Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

Justice
Labour will, as resources permit, invest in technology appropriate for Blind and Deaf
people, including captioning and audio visual and mobile phones, compatible with
voice software, to enhance participation in our democracy.
Labour will invest in public education and information sharing with regard to access
and human rights. This information will be in formats that ensure accessibility to all.
Supporting quality living in the community
Labour is determined to support quality living in the community for disabled people. This
includes increasing opportunities to access comfortable and accessible housing. New
Zealand spends a lot of taxpayer funds on housing modification whereas building more
accessible homes in the beginning would ensure that they would be accessible to all, with
little, if any additional cost and with significantly reduced costs in comparison to modifying
already built houses.
Urban Design, Housing and Access and Building issues
Transport
Labour will demonstrate leadership in building “Lifetime Design” homes by ensuring
that where possible new state houses are built in accordance with the disability
sector approved Lifemark standard for accessible, adaptable lifetime design.
Labour will encourage the design of residences to ensure that a higher proportion of
the housing stock is suitable to meet the needs of all people.
Labour will ensure that Housing New Zealand, as part of its acquisition and
maintenance programme, invests in the retrofitting of state houses so that they are
accessible.
Labour will ensure that local authorities are not able to opt out of their responsibilities
to comply with Building Standard 4121 so that people with disabilities have better
access to buildings and other public facilities.
Labour will ensure that all local authorities have disabled people working with them at
all stages of planning of urban design and that the needs of disabled people are key
considerations in urban design.
Labour will implement the recommendations of the Human Right Commission report
The Accessible Journey. This includes:
Participation of disabled people in all public land transport planning, funding
and implementation
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