MEDIA STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
4 September 2008
DPA and People First Celebrate a First
New Zealand will ratify the first UN treaty of the new millennium - the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities and disabled peoples’ organisations are celebrating loudly.
With Parliament passing the Disability Act, the way is clear to ratify.
DPA president Mike Gourley and People First chairperson Susan McDonald are delighted. “It means disabled New Zealanders
will have our rights protected by international law. And it means our country will keep our leadership role going” says
Mike Gourley.
“It’s a great outcome” adds Susan McDonald. She also says “I am really happy that this has happened and it is a great
thing for New Zealanders and especially for disabled people. We will hopefully now be able to have more of an ordinary
life as disabled people rather than a restricted life”.
Gary Williams, CEO of DPA believes the cross-party support was vital. “The legislation could have been stuck in the
Parliamentary log jam if all of the parties hadn’t listened to us. We told them all disabled people wanted the
Convention ratified as soon as possible, and they listened and got on with it. That’s a good sign for future cooperation
between politicians and disabled people”.
ENDS
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DPA is the national assembly of people with disabilities