Kia Noho Rangatira Ai Tātou

"To build a fully inclusive, fair and prosperous society, we need more people educated about a human rights approach to ensure people have the appropriate skills, values and commitment."
- Paul Gibson, Disability Rights Commissioner, Human Rights Commission Te Kāhui Tika Tangata. Foreword, Kia Noho Rangatira Ai Tātou programme manual, page 6.

Kia Noho Rangatira Ai Tātou is a unique education programme developed by Te Pou o te Whakaaro Nui and the Disabled Persons Assembly that puts human rights for disabled people and the Disability Convention into a New Zealand cultural context.

The name Kia Noho Rangatira Ai Tātou expresses the right of all people to exercise self-determination to participate confidently in their whānau, community and world. Many thanks goes to governance group member, Te Huia Bill Hamilton (Ngāti Kahungungu, Nga Rāuru, Ngāti Raukawa, Kotimana) for gifting the programme name.

Informed by human rights education best practice, the programme is developed and delivered by disabled people. “Nothing about me without me” is the basis of the programme’s philosophy. 

The two day interactive programme has three main learning objectives:

• understand the meaning of human rights and the New Zealand human rights system
• learn about the Disability Convention
• apply practical knowledge of the Disability Convention. 

The programme includes a manual which provides a practical reference guide to applying the Disability Convention. 

The programme is offered separately to:

• disability support services (DSS)
• disabled people (DP). 

What have past learners said about the programme?  

“Thank you for this opportunity to learn, talk, discover and plan.”
- Participant, disability support services

“I really enjoyed how interactive this programme is, it is engaging and very easy to stay motivated and interested to listen.”
- Participant, disability support services

“A load of learning. New information received learning about rights. Great course, well done!!!”  
- Participant, disabled person

“[I valued] hearing information presented in such an understandable way.”
- Participant, disabled person