Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) has started mahi (work) to review and update our constitution, which outlines the rules and structure that guide how we operate as an incorporated society.
This mahi is about strengthening DPA's foundations. Being an inclusive organisation is the goal. To do this DPA needs a constitution that supports a modern, accessible, and empowered organisation for the future.
Here’s how we’re doing it, and how you can be involved.
Our reasons for change
We’re reviewing the constitution to:
- ensure it complies with updated legislation
- embed Te Tiriti more meaningfully, while acknowledging we’re not a kaupapa Māori organisation
- strengthen governance and election processes
- improve clarity around membership including eligibility, structure, and registration
- remove outdated and limiting clauses, like postal voting.
We need a constitution that enables us to work together and grow.
How the work will be done
We’ve engaged Taase Vaoga as our Programme Manager to deliver this work in partnership with our staff, National Executive Committee, and other contractors (as required).
This collaborative approach ensures the mahi is well-coordinated, draws on a broad range of expertise, and stays aligned with our strategic direction throughout.
The Programme Manager will play a key role in coordinating the views of each group, and ensuring members voices are heard and considered throughout the process.
We have also engaged Kāhui Legal to provide expert legal guidance. This will ensure our new constitution is robust, compliant, and complete.
How members can get involved
We need your involvement to make this change happen. We’ll be reaching out to members with opportunities to attend hui (meetings), fill out surveys, and review draft changes. Take a look at the timeline below to see when you can expect to hear from us.
Find out about engagements on DPA's constitution review.
Our roadmap to change
- Member engagement: designing our options
Your voice matters. We’re inviting members to help shape the direction of change from the start. - Consultation on options
We will consider the information you shared with us in the engagement and share the options with you as a proposal.
You’ll have the opportunity to explore proposed changes and give feedback via online and in-person hui, as well as surveys. - Consulting on the Proposed Constitution
We will write the Proposed Constitution and you will have a chance to give feedback on it before we finalise the Constitution. - Ratifying the Constitution
We will send the final constitution to members to consider and vote on at a Special General Meeting.
We’re aiming to have the Special General Meeting in late September or early October.
What success looks like
At the end of this process, we’ll have a constitution that reflects who we are as an organisation, our community, and membership.
It will support our values, strengthen our governance, and set us up for the future. We want an organisation and constitution that is unique to DPA and the disabled community.
Most importantly, it will be shaped by your voices, endorsed by members, and ready to move us forward with confidence.
Let’s build a constitution that reflects our values, our diversity, and our shared future.
Open lines of communication
We’ll keep you in the loop using our usual communication channels, so you’ll always know where we’re at in the process.
We’ve also started a Frequently Asked Questions page you can visit here.
At any point, if you have questions or want to kōrero more about the mahi, feel free to reach out by email to info@dpa.org.nz.
Taase Vaoga
Programme Manager
info@dpa.org.nz