Ngā Pānui

Te Ao Mārama Aotearoa has lodged its submission strongly opposing the Disability Support Services Bill, carrying the consensus voice of tāngata whaikaha Māori me ō rātou whānau to the Select Committee.

Te Ao Mārama Aotearoa Trust (TAMA) has made a formal submission to the Social Services and Community Select Committee on the Disability Support Services Bill, introduced to Parliament on 18 May 2026. TAMA opposes the Bill in its entirety and has asked the committee to recommend that it not proceed.

He aha te take | Why we oppose this Bill

The Bill was developed without consulting disabled people, in breach of Article 4(3) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and of the Crown's obligation under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to obtain our free, prior, and informed consent. The Crown's own Regulatory Impact Statement concedes that no community consultation occurred. For TAMA the breach is direct and personal: the Crown was negotiating a relationship agreement with us, founded on mana ōrite, in the very week the Bill was introduced.

The Bill conscripts whānau into an unquantifiable, indefinite expectation of unpaid care that will fall hardest on whānau Māori and on wāhine Māori. It tells family carers their labour is not work, overriding the minimum wage and the Supreme Court's unanimous decision in Fleming v Attorney-General. It shuts the door on complaints to the Human Rights Commission and the Health and Disability Commissioner. And it builds the legal architecture to means-test disability support by ministerial notice, with no reference anywhere to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

He reo kotahi | A consensus position

The submission represents the consensus position of the National Taumata o ngā Tāngata Whaikaha Māori. TAMA has requested to appear before the committee to speak to the submission, and we will keep our communities informed as the Bill progresses through the House.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini — my strength is not that of one, but of many.

Read our Submission here:

Te Ao Mārama Aotearoa has lodged its written submission on the World Health Organization's draft Global Plan of Action on the Health of Indigenous Peoples, carrying the voice of tāngata whaikaha Māori to the global stage.

Te Ao Mārama Aotearoa Trust (TAMA) has made a written submission to the World Health Organization (WHO) on the second draft of the Global Plan of Action on the Health of Indigenous Peoples (2027–2040), a landmark global instrument that will shape health policy for Indigenous peoples for more than a decade.

A voice at the global table

On 9 June, our Pou Tokorangi, Professor Dr Tristram R. Ingham, took part in the WHO Western Pacific Regional Consultation on the draft Plan, alongside Indigenous leaders from across the region. It was a valuable opportunity to meet other Indigenous leaders and share our aspirations for this important document. Following an invitation to provide further written input, TAMA prepared a full submission.

Speaking from the intersection

TAMA is New Zealand's umbrella Disabled People's Organisation for tāngata whaikaha Māori, pan-iwi and pan-impairment. Our submission speaks from the intersection of two bodies of rights, the rights of Indigenous peoples and the rights of persons with disabilities. This is where the draft Plan is currently weakest, and where it has the greatest opportunity to lead. We ask the WHO to name Indigenous persons with disabilities explicitly, to anchor the Plan in both UNDRIP and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to count us properly through Indigenous data sovereignty, and to match commitments with real accountability.

A consensus position

The submission represents the consensus position of the National Taumata of Tāngata Whaikaha Māori, which voted unanimously to endorse it. We warmly support the draft Plan, and offer our comments to strengthen it. We look forward to continued engagement through the revision, costing and implementation phases as the Plan moves toward the World Health Assembly in 2027.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini — my strength is not that of one, but of many.

Read our Submission here:

A short survey is now open to help shape the proposed Declaration of Disabled Peoples' Rights in Aotearoa New Zealand. Closing 18 June 2026.

Following the Finding Common Ground hui held last month, the joint TAMA-DPA team has released a short survey to help shape the proposed Declaration of Disabled Peoples' Rights in Aotearoa New Zealand. Your input will sit alongside the korero from the hui and earlier engagement to inform a draft declaration, which will be shared widely for feedback before being finalised. Easy Read supporting documents are available in Word and PDF.

Take the survey: https://11/06/2026dpa.org.nz/dpa-projects/finding-common-ground/finding-common-ground/

The survey closes on 18 June 2026.

He Toa Takitini — together we are stronger.

TAMA signs Te Kawenata Whakawhanaungatanga | Relationship Agreement with the Ministry of Disabled People | Whaikaha, formalising a high-trust, Te Tiriti-based relationship for tāngata whaikaha Māori.

