Youth MP’s urge the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha to create a “truly inclusive” environment for disabled/whaikaha learners
By Aleksandra Bogdanova, Youth Press Gallery, Youth Parliament 2025
Youth MPs in the Whaikaha/Disabled Learners PWG. Photo Credit Aleksandra Bogdanova.
Note: Articles in this newsletter edition were produced by the Youth Press Gallery at various stages of the Youth Parliament 2025 programme. Accordingly, the content presented reflects the context and timing at the date of its original writing.
The 2025 Youth Parliament event saw rangatahi (young people) organised into groups of eight – ten based on topics of interest where they hope to facilitate change at a Government level.
One of the topics included finding ways to improve learning and employment opportunities for tāngata whaikaha/disabled people throughout Aotearoa. The rangatahi part of this working group came from all walks of life, with eagerness to see real change be made for them, their friends, and their whānau.
Payton Māata Matthews-Runga, the Green’s Kahurangi Carter’s Youth MP, started the conversation early in the chamber, centering her speech topic on advocating for disabled rights; which she labelled as simply, “human rights”.
“Some politicians don’t see any real value in us, they don't think hauaa can do things that fully able tāngata can do, so they give us the most rubbish help and assistance and call it a day,” she said during her speech. This fire was carried into the first session of discussions for the working group.
Matthews-Runga, Kahurangi Carter's Youth MP during her general debate speech. Photo credit: Aleksandra Bogdanova
Within the first session, the Youth MPs brought forward firsthand experiences from themselves, friends, families, and surveyed findings from their local communities of things whaikaha struggle with daily.
One topic brought up was the concept of “invisible illness”, such as living on the neurodivergent spectrum or with chronic illnesses. Youth MPs Josh Henderson and Sylvie Macfarlane stressed it’s importance, saying it may be easy to overlook a disability that many wouldn’t be able to discern from just looking at someone.
Other Youth MPs such as Gustav Schwind and Mariah Wakefield-Otene grew up alongside siblings with disabilities, using their platform to voice their struggles and advocating for support to be made more accessible.
"My brother has a disability, and he’s had a really hard time going through the education system and not getting the bare minimum. Or getting the bare minimum after struggle,” Schwind, Hon Julie Anne Genter’s Youth MP explains.
Co-Chairs of the working group, Cherry Safin and Sabrina Liu compiled this kōrero into five main recommendations that they would make to the Government to encourage positive change for whaikaha rangatahi.
1. Increase direct funding to learning support, assistive technology, and disability accommodations — with targeted equity funding for tāngata whaikaha Māori.
2. Implement mandatory disability and neurodiversity training for all teachers, aides, and school leaders in professional development courses.
3. Establish seamless transitions through dedicated case managers and consistent support across schooling stages.
4. Design a truly inclusive curriculum — co-produced with disabled youth, teachers, and experts.
5. Enforcement mechanisms for accountability.
This carried over into a second round of discussions, where the Youth MPs were able to bring the recommendations to Minister of Social Development, Hon Louise Upston, as well as important figureheads in government departments such as Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha.
Youth MPs in the Whaikaha/Disabled Learners PWG on the steps of Parliament. Photo credit: Aleksandra Bogdanova
Upston brought attention to the first recommendation, where the rangatahi suggested better transparency of disability support funding in education, so to avoid educational facilities using the funding for other purchases. “You’re very right about that. It’s not about money, it’s about where it goes.” said the Minster.
Both Co-Chairs of the group say they feel a productive conversation was had.
Safin and Liu during working group discussions. Photo credit: Aleksandra Bogdanova
Safin said that while laying the hard truths out may have been depressing, working alongside other passionate rangatahi reassured them that the work they were doing had true value, “Despite some depressing and bleak findings, it was reassuring to watch everyone speak with fervor as voices of their disabled community, whānau, and loved ones,” they said.
Liu attributes their strong mahi to the group’s shared values and drive to see change be made. “I think it was easy for our PWG (Parliamentary Working Group), too, because we constantly bounced ideas off each other and added our own perspectives to what was being discussed,” she said.
Upston thanked the rangatahi for the mahi they put into the working group, affirming that their input is being taken into account, “we are doing a disability strategy refresher at the moment, with educational components, and so we’ll have some very real input from you.”
The refresher was announced in March of 2025, with a focus on employment opportunities. Public consultation will take place in August for the new disability strategy, which will run for five years following the expiry of the current one in 2026.
350 tāngata whaikaha have expressed interest in participating, in addition to discussions with the Parliamentary Working Group.
Safin, the Co-Chair of the group says the experience put things into perspective, “I learned that while change may not happen overnight, we must continue to ardently push for change, and make sure disabled people themselves are involved in every step of the policymaking process for change to be meaningful.”
The other Youth MPs share their passion, gearing up to work closely with the Government post the Youth Parliament event to ensure that whaikaha rangatahi are heard and uplifted.