The New Zealand Labour Party has promised free annual health checks for people with an intellectual disability. In a pre-election policy statement Labour has also committed to employing an additional 100 inclusive education teachers and would review the entire system of disability support.
Labour’s Disability Issues spokesperson, Ruth Dyson, said Labour is committed to the principle in terms of disability that there is ‘nothing about us without us’. To reinforce this it would immediately ensure the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, she said. “We are also determined to support quality living for persons with disabilities in the community. To that end we will make sure that more houses are designed to meet the needs of all New Zealanders.”
The Disability Issues policy would dovetail into its Careplus program which promises people with long term health problems would get free GP visits, Dyson added.
New Zealand goes to the polls on September 30 with the ruling National Party seeking a third term in office.