Reference: OIA3133

Simon Zhao
[FYI request #27939 email]

17 September 2024

Tēnā koe Simon

On 6 August 2024, you emailed Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha (the Ministry)
requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA), the following information:
“1. All advice received and provided by the Minister in relation to the
Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill.
2. The paper which Minister Hon Penny Simmonds took to the Cabinet
Legislation Committee titled 'Confirming the status of the Accessibility
for New Zealanders Bill' on 21 March 2024.”
On 7 August 2024, you narrowed down your request to include only advice related to
having an “overarching legislation – a separate regulatory regime that would have the
direct ability to establish secondary legislation for codes, standards, and rules for all
sectors as they relate to accessibility. This is a common approach in Canadian
jurisdictions and is the preferred option of the Access Alliance.
On 3 September 2024, the Ministry extended the timeframe to respond to your
request under section 15A(1)(B) of the OIA as the consultations that are necessary to
make a decision on your request are such that a proper response cannot reasonably
be made within the original time limit..

Information in response to your request is outlined in the attached Appendix One, the
table in Appendix One also indicates the decisions on each document attached.

I trust this information fulfils your request. If you wish to discuss this response with
us, please feel free to contact [Ministry for Disabled People request email].

Please note, as part of its commitment towards increasing transparency,
The Ministry intends to make the information contained in this letter available to
the wider public. The Ministry will do this by publishing this letter on the Ministry
website. Your personal details will be deleted, and any information that would
identify you as the requestor will be removed.

If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to seek an investigation
and review by the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is
available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 0800 802 602.

Ngā mihi nui
Emma Williams
Manager, Ministerial and Executive Services

Table of Documents
  No   Document
Decision
1
REP/WHK/24/8/127 -
Released with some information withheld under
Legislation Bids from the
Section 9(2)(g)(i) of the OIA to maintain the
Disability Issues Portfolio for  effective conduct of public affairs through the
the 2024 Legislation
protection of such Ministers, members of
Programme
organisations, officers, and employees from

improper pressure or harassment.

2
REP/WHK/24/7/095 - Proposed Withheld in full under Section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the
Accessibility work programme   OIA to maintain the constitutional conventions
for the time being which protect the
confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers
of the Crown and officials.
3
Comparing Accessibility
Released in full.
Legislation Across Jurisdictions
4
REP/WHK/24/3/027 - Draft
Released with some information withheld under
Cabinet Paper - Confirming the section 9(2)(a) of the OIA, to protect the
Status of the Accessibility Bill   privacy of natural persons.
5
REP/WHK/23/12/014 - Advice  Released with some information withheld under
on the Future of the
Section 9(2)(a) of the OIA, to protect the
Accessibility for New
privacy of natural persons
Zealanders Bill
6
REP/WHK/24/3/020 - Access  Released with some information withheld under
Matters Aotearoa March to
Section 9(2)(a) of the OIA, to protect the
Parliament
privacy of natural persons
7
REP/WHK/23/8/749 -
Released with some information withheld under
Accessibility Bill – Advice on
Section 9(2)(a) of the OIA, to protect the
Next Steps
privacy of natural persons
8
REP/WHK/23/8/739 -
Released with some information withheld under
Accessibility Bill - Engagement  Section 9(2)(a) of the OIA, to protect the
Materials
privacy of natural persons
9
REP/WHK/23/5/494 - Advice on Released with some information withheld under
Potential Stakeholder
Section 9(2)(a) of the OIA, to protect the
Engagement on the
privacy of natural persons
Accessibility Bill

10   REP/WHK/23/7/696 -
Released with some information withheld under
Accessibility Bill - Advice on
Section 9(2)(a) of the OIA, to protect the
Select Committee Report
privacy of natural persons
Recommendations

Document Outline