NEWS & UPDATES
CP Society news – Conference, e-card updates, member success and so much more
26 Feb 2026
Kia ora,
It feels like everything has been go-go-go around here for the past month or so. I bet that’s the same for many of our members with the summer holiday period ending, people returning to work and children returning to school, while still trying to make the most of our summer weekends.
It’s been another month of dramatic weather around Aotearoa New Zealand. For those of you who have been affected, we hope you and your whānau are safe and sound.
e-Card funding round
The current e-Card funding round ends on Saturday, February 28. Any funds remaining on a member’s e-Card will be removed at midnight.
As the first day of the new round is a Sunday, the process to top up funds will begin on Monday, March 2. This means there will be no access to e-Card funding on Sunday, March 1. Please plan accordingly.
An email with further information about the next funding round will be sent to members tomorrow.
Oceania Academy conference
Next week, I will be joining a few Cerebral Palsy Society representatives to attend the Oceania Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Childhood-Onset Disability’s 13th biennial conference.
The conference is being held in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia from March 3-7.
Among those attending is CP Society Executive Committee member Dr Meg Smith. She will be presenting on her research Adjusting to a different way of parenting. The experiences and perspectives of mothers raising a child with CP in NZ.
Anna Mackey, Project manager – New Zealand Cerebral Palsy Register, will be presenting on Health funding for people with neurological conditions in Aotearoa New Zealand.
As part of the conference proceedings, Amy Hogan, our Researcher and Member Support Advisor, will be named Co-President of the Oceania Academy. The Society’s Executive Committee and I are really excited about her appointment.
Not only does it recognise Amy’s commitment to advocacy and sharing Aotearoa New Zealand-based experiences of CP, it’s also another great opportunity to get the Cerebral Palsy Society’s name and expertise on the international stage.
Congratulations on your upcoming appointment Amy.
You can read more about the conference here: www.oceaniaacademyconference.com/en-AU
I look forward to filling you in on how it went in next month’s newsletter.
Accessible Futures Summit
Our Chairman Daniel Clay, myself and two members of staff, who are also on the Society’s Advocacy Committee, will be attending the Accessible Futures Summit in Wellington on March 25.
The purpose of the event, organised by Access Matters Aotearoa, is to agree on accessibility policies urgently needed in the areas of education, employment, health, housing and the built environment, justice, transport, public spaces, government investment and procurement, and the environment.
Both Daniel and Amy Hogan, who is co Chair of Access Matters Aotearoa, will be speaking.
I’m expecting the Summit will be a great opportunity to share the experiences of our members, and hear from people in Aotearoa New Zealand’s wider disability sector.
Onboarding new suppliers to the e-card programme
If you would like a company or service provider to join our e-card programme as a supplier, there are a few steps that we need to go through – and the process has a greater chance of success if we have your help.
– Mention the e-card programme to them in advance so they know what it’s all about. There’s an info sheet here: www.tinyurl.com/3web8jsx
– Get their details and fill in our form: www.tinyurl.com/3ze5s8vh
– Send the form to accounts@cpsociety.org.nz
We’ll handle things from there:
– We’ll make sure the company meets the programme criteria
– We’ll reach out to them and get the paperwork underway.
Congratulations Dani
Congratulations to Para athlete Danielle Aitchison!
The 63rd ISPS Handa Halberg Awards were held on February 16 and Dani, who lives with Cerebral Palsy – Hōkai Nukurangi was named the 2026 ISPS Handa Halberg Award Para Athlete of the Year.
What a great way to celebrate such awesome achievements on the track.
Citation from the Halberg Foundation:
What a standout year for Danielle Aitchison — crowned ISPS Handa Para Athlete of the Year! Danielle dominated on the world stage, completing a stunning sprint double at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi by taking gold in both the T36 100m and T36 200m, smashing her own world record with a blistering 27.18s in the 200m. With grit, speed, and world‑class performances, she continues to elevate para athletics and inspire the next generation. An incredibly well‑deserved honour!
Table Tennis success
Three CP Society members represented Aotearoa New Zealand at the International Table Tennis Federation’s World Para Future Gold Coast 2026 competition from February 16-18.
The team of eight athletes included Liam Hogan, Bhakti Patel and Joshua Rae. The team finished the tournament with an impressive medal haul across singles and doubles events.
