Disability rights activists are calling for enforceable standards to make tourism attractions more accessible to people with disabilities.
Juliana Carvalho is the lead campaigner for Access Matters Aotearoa.
Carvalho was left paralysed from the waist down after an attack on her nervous system caused by Lupus when in Brazil aged 19.
In the years since, Carvalho has continued to thrive, having worked as a television presenter and written an autobiography to rave reviews in her native Brazil.
She told 1News the summer holidays can be a "very tricky" time of year when "everybody has holidays and then there are a lot of places and things that you cannot do".
One "huge frustration" is being unable to access the beach, she said.
"You come so close, but then there's the barrier of the soft sand, and then you cannot, you know, fully participate."
Another hurdle is having to rely on "pocket initiatives" for help accessing activities which people without disabilities don't think twice about, such as fishing or surfing.
"They don't have the same freedom as everybody else to really enjoy the summer and it continues in that model where you're receiving a favour, kind of. It's pitied, you know — your access is pitied," she said.
"The spontaneity and the joy of the summer is pretty much annihilated because of other disabilities."
While charitable organisations allow people with disabilities to access activities, the "physical limitations" and "learn[ing] how to live life with your new body" can be a challenge, Carvalho said.
"The pill that is really hard to swallow is the fact that society and the way things are. The way things are done still excludes us."
Participating in activities is dependent on your level of mobility, she said, and "if you don't have someone strong to carry you, you just miss out".
'They don't see what I see'
Jezza Williams was an international adventure guide when he became a tetraplegic following a canyoning accident in Switzerland in 2010.
He founded the Makingtrax Foundation for adaptive activities and education after discovering the hurdles being faced by people with disabilities wanting to take part in tourism experiences.
Williams told 1News there is "a lot of inconsistency when it comes to accessibility and accommodation".
"We're not considering what accessibility is because there’s no real guidance or leadership," he said.
Williams said while some companies are "doing really, really well" when it comes to offering accessible experiences and accommodation, others "are not even registering".
That's despite 24% of New Zealanders – or 1.1 million people – having a physical, sensory, learning, mental health or other disability, according to Stats NZ's 2013 disability survey.
Of that number, 35% – or 370,000 – are over the age of 65.
As the population ages and more people require a range of access needs, Williams said, the industry should be changing with it.
"We offer incredible services in this country but what we don’t offer is incredible access. So what I push for is best practice, rather than minimum standard. Minimum standard doesn’t work."
Currently, Williams said just 75 out of close to 3500 operators are making active changes to improve their access issues.
He said while tourism operators are well-intentioned, they are often seeking advice from consultants or architects who "don't have that lived experience".
"It doesn't register with a lot of people because we have an implicit social bias in this country through segregation in schools, special classes, etc. If you look at the employment rate in this country, you can see that quite significantly.
"It's not on their radar — they don't see what I see."
Despite his concerns, Williams said we "are doing well".
"New Zealand is an adventure-based environment and being an adventure-based environment, we look at inclusion rather than, when it comes to activities.
"It's all about education and information."
Calls for legislative change
Carvalho called for the Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill proposed by the previous government to be withdrawn and redrafted with input from the disabled community.
The current bill, which had its first reading in August 2022, would see the establishment of an accessibility committee to report to the Minister for Disability Issues and the Ministry of Disabled People's chief executive, but with limited powers.
Access Matters Aotearoa started a change.org petition last month calling for the "weak piece of legislation" to be replaced with a framework which is "fit for purpose", Carvalho said.
The redrafted bill would provide enforceable standards, a regulator, and a dispute resolution process to remove access barriers across all sectors.
For the tourism sector, it would mean the creation of minimum accessibility standards specific to the industry.
Carvalho said many tourism operators "don't even realise – they have no clue" or have no idea where to start.
"You see a lot of people that might have very good intentions but they are kind of 'where do I get the information from?'" she said.
"That's when a disability standard that's industry-specific for tourism will help them to do the right thing, you know – it will be the how-to."
She said the country is "far behind" countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia "in terms of legislation and ensuring disability rights".
"We can learn from other countries that are ahead, what has worked, what hasn't worked," she said.
"We are in such a special position because we are a small country with really well-intended people. We can make this place the most accessible in the world if we want to."
She said it was about politicians "actively listening to what activists have to say" and "having the buy-in of the overall population to just stand back, stand for us as well and say that it's not OK to keep us being treated as second-class citizens".
Despite the setbacks, Carvalho is hopeful that change is on the horizon.
"I've been campaigning for 10 years, I have to be optimistic. You know, you have to live in hope. And I think we only move forward with progress."
Disability Issues Minister Penny Simmonds told RNZ on Friday the Bill's progress in the House has been paused while officials consider "whether the Bill is worth trying to revive or whether we should be starting from scratch again".
Room for 'education and guidance'
Tourism Industry Aotearoa, which represents operators from small businesses to large corporations, says there is room for "greater education and guidance" in accessible tourism.
"The visitor experience is very important to us, and we see many tourism businesses taking steps to ensure they are more accessible and inclusive for visitors," CEO Rebecca Ingram told 1News.
"As an industry, we are supporters of greater consistency in the way accessibility is communicated to make easier for people to know where they can go and what they can do."
Ingram called Williams an "amazing advocate and advisor to the tourism industry".
"We value his work and encourage tourism businesses seeking to lift their capability to seek out support and expertise."
She said while work is underway for more tourism businesses to make their experiences accessible, "there is room potentially for greater education and guidance in this area".
"TIA is looking at we can do to support the industry here."
A directory of inclusive tourism operators and experiences can be found on the Makingtrax Foundation's website.
A list of inclusive and accessible travel can be found on the 100% Pure New Zealand website.
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