Te Ao Mārama Aotearoa Trust (TAMA) has signed Te Kawenata Whakawhanaungatanga | Relationship Agreement with the Ministry of Disabled People | Whaikaha, formalising a high-trust, values-based partnership at system-leadership and policy level. 

The Agreement recognises TAMA as the umbrella Disabled People's Organisation for tāngata whaikaha Māori me ō rātou whānau, and protects TAMA's independent advocacy voice. 

Grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the UNCRPD and Mana Ōrite (equal standing), it commits the Parties to engagement at the Collaborate, Co-design and Empower end of the Crown engagement framework where appropriate, rather than defaulting to Inform or Consult. 

Te Tāhū Hauora – Health Quality Safety Commission “Window on Disability” report confirms crisis for tāngata whaikaha Māori, but falls short of the action needed.

Today TAMA has responded to Te Tāhū Hauora's A Window on Disability report, which confirms disabled Māori die from treatable conditions at ten times the rate of non-Māori non-disabled people. TAMA welcomes the evidence but warns the Commission's recommendations fall short of the urgent, Te Tiriti-led action required for tāngata whaikaha Māori. 

Read the full media release here:

TAMA joins the Finding Common Ground hui in Otautahi as work begins on a shared Declaration of Disabled Peoples' Rights in Aotearoa New Zealand.

FASD Awareness Day: TAMA stands in solidarity with tāngata whaikaha Māori affected by Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and calls for FASD to be recognised within Aotearoa's disability support system.

On this Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day, Te Ao Mārama Aotearoa Trust (TAMA) stands in solidarity with all tāngata whaikaha Māori (Māori with lived experience of disability), including those living with FASD, and their whānau. Today, we recognise the significant challenges faced by Māori communities affected by FASD, and we renew our commitment to support their rights and wellbeing.

A Lifelong Impact on Māori Communities

FASD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol. In Aotearoa, the impact of FASD disproportionately affects Māori communities, with estimates suggesting that up to 6.3% of Māori children may live with this condition. These children often face barriers in education, health, and social services due to misdiagnosis or a lack of proper recognition of FASD as a disability.

This under-recognition has caused FASD to be excluded from disability support services, leaving many Māori families struggling to access the resources and assistance they need. Despite the neurological and developmental challenges posed by FASD, it is not currently classified as an eligible condition for disability funding in New Zealand, further exacerbating inequities faced by Māori living with this condition.

The Call for Recognition and Support

As Māori leaders and advocates, we echo the calls from whānau and healthcare professionals for better recognition of FASD within disability support systems. It is a condition that disproportionately impacts our people, and the lack of support has long-lasting effects on tamariki, rangatahi, and whānau. Without appropriate interventions, children with FASD are more likely to experience challenges such as exclusion from school, mental health issues, and involvement with the justice system.

At TAMA, we acknowledge the efforts of the Māori FASD Coalition, established to advise the government on how to best provide culturally appropriate support for Māori affected by FASD. However, more must be done to ensure that FASD is recognised for the disability it is, and that Māori whānau have access to the resources, support, and services they deserve.

Standing with Tāngata Whaikaha Māori

FASD is not just a health issue. It is a matter of equity and social justice. As a uniquely Māori organisation, TAMA remains committed to advocating for tāngata whaikaha Māori and their whānau, ensuring their voices are heard at all levels of government and policy design. We support the ongoing efforts to secure recognition of FASD within disability frameworks and to reduce the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding this condition.

We stand alongside our whānau affected by FASD, reinforcing the need for education, prevention, and early intervention. Let today serve as a reminder of the work that still needs to be done. Together, we can drive change, raise awareness, and secure the future for all tāngata whaikaha Māori.

Tūmanako – Hope for the Future

As we mark FASD Awareness Day, we hold on to the hope – Tūmanako – that greater awareness and recognition will lead to a brighter future for all affected by FASD in Aotearoa. TAMA will continue to advocate for systemic change that honours the mana of tāngata whaikaha Māori and upholds the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in disability support services.

Together, we can build a more inclusive and supportive society for all.

He waka eke noa — we are all in this together.

For more information and resources on FASD, visit FASD-CAN or FASD Awareness Month.

Sources:

• Māori children and FASD prevalence (Massey Research Online)

• FASD and neurodiversity (Oranga Tamariki)

• Māori hui on FASD at Parliament (FASD-CAN)

• Disordered: FASD in New Zealand (Awhi Ngā Mātua)

• No safe amount: push for more FASD awareness (NZ Herald)

• FASD-CAN symposium 2024