About our plan

Find out about the University's Te Ara Taupuhipuhi Disability Action Plan 2023 - 2025.

This action plan implements the commitments made in our Strategic Plan (2020-2024) and in our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Framework for equitable outcomes for all and outlines specific objectives and actions to achieve these for disabled students and staff. It also supports the University to meet our legislative obligations towards people with disabilities, and follows the guidance provided in the Kia Ōrite Toolkit for an inclusive tertiary education environment, and Lead Toolkit for employing disabled people.

Disabled students are one of the most educationally disadvantaged groups in Aotearoa New Zealand, which translates to lower economic, employment and social outcomes. For this to change, we must all play a role in addressing disabling environments and creating fully inclusive tertiary education opportunities that reflect and value our diverse students, including those with disabilities.

Disabled people have lower income and employment rates in Aotearoa New Zealand. At Te Herenga Waka we understand the importance of attracting a diverse community of staff who can broaden and enhance our perspectives and the importance of ensuring disabled staff can fully participate and engage in their mahi.

Te Ara Taupuhipuhi builds on the success of our inaugural 2017 Disability Action Plan, which resulted in a significant increase in the number of disabled students at Te Herenga Waka. We greatly welcome the increasing diversity of our community. The development of Te Ara Taupuhipuhi was informed by a review of our first plan, international exemplars, best practice, internal data, student voice, staff engagement, and disability expertise. It does not include everything we are doing and is focused on priority areas where we want to make the most difference.

This ambitious plan reflects our progress to date and the tremendous amount of lived student and staff disability experience we have alongside professional and academic staff expertise. Disabled students and staff should not need to rely on the goodwill of others to get the support they need and should expect disability inclusion. This plan will enhance the disability inclusion and confidence of our community.

We are confident that we can continue our contribution to best practice in this field to ensure our people with disabilities can thrive and achieve their aspirations.

Te rautaki me ngā whanonga pono | Strategy and values

Disability and inclusion are reflected in three of our Strategic Plan’s primary strategies, which are supported by our values of akoranga, kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga. With, and as Tangata Whenua, we honour te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Education preparing students for an extraordinary life: Akoranga—we value the knowledge that both students and staff bring to the university experience and recognise that greater understanding grows out of shared learning.

Equitable outcomes for all: Kaitiakitanga—as guardians, we have an active duty to protect and nurture those entrusted to our care.

Transforming the way we work: Manaakitanga—we are welcoming and generous and operate in ways that enhance the mana of our staff and students.

Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Framework outlines our aspiration to be a vibrant, creative, supportive, and inclusive environment that encourages the recruitment, development, and retention of a diverse community of talented staff and students.

Te Ara Taupuhipuhi —Disability Inclusion Action Plan implements the commitments and aspirations in our Strategic Plan and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Framework to be an equitable University for disabled students and staff.

Ngā kaupapa here | Policy

The University has two key policies relating to achieving equity for disabled people.

The Meeting the Needs of Students with Impairments Policy (August 2005, effective from 2014) details the University’s commitment to ensuring disabled students can demonstrate their abilities equitably with non-disabled students.

The Staff Development Policy (June 2015) addresses equity in objective 4.5. “Staff development should be accessible on an equitable basis, should promote the principles of equity and diversity, and should reinforce the University’s equity and diversity objectives. Where appropriate, development opportunities should accommodate any specific needs of underrepresented groups or draw attention to equity and diversity issues.”

Ngā pūtea | Resourcing

The student focussed parts of this plan are primarily resourced from existing funding allocated to Te Amaru—Disability Services. This funding comes partly from the Student Services Levy and partly from the equity funding for disabled students granted by the Tertiary Education Commission. This funding is complemented by indirect resourcing across the University. Support for disabled staff is dispersed across the University and the staff focussed parts of this plan are resourced by Te Pūmanawa Tāngata— Human Resources.

Te whakahaere me te arotake | Implementation, governance and review

Te Amaru—Disability Services are the operational lead for this plan in partnership with students and staff across the University. Te Amaru—Disability Services are vital to the success of the plan, as are the wide range of students and staff they partner with, if we are to be successful in our mission of embedding disability inclusion across the University. The ambitious nature of this plan reflects the strength of many of these existing partnerships.

The success of this plan relies on embedding disability inclusion into the fabric of the University. This plan is connected to and aligned with multiple University plans, projects and frameworks including Mai i te Iho ki te Pae, Pasifika Strategy and Plans, Learning and Teaching Plan, Pastoral Care Code projects, Digital Roadmap, Ngā Kīwai o te Kete-Student Engagement Framework, Paerangi—Student Success Framework, Campus Master Plan, and Campus Development Project Plan.

Te Pūrengi—Student Experience and Wellbeing directorate are responsible for Te Amaru—Disability Services and the Director, Te Pūrengi reports to the Deputy Vice- Chancellor (Students), Tumu Maruāaka.

Te Pūmanawa Tāngata—Human Resources lead developments in our support of disabled staff and report to the Director, People and Capability.

The governance of this plan sits with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students), Tumu Maruāaka, and the Equity and Diversity Steering Group. The Student Experience Committee, which includes a representative from the Disabled Students’ Association, will monitor the implementation of the primary actions relevant to students.

An annual report on how we are tracking towards achieving the measures outlined
in the plan will be prepared by Te Amaru— Disability Services (with contributions from responsibility leaders and disabled students) for the Equity and Diversity Steering Group and the Student Experience Committee, or as required by Te Hiwa, the University's senior leadership team.

An evaluation of the success of this plan will take place prior to 2026 to assess progress against actions and what should be included in a new plan. This evaluation will be coordinated by Te Amaru-Disability Services with oversight from the Equity and Diversity Steering Group and the Student Experience Committee and involve advice, expertise, and feedback from disabled students, disabled staff, alongside both student and staff implementation partners.