Kimberly Graham

03/06/2026

Well done to Natalie Todd, Principal of Wairau Valley Special School, for speaking out.

As soon as I saw the quote, “it’s a s**t show”, I knew exactly who was speaking. Natalie was our son's former principal, and she understands these children better than most.

When you work with disabled children over many years, you don't just teach them, you watch them grow up. You learn their personalities, their communication styles, their fears, their strengths, and the little things that keep them safe. Every child is unique, and understanding that uniqueness takes time, training, experience, and empathy.

That's why the decision to suddenly change a transport service that is such a critical lifeline between home and school should never be made lightly. Changes made simply to save money, with the flick of a pen, can have serious consequences when the individual needs of vulnerable children are not fully understood or considered.

This tragic loss raises difficult questions that need answers. The safety and wellbeing of disabled children must always come before cost-cutting measures.

Wairau Valley Special School ♥️♿️🙏

The head of Wairau Valley Special School queried the suitability of Ritchies Transport around a month before the tragedy.

30/05/2026

So, it's happened 😢

I'm not sure whether this is related to Ritchies taking over the school transport contract for disabled children. They were already involved in providing some services, but the new contract effectively replaced many of the specialist hoist vehicles that transported students who use wheelchairs. There have been ongoing concerns and challenges raised about the transition to this new contract.

If it is found that there is any connection between this tragedy and the changes to school transport services, then serious questions will need to be asked of the Ministry of Education about the decisions that were made.

My thoughts are with this little boy's family and everyone affected by this heartbreaking loss.

RNZ

Their only son, 8, was coming home from school when he drowned on Monday afternoon.

29/05/2026

More guidance here to help with your submissions. This is a time for our disability community to unite. It’s not only the DSS Bill we need to oppose, it is also the changes made to the Disability Lotteries Grant, and the Total Mobility Scheme subsidy decreases.

There is a real shift happening here from the principles of Enabling Good Lives (EGL) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

These Letter Writing events are a space to put your thoughts on paper. We have templates available to write a letter to your MP regarding the disability issues happening in news/political space right now, such as: The Disability Support Services Bill Disestablishing the Lottery Individuals with...

29/05/2026

Please check out Carers NZ and their advice on the proposed Disability Support Services Bill, which is currently being fast-tracked through Parliament. Public submissions close at 1pm on 12 June before the Bill moves through the Select Committee process.

We need to speak up and make our voices heard. In its current form, this Bill raises serious concerns for many disabled people, families, whānau, and carers. If you have concerns, now is the time to make a submission and tell the Select Committee what this legislation could mean for your life and community.

Submissions close on 12 June. Please don't leave it until the last minute.

A new Disability Support Services Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament. Submissions are being accepted until 12 June. The proposed Bill has many implications for disabled people and family carers, including "family first" obligations that could impose even more expectations on those in ca...

18/05/2026

Will this new Bill from Louise Upston really strengthen disability support, or will it slowly push more responsibility back onto families?

That’s my worry. The language around “natural supports” sounds harmless enough, but in reality it can mean parents, siblings and whānau being expected to carry the long-term care load indefinitely.

For many families, “natural supports” already means:

- no real break,
- no proper respite,
- no ability to plan your own future,
- and being a full-time parent and carer forever.

What happens when parents age?
What happens when carers burn out?
What happens when the “natural supports” are no longer alive?

Disabled people deserve independent, supported lives, not systems built on unpaid exhaustion from family members trying to hold everything together.

We were once talking about “Enabling Good Lives,” choice, control, ordinary lives, inclusion, self-determination. That vision mattered. It recognised disabled people as citizens with rights, not just families expected to absorb whatever support the State steps back from providing.

Now it feels like we are moving further away from that vision and closer to a model where the Government says:
“If families can somehow manage, then they should.”

Yes, there are promises of “choice and control” and more consistent systems in the new Disability Support Services reforms. But choice without adequate funded support is not real choice.

Respite, support workers, and sustainable care are not luxuries. Families cannot be expected to carry the disability support system on their backs forever.

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/bill-strengthen-disability-support?

Disabled people in Aotearoa have become fluent in government language and we know that when ministers start talking about sustainability, clarity, fairness, and stability, it is worth paying close attention to what is happening behind those carefully chosen words.

15/05/2026

It’s hard to support a government that keeps cutting essential funding for disabled people. The cost of simply participating in society, travel, equipment, housing, and daily living, is already far higher for disabled people and their families than it is for non-disabled people.

So much time is spent filling out forms and applying for grants just to cover the extra costs that come with disability. During this term, the government has already reduced or restricted disability funding in several areas, and now disabled people are being cut out of the Lottery Grants system as well.

Lottery Grants have helped families partially fund things like vehicle adaptations, mobility vans, and assistance dogs, costs that are enormous and rarely fully covered elsewhere. The funding was never enough to pay for everything, but it made these life-changing supports more achievable for many families.

https://thedlist.co.nz/newsfeed/goodbye-lotteries-the-government-is-cutting-our-disability-funding-again

The Lottery Individuals with Disabilities grant has been quietly cut. Individuals will no longer be able to access funding for items like mobility vans or assistance dogs.

10/05/2026

A follow up on the SESTA challenges with a North Shore focus.

An Auckland mother says changes to ministry-funded school transport for disabled students are putting vulnerable children at risk.

03/05/2026

A recent change to the SESTA (Specialised School Transport Assistance) contract on the North Shore has seen a long-standing, reliable provider lose the tender for transporting disabled children with high and complex needs.

This provider had built strong, trusted relationships with the families and students they supported. They understood each child, their routines, behaviours, medical needs, and communication styles. For many of these children, who are non-verbal, medically fragile, or have conditions such as seizures, consistency is critical. Transport isn’t just about getting from home to school; it’s about safety, familiarity, and trust.

Following the tender process, a new transport provider has now taken over the service.

The concern is that this situation has happened before, and the outcomes were damaging. At that time, back in 2013, there were instances where autistic students were left unsupervised at home after school, children were dropped at incorrect addresses, and wheelchair users were not properly secured in vans. These were serious safety failures that caused significant distress for families.

Now, as the new provider begins operating, similar concerns are already starting to surface.

One particularly alarming issue is the expectation around wheelchair safety. It has been indicated that drivers may not be responsible for securing wheelchairs in the vehicle, with that responsibility instead falling to parents, caregivers, or school staff. This raises significant questions about safety, accountability, and basic transport standards.

For families who rely on this service every day, this change is not just administrative; it has real implications for the safety and well-being of their children.

Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People Ministry of Education RNZ

Uzabus director Justin Allan said the ministry is replacing an individual taxi model with a "dedicated specialist service".

02/05/2026

So good to see Auckland Council acting fast when something dangerous gets reported.

Spotted this at Narrowneck Beach literally last week. A post blending into the path, cap missing, and a sharp rusted edge just waiting for someone to hit it. With kids flying through there on scooters and bikes, it was an accident waiting to happen.

A few clicks, a photo, drop a pin… done. Initial visit within days. Now, to see how long it takes to paint and recap.

Proof that we really are the eyes on the ground keeping our communities safe. Takes 2 minutes. Worth it every time.

https://onlineservices.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/councilonline/rfs/landingpage

27/04/2026

Auckland Council, could you please stop calling with automated announcements?
You’re expecting people to engage using a long reference number, but in today’s world, with so many scams going around, that’s just not something I’m comfortable doing.

I won’t respond to an automated message system.

If you need to reach me, I’m happy to speak with an actual person.

Goodbye!