Bhakti and her mixed doubles partner won a bronze medal.
Congratulations to all the players and coaches.
Good luck to Oakley
Thirteen-year-old CP Society member Oakley Herd has been selected to represent New Zealand in softball.
Oakley heads to Sydney, Australia next month to play for the ISA New Zealand U14 Boys Softball team. The team will compete against Australia and Japan, in the Blacktown International Junior Challenge Softball Tournament from March 17 to 29.
Proud mum Keziah says Oakley will be “representing not only his country but also demonstrating what is possible for young people living with disabilities”.
“Softball has been a powerful source of confidence, belonging, and personal growth for Oakley. It has supported his physical development, strengthened his self-belief, and reinforced the message that he is capable and deserving of big goals. This tournament represents the culmination of years of hard work, commitment, and self-belief.”
Congratulations on your success Oakley – we hope you enjoy every moment of the competition.
Have you had your say?
Draft Carers’ Strategy Action Plan
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is seeking feedback on the draft Carers’ Strategy Action Plan which sets out government actions to support family, whānau, aiga or individual carers.
Consultation closes on March 12.
Total Mobility
The Government has announced changes to funding settings for the Total Mobility scheme, administered by the Ministry of Transport. It has also launched public consultation seeking feedback on proposals to strengthen the scheme.
Consultation closes on March 22.
Coffee groups start from next week
Coffee groups kick off for the year next week and our hosts are looking forward to catching up with the regulars and welcoming anyone attending for the first time.
Coffee groups are held throughout the month in Auckland (Glenfield, St Lukes and Manukau), Whanganui, Masterton, Wellington and Christchurch (Shirley and Addington).
One companion, support worker, family or whānau member is welcome to accompany members to these groups.
Up to $15 worth of refreshments per person is provided compliments of the Cerebral Palsy Society.
If you’d like more information about your local coffee group, please call us on 0800 503 603 or email cpsociety@cpsociety.org.nz.
How to check your e-card balance
It’s easy to check the balance on your e-card. Simply:
– Go to https://ecardsolutions.nz/portal/cps/
– Check your last receipt
– Or go to www.cerebralpalsy.org.nz, click the Dashboard button, sign in and click the “Check Your E-Card Balance” button.
New e-Card suppliers
We’re delighted to welcome the companies and service providers that have come on board as e-Card suppliers in the last month.
getPhysical
– Therapy4Kids – Auckland – Occupational therapy for children 0-16 year olds
– Snap Fitness Kaiapoi – Kaiapoi – 24/7 gym. Personal trainers.
getOutThere
– Elite Ride and Mobility Services Ltd
– Driving Miss Daisy Hamilton North and East
– Driving Miss Daisy Hamilton South West
– Driving Miss Daisy Taupo
– Driving Miss Daisy Invercargill
One in Six
1 in 6 New Zealanders are disabled, and many who want to work still face barriers to employment.
Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People has launched One in Six, a new website to help businesses feel confident hiring and supporting disabled people.
Created with the New Zealand Disability Employers Network, it brings together simple tools, practical tips and real stories from workplaces across Aotearoa New Zealand.
One in Six shows how small changes in how you hire – and how you support people on the job – can open the door to a wider, motivated talent pool.
Looking for the right flatmate?
Flying Kites has launched a new project to help disabled people in Auckland connect with flatmates who truly fit — whether you want to share supports, maximise an accessible home, or just live with people who feel like “your people”.
Thanks to funding from Foundation North, Flying Kites has built a matching service to make the process easier and less stressful. There’s no cost or ongoing obligation. Tell them what you’re looking for, and they’ll work on making the introductions.
Podcast – The Pelvic Pod
Have you heard – there’s a new podcast called The Pelvic Pod.
“The Pelvic Pod is a space for real, open conversations about bladder, bowel, and pelvic health — the kind we don’t hear often enough. Through expert insights and lived experience, we share practical knowledge, break down stigma, and offer reassurance for everyday life. These honest conversations help normalise pelvic health and remind listeners they’re not alone.”
Listen or watch The Pelvic Pod on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
Research opportunities
There’s plenty of research going on for you to take part in.
