FAQs

Kāpō Māori Aotearoa is the oldest national indigenous blind consumer led organisation, founded as a peer support network in 1983 by blind, low vision, vision impaired, deaf blind Māori and their whānau. We are guided by Māori values, principles and practices, and support tāngata whaikaha (disabled people) and their whānau to attain whānau ora (wellbeing), be strong self-advocates and leaders in their whānau and communities and contribute to educating Aotearoa New Zealand society about indigenous disability.

“Illuminating the darkness with hope, self-determination, independence, individual and whanau well-being”

Yes The misison statement of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa is to:

• Work with members and whanau in accordance with kaupapa Māori best practice standards to remove barriers that restrict their ability to be contributing citizens in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Support members and whānau to attain individual and whānau self-determination in accordance with whānau ora health and well-being outcomes.
• Invest in innovations and research that strengthen member, whānau and organizational capability and capacity
• Influence societal change through contributing forward thinking, solution focused, consumer perspective advice and guidance to members, whānau, disabled Māori, the disability community, other indigenous disability organisations, local Government, Iwi, the Crown and the general public.
• Deliver specialist Māori cultural support services to members, whānau and the disability community generally.

The strategic goals of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa are:

Goal 1: Wealth generation and financial stability.

Goal 2: Increase organisational capability and systems integrity.

Goal 3: Create and maintain innovative ‘member centered’ programs and service solutions.

Goal 4: Build robust long-term sustainable relationships.

Goal 5: Expand the profile and reputation of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa.

It is both. Kāpō Māori Aotearoa is a Disabled Persons Organisation (DPO) that has the mandate to speak on behalf of Kāpō Māori and their whānau in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Society also offers a range of whānau-centered services that are funded through Crown, non-government and philanthropic service contracts and grants.

The core business of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa is to advocate for, design and implement service solutions that support Kāpō Māori Aotearoa members to attain whānau ora, thus realising their potential as individuals, as whānau and as contributing citizens in Aotearoa New Zealand society.

From an operational level Kāpō Māori Aotearoa undertakes the following functions:

Workforce development:

• Strengthen Kāpō Māori Aotearoa internal workforce capability
• Initiate and/or contribute in the development of innovations that generate employment opportunities for Kāpō Māori members specifically and the disabled community generally.

Research:

• Initiate and/or participate in research that will contribute to improving health, economic, education and social outcomes of Kapo Maori Aotearoa members, the disabled community, Te Ao Maori and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Advocacy:

• Strategic advocacy: Work independently and/or collaboratively with other ‘like-minded’ organisations to influence Government policy and decisions.
• Operational advocacy: When requested advocate on behalf of and/or along with the member.

Policy Advice:

• Provide expertise and advice to Government and Non-Government agencies developing policies that will directly affect Kāpō Māorimembers specifically and the disabled community generally.

Public Awareness:

Educate Kāpō Māori Aotearoa members about their rights in accordance with:

• Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIP)
• United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNRCPD)
• New Zealand Bill of Rights
• Code of Health and Disability Services Consumer Rights

Broaden the profile and reputation of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa through publishing and contributing to ‘positive stories’ that highlight the work of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa and its members.

Training

• Design, invest in and deliver member-centered program and service solutions that realise members’ potential
• Contribute in the development of innovations and on-going development of training initiatives that will improve educational outcomes for Kāpō Māori Aotearoa members specifically, the disabled community and Te Ao Maori generally.

Information

• Assist members to navigate, identify, access or provide information in accordance with their information requirements.
• Produce internal Kāpō Māori Aotearoa information in accessible formats.
• Peer Support
• Enable opportunities for members to come together.
• Assist members to establish, co-ordinate, expand and sustain local community peer support networks

Self-Advocacy

• Support members to achieve the ‘3S’ to becoming self-advocates: Self-confidence, self-belief and self-determination.

What is the organizational structure of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa?

The evolution of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa and its infrastructure has been colorful, evolving from a peer support and advocacy group in Auckland to a lean and organic business entity, a national health and disability service provider as well as a non-academic research body. Central to the success of the Society’s sustainability is that the organization remains consumer governed and led with delivery of services founded upon kaupapa Māori principles and practices.

The internal organisational structure comprises of ‘Governance’ being Te Kahui Tumuaki and ‘Operational’ being staff employed by Kāpō Māori Aotearoa – refer following diagram – Kāpō Māori Aotearoa Organisation Chart.

Governance – Te Kahui Tumuaki

Te Kahui Tumuaki (National Executive) comprises of five positions, President, Vice-President and three board members. In accordance with the Society’s constitution, three of the five positions must be held by a kāpō person with two of those positions being that of President and Vice President.

Election of Te Kahui Tumuaki can only be facilitated at either a general or special meeting of the Society. Additionally, only Kāpō Māori Aotearoa ‘Tangata’ members can nominate, vote and or be elected as a member of Te Kahui Tumuaki. 

Location is not a determinant of the election process. Up to September 2013 payment of service for Tumuaki members’ contribution was voluntary however at the Society’s 2013 General meeting Tangata members passed a remit that affirmed payment of honorarium to Board members.

View the current Tumuaki members

Management & Staff

Kāpō Māori Aotearoa employs a total of six salaried staff.

View the current Management team and Operations team

Kāpō Māori Aotearoa Membership

Any individual (disabled, able bodied, whānau member, friend, care giver and/or supporter) residing in Aotearoa and who supports the Society’s aim, purpose, philosophy and principles can register and access Kāpō Māori Aotearoa services.

Kāpō Māori Aotearoa registrants comprise of all genders, ages (0 to 80+ years), ethnicity, income level, religious preference, hāpu and Iwi affiliations.

There is no registration cost with potential registrants informed prior to signing up about the Society, its services and kaupapa Māori business practices and service delivery methods.

Registrants are also informed and given the opportunity to register as Kāpō Māori Aotearoa ‘Tangata’ through the payment of an annual subscription fee, this amount set at the Society’s general meeting. Payment of the subscription fee entitles ‘Tangata’ to fully participate in the governance and on-going strategic development of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa. Tangata registration is voluntary.

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The best way to contact Kāpō Māori Aotearoa is by phoning our 0800 free phone number: 0800 770 990, email or fill in our contact form.