Mojo Mathers 🇵🇸

Image description: A blue tile with a photo of Disability rights advocate and writer Robyn Hunt with a quote that says “We are strongest when we stand together, learn from each other, and build inclusive communities that reflect all our voices.” To the right of the photo is the International Day of People with Disability logo – A white icon of a person with their arms stretched out with colours around their arms. Below that logo is the Disabled Persons Assembly logo.

Today, 3 December, is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. We wanted to share some important kupu (words) from one of our members, Robyn Hunt.

“We are strongest when we stand together, learn from each other, and build inclusive communities that reflect all our voices.” - Robyn Hunt

IKEA is on the boycott list. Don’t support genocide, don’t waste your time in traffic to help pay for unaliving babies
#nzpol

It’s hard not to believe that Luxon’s move to dump regional councils isn’t just another way to remove obstacles to rampant corporate profit making at our expense.

More emissions, more pollution more contaminated drinking water, more intensive dairy, more roads and less accountability.

#nzpol

So ... the government just forced us all to have referendums on *existing* Māori wards because Local Communities Deserve Choice, but now they're unilaterally abolishing our regional councils because they don't like the Choices we made?

Petitions are addressed to the House of Representatives and ask that the House do something about a policy or law, or put right a local or private concern.

Nick Ruane has started a petition calling for increased funding for the Total Mobility scheme. The petition closes in four days, on 28 November.

Nick is also inviting anyone based in Wellington to come to Parliament grounds on 9 December at 12:30pm for the handover.

Amid Gaza’s ongoing crisis, residents use social media to seek help for essentials like food, rent, and medicine, but face challenges like poor connectivity and algorithm bias.This volunteer led project amplifies survival appeals from trusted sources and consults Gaza based individuals for new ones.

Is the City Rail Link's accessibility on the right track? Aucklanders will be heading underground next year on the City Rail Link. Here's what we know about all the access features.

Auckland's City Rail Link has almost arrived, with its opening due in 2026.

For some of us, travelling via public transport hasn’t always been accessible, but City Rail Link says the new transport system will “enable independent journeys for people, regardless of their ability or disability.”

Separated Bike Lanes Means Safer Streets, Study Says — Streetsblog USA Cities that build protected lanes for cyclists end up with safer roads for people on bikes and people in cars and on foot, a new study of 12 large metropolises revealed Wednesday.

Another reminder that a 13-year study found that protected bike-lanes led to a drastic decline in fatalities for all road users.

ALL ROAD USERS.

And painted bike-lanes? No safety improvement at all.

For sharrows, it’s actually safer to NOT have them.

Via @usa.streetsblog.org @nyc.streetsblog.org

Steven and Alice smiling and holding each other’s books

Our beloved Alice Wong has joined the ancestors. It was one of the great honors of my life to call Alice my friend, co-author & co-conspirator. She was a true genius, a force of nature the likes of which the world has never seen before. I love you, Alice, and am equal parts grateful and devastated

Just gonna keep saying it: There is no point growing the pie if the wealthy keep eating all of it.

Neurodivergent youth more likely to die before age of 25 than peers, study finds While death among young people is rare, those with a neurodevelopmental condition are nearly five times more likely to die before the age of 25.

A new study co-authored by Joanne Dacombe, immediate past President of the Disabled Persons Assembly, finds young people with neurodevelopmental conditions are nearly 5 times more likely to die before 25.

Petition launched for mandatory sound emitters on electric cars Being clipped by an EV was the final straw for Josaiah Fue to take action and make roads safer for the blind and low-vision community.

Being clipped by an EV was the final straw for Josaiah Fue to take action and make roads safer for the blind and low-vision community.

Disabled people face higher risks on New Zealand roads. Safer speeds, more signage in high-risk areas, and sound emitters on EVs are the way forward!

A blue tile with the text "Proud to be a living wage employer" - below that is the living wage logo - a blue circle with "living wage employer" and a koru pattern. Below that is the DPA logo.

DPA is proud to be a living wage employer.

Employers who pay the Living Wage want to make sure their workers get enough money to live with dignity.

The Living Wage considers basic expenses, and gives breathing room for rest, activities, or saving for a rainy day.

