The IMM recommends that the Government:
49. Implement legislation requiring all newly built housing to conform to universal design standards (refer also Article 9);
50. Require Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities to:
a. adopt a comprehensive definition of universal design;
b. commit immediately to a policy of implementing universal design in all new housing builds across all housing types;
c. commit to replacing or retrofitting all existing housing stock to universal design standards over ten years;
d. design a range of accessible specifications for each housing type available (i.e. consistent with NZS4121 design standards);
e. implement a comprehensive accessibility audit of its housing stock;
f. commit to ensuring that a representative proportion of their housing stock is retrofitted to meet accessibility standards (i.e. per the accessible specifications developed above) as opposed to solely bespoke customisations. The proportion of accessible houses should, at minimum, be the proportion of Kāinga Ora tenants with an impairment; AND
g. increase the tenure for any disabled tenants requiring bespoke modifications to ensure that they can stay in homes that have been modified to their specifications;
51. Revise and/or expand all disability-related equipment and vehicle funding schemes to ensure that disabled people have access to the equipment they need to live independently and access their community.
52. Fully implement the recommendations of the 2008 Social Services Select Committee report (Inquiry into the quality of care and service provision for people with disabilities)15 to reduce the number of disabled people forced to live in rest homes.
53. Introduce accessibility legislation requiring all community services and facilities to be accessible by disabled people, and explicitly stating what is expected of all service providers.
54. As a matter of urgency, develop sustainable and equitable funding models so that all disabled people, irrespective of cause, can access flexible and integrated supports that facilitate independent living and full participation in community.
55. Ensure that central government, local government, and any other housing providers determine the numbers and types of accessible housing in such a way that they can be assessed against the community’s need.
56. Put more emphasis on the need for housing to be designed and built with accessibility in mind, and ensure disabled people have increased and quick access to sufficient housing modification funds to allow them to move about their own homes safely.