cross-panel Elections Working Group with the aim of ensuring the team has access to regular, timely advice from the panels on the Elections programme through the lens of Auckland’s diverse communities.

· Each demographic advisory panel has representatives on the working group who contribute to these meetings. Disability Advisory Panel member Gerard Martin is Chair of the Working Group, and Co-Chair Martine Abel-Williamson is the other panel representative.

7. Further attached are the following for panel members’ interest:

· Disability Action Plan update - Information Report 21 July 2025

· Disability Sector Inclusion Programme - Information Memoranda 28 July 2025

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Disability Advisory Panel:

a) whiwhi / receive the update from the panel representative on Council's policy team.

b) whiwhi / receive the updates from panel representatives sitting on the Elections cross panel Working Group.

c) whiwhi / receive any other advisory panel co-chair and member updates provided in course of the conversation.

d) tuhi tīpoka / note the information reports.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇨	Disability Action Plan update - Information Report 21 July 2025
b ⇨	Disability Sector Inclusion Programme - Information Memoranda 28 July 2025

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Milly Athy-Timmins - Kaitohutohu Mana Whakahaere / Governance Advisor

Authorisers

Jonathan Benge - Disability Advisory Panel Co-Lead Officer

Victoria Wicks-Brown - Principal Advisor Panels

Disability Advisory Panel

04 Aug 2025

Farewell Remarks

File No.: CP2025/16279

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. The purpose of this item is to acknowledge and celebrate the service of panel members who are stepping down, offering them space to reflect on their experiences and allowing fellow panel members to extend their thanks.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. This item provides an opportunity for departing panel members to share reflections on their term of service, capturing their insights, experiences, and perspectives gained during their time on the panel.

3. It is also an opportunity for expressions of appreciation from fellow panel members, recognising the significant contributions departing members have made.

4. Reflections could highlight key moments, lessons learned, and aspirations for the panel’s future, providing a valuable legacy for ongoing and future members.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Disability Advisory Panel:

a) tuhi tīpoka / note the farewell remarks and reflections of departing panel members.

b) whakaū / confirm and record its thanks to the departing members for their valuable service and contributions during their time on the panel.

c) āhukahuka / acknowledge their role in supporting the panel’s vision of operating strategically to build on the mahi of previous Disability Panels to improve the short and long term social and economic outcomes for Tāmaki Makaurau’s Disability communities and to ensure that the council’s values and activities celebrate diversity and Inclusion.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author	Victoria Wicks-Brown - Principal Advisor Panels
Authoriser	Jonathan Benge - Disability Advisory Panel Co-Lead Officer