Boycotts won’t make a difference in Gaza. But your KiwiSaver might One of the biggest tools you’ve got for creating change is sitting in your back pocket, Frances Cook says.

www.stuff.co.nz/money/360880...

There are some cases of measles in New Zealand at the moment.

Easy Read information is now available to help you learn more about measles.

You can read it here: healthed.govt.nz/.../measles-....

Remember: The fundamental issue isn’t the size of the government or how to make government more “efficient.”

It’s who our government is for.

Should it work mainly for big corporations and billionaires — or for the rest of us?

Revealed: Israel demanded Google and Amazon use secret ‘wink’ to sidestep legal orders The tech giants agreed to extraordinary terms to clinch a lucrative contract with the Israeli government, documents show

In case you weren’t feeling enough disgust about the conduct of Israel, Google and Amazon already.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

'More fair pay for our cares': The mega strike in photos Learning support staff and teacher aides were joined by nurses, social workers, firefighters and doctors.

Last Thursday, one of the biggest strikes in the country took place. Learning support staff and teacher aides were joined by nurses, social workers, firefighters and doctors.

NZSL Info about Fires here: nzsl.getready.govt.nz/emergency/wi...

We’re thinking about those affected by wildfires today.

You can find emergency preparedness information in Easy Read, audio and large print formats at the following link. getready.govt.nz/alternate-fo...

YouTube video by nzherald.co.nz Blind and low vision Kiwis shut out of work | The Front Page

Dan Shepherd, General Manager of Community and Inclusion at Blind Low Vision NZ, shares his lived experience, including the barriers he’s faced and his access requirements.

Captions available on the YouTube video!

‘Is this a special facility?’: From rest homes to real homes for all disabled people Living with other disabled people should be a choice not a last resort, says Henrietta Bollinger.

With only approximately 2% of housing stock in Aotearoa deemed accessible, some young disabled people are being forced to live in rest homes and inaccessible emergency accommodation. Henrietta Bollinger argues that we should not accept this as the status quo.

Honestly, it’s exhausting that people think Gazans should only ask for help to survive to eat, to stay alive but not to dream, to study, or to rebuild their lives. Wanting education, safety, and a future isn’t greed. It’s being human.

Ok after an afternoon of results, texts, calls, messages on other apps and emails, I have some thoughts on today’s Local Election results

1) Voter turnout is depressing. 32%ish on average across AoNZ is pathetic.
2) The Māori Wards referendum should never have happened - it was a racebaiting farce…

The govt’s plans to means test benefits for 18 & 19 yos will put disabled, queer, Māori & other marginalised young adults at risk.

While I’m glad the disability rights angle of this issue has got traction (and was glad to speak to TVNZ) the Minister’s response was appalling. #nzpol

Cartoon. Title: “Job Seeee-e-e-e” Image shows PM Christopher Luxon at the open hatch of a small plane, high above farmland. He’s leaning out, and holding up a parachute pack, labelled “Job Seeker” He’s calling out to someone falling from the plane, “And I’ve kept your parachute because you kids from low-income homes need some motivation” Then he adds, “Don’t let that disability slow you down!”

Govt to cut #JobSeeker benefit for 18 & 19 year olds who’s parents earn over $65,000, even if the teens have a disability or health condition. With #CostOfLiving & the job shortage they’re cranking up stress levels to 11, all to meet a target.
My #cartoon today about hard-nosed #NZpol

Hundreds of teens with a health condition, disability may be cut from Jobseeker benefit The government is ending Jobseeker payments to 18- and 19 year olds whose parents earn more than $65,000.

Fun fact: when you have Long Covid but can’t work you have to go on the Jobseeker benefit because GPs can’t say whether you’ll still have Long Covid in two years - so teens with chronic conditions are now conceivably navigating absolutely debilitating symptoms while also getting zero govt support 👍🫠

Perhaps a journalist could do a little deep dive into the NZ Salmon industry. Not everyone is aware, but the slight increase in water temperature has already fucked the industry real hard. Currently attempting to relocate everywhere because existing salmon farms are no longer viable.
#nzpol

Long Covid Risk for Children Doubles After a Second Infection, Study Finds

“Children and teenagers are twice as likely to develop long Covid after a second coronavirus infection as after an initial infection, a large new study has found.”

Great we’ve just confirmed that any NZ teenagers with chronic conditions trying to access government support are out of luck 🫠