– The United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawai’i is conducting The Impact of Aging with Cerebral Palsy Survey – open to adults with cerebral palsy who are 20-years of age older and/or their caregivers
– Assistive Technology Survey – Intopia invites you to take part in the Assistive Technology Survey 2025, a survey exploring how people across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand use and experience assistive technology
– Free gait training sessions – weekly sessions with Auckland University at the Newmarket campus on their positive-pressure (“anti-gravity”) treadmill.
You can read all about these projects on our Research Opportunities page.
What’s On
Ahi After Mahuika – sensory theatre
The Glass Ceiling Arts Collective presents a sensory theatre performance.
Ahi After Mahuika, inspired by the Māori goddess of fire, is a multi-sensory theatre journey blending myth, storytelling, original music, movement, and gentle interactive elements.
“This production has been thoughtfully created to be welcoming and engaging for disabled audiences, including people with sensory, cognitive, and physical access needs.”
It was peformed earlier this month at the Hamilton Arts Festival and is on in Auckland – Onehunga, March 2 and 3, and Henderson, March 5 and 6.
For more info go to: www.glassceilingartscollective.com/events
Show Your Ability
The Show Your Ability – Disability Equipment Expo kicks off next month.
– Auckland, Monday 2 March
– Hamilton, Wednesday 4 March
– Palmerston North, Friday 6 March
– Christchurch, Tuesday 31 March
– Dunedin, Wednesday 1 April
Go to www.showyourability.co.nz.
The Disability Journey into Adulthood 2026
Leaving school can bring a lot of questions — about daily life, living options, funding, transport, guardianship, and what the future might look like.
Real World Living, Flying Kites and the Complex Care Group are hosting a series of Zoom conversations designed to support young people with disabilities, their whānau, and supporters as they navigate the transition into adulthood. They’ll discuss practical options, available supports, and how to make informed choices with confidence.
Morning and evening sessions are available in March, June, August and October.
RSVP: robyn@realworldliving.co.nz
For updates, follow Disability Journey into Adulthood (NZ) on Facebook – www.facebook.com/groups/disabilityjourneyintoadulthood
Inclusive dance and disability fitness classes – Christchurch
MOVE and Soma Studios, both based in Christchurch, offer Inclusive Dance and Disability Fitness class. The classes are for people of all abilities, ages and experience levels.
Classes supports strength, coordination, flexibility and spatial awareness in a safe, respectful and non-judgemental environment.
The classes are designed with flexibility and choice, offering modifications so everyone can take part – whether moving from a chair, using mobility aids or moving freely.
Alongside physical benefits, the focus is on confidence, self-expression, and joy, supporting participants to leave feeling energised, capable and connected.
MOVE: www.move.org.nz/class/inclusive-dance-disability-fitness
Soma Studios: www.somastudios.simplybook.me
Auckland Central RDA
Auckland Central RDA (Riding for the Disabled) is inviting Auckland-based whānau of preschool and primary school aged children interested in potential riding sessions in 2027 to come in for a visit.
If you visit this year, you’ll have a chance to see an Auckland Central RDA session in action and they can add your details to a contact list ready for when riding spaces become available.
Auckland Central RDA details:
– Held at the Meadowbank Pony Club, 337 Kohimarama Rd, St Heliers
– Sessions held Thursday mornings in an outdoor arena (from Feb-June and Oct-Dec)
– Age range for riding: Pre-school and primary school age children (but this is child dependent).
For more information email aucklandcentral@rdagroup.nz
* Please note: There are many RDA groups operating across Aotearoa New Zealand, each with their own session times and requirements. For more information go to: www.rda.org.nz
Parafed Bay of Plenty
Parafed Bay of Plenty is a not-for-profit organisation supporting people with physical disabilities to participate in sport, recreation, and play across the Bay of Plenty. They provide a wide range of programs, from grassroots activities to high-performance pathways, including youth-focused and adaptive sport opportunities. Working with local clubs, schools, and volunteers, they aim to break down barriers to participation and ensure everyone can be active, confident, and included.
* There are Parafed providers throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. Go to www.parafednetwork.co.nz/our-impact for more information.
That’s it for the latest newsletter. I look forward to bringing you more updates and info next month. Until then, the team and I are wishing you and your whānau settled weather, sunshine and good health.
Ngā mihi,
Clare Williams
General Manager
