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Kera

@keraoregan

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"If governments won't implement our rights, disabled communities will organise and make them." At our #COSP19 side event, *Finding Common Ground*, Disabled Persons Assembly NZ - DPA President Kera Sherwood-O'Regan challenged participants to think about what the next 20 years of disability rights implementation should look like. While the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) remains one of the most important tools disabled people have to advocate for our rights and hold governments accountable, Kera acknowledged a difficult reality: many governments are not delivering on the commitments they made. In Aotearoa New Zealand, disabled people are experiencing significant setbacks, with hard-won gains increasingly under threat. But Kera's message was clear: disabled communities are not waiting. The *Finding Common Ground* initiative was created to answer a critical question: how do we translate the principles of the CRPD into something meaningful, practical, and grounded in the lived realities of disabled people in Aotearoa? Developed through relationships, kōrero, and collaboration across the disability community, the Declaration of Disability Rights and Aspirations aims to make our rights easier to understand, easier to use, and harder to ignore. Grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, disability rights, and the lived experiences of disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori, and Pacific disabled communities, it is about turning aspirations into action and building the collective power needed to create change. As Kera reminded us, the future of disability rights will not be delivered to us. It will be built by us. 📢 Complete the survey and add your voice to the Declaration of Disability Rights for Aotearoa New Zealand. https://www.dpa.org.nz/dpa-projects/finding-common-ground/finding-common-ground/ Together, we can define the future we want and build the movement needed to achieve it. #FindingCommonGround #COSP19 #UNCRPD #OurDeclarationOurRights by @keraoregan
There was real power in the room at our Finding Common Ground hui in Ōtautahi Christchurch 🌟 Disabled people, tākata whaikaha & hauā Māori, Deaf communities, whānau, and carers came together from across Aotearoa me Te Waipounamu to imagine what disability rights in Aotearoa could look like when led by us. The kōrero was bold, honest, challenging, hopeful, and deeply grounded in collective care and shared purpose. We want to hear from everyone. The survey is now open and will help shape a shared Declaration of Disabled Peoples’ Rights in Aotearoa New Zealand. He Toa Takitini — together we are stronger 🌟 Link in Bio! Finding Common Ground is a collaborative initiative led by representatives from: 🌟 Disabled Persons Assembly NZ (DPA) 🌟 Te Ao Mārama Aotearoa (TAMA) 🌟 National Enabling Good Lives (NEGL) #OurDeclerationOurRights #DisabilityDeclerationAotearoa by @keraoregan
In a world where governments are increasingly challenged to uphold human rights commitments and international agreements, disabled communities are finding new ways to drive progress from the ground up. Disabled communities are actively shaping the next phase of UNCRPD implementation, rather than waiting for it to happen. National initiatives like Finding Common Ground; grassroots organising through MAASHA; and efforts to strengthen disability representation within international climate governance (UNFCCC) demonstrate how disabled people are using the UNCRPD for accountability, advocacy, and collective action to make our rights a reality. These initiatives move beyond participation alone, creating pathways for meaningful representation, leadership, and civic engagement. Join us for a #UNCRPD #COSP19 official side event on Monday 8th June 4:45pm – 6pm EDT (Tuesday 9th June 8:45am – 10am NZT). In this dynamic session, we will hear from disabled leaders who are championing these collaborative, cross-sector, cross-community leadership and advocacy initiatives that are shaping disability rights movements and translating the UNCRPD into practice — from Aotearoa New Zealand to the global arena. This event is open to the general public, but places are limited so please register early to avoid disappointment. Find out more & register on our website. Link in Bio. @info_tamatrust @keraoregan @juliana.carvalho.nz @jgboberg @sustainedabilityorg @endashnow by @keraoregan
Indigenous Sisterhood ❤️ Last minute statement drafting, deep collaboration, and deep love and respect for eachother and each others’ communities. People ask me “what’s the point of going to COP?”. This is. Yes, there are long sleepless nights, lots of stress, and a huge expense. But nothing beats sharing story with Indigenous Peoples around the world, realising how similar our experiences are, and learning from each other’s perspectives, cultures, and histories to better fight for our collective future. Indigenous women are magic ✨ #COP30 #COP30Belém @iipfcc Photos by Jason Boberg, Activate Agency @jgboberg @activate.film by @keraoregan
Indigenous Peoples’ collective closing statement at #COP30, delivered by Diana Chavez Vargas of Ecuador. “Thank you Chair, The Amazon, our home is the next global oil frontier. Indigenous Peoples are under attack. We face colonial militarization of our territories, where states and corporations trade our lives for fossil fuels, transition minerals, and large-scale renewables. We stand in solidarity with our Amazonian relatives and condemn the killing of land defenders. This was mirrored by the heavy militarization of this COP. Even at the “Indigenous COP” we have been excluded. We recognize the historic inclusion of the rights of Indigenous Peoples, including our rights to Self-Determination; Free, Prior and Informed Consent; and the protection of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation in the Just Transition Work Program text. While we welcome the inclusion of our rights in the Mutirão, sidelining us to the preamble and not the operational text is unacceptable. Here, “land rights and traditional knowledge” apply exclusively to Indigenous Peoples. The Mutirão lacks the ambition to live up to its Indigenous name. The Presidency’s roadmap to phase out fossil fuels and end deforestation must ensure our full participation for its credibility and effectiveness. There can be NO just transition if our territories remain sacrifice zones. Solidarity with Indigenous Pacific relatives who face extreme expense and barriers to attend COPs on the other side of the world. They deserved a Pacific COP. We urge parties to take full advantage of the Pre-COP to witness climate impacts on their land and ocean territories; and to meaningfully support and resource Pacific and Indigenous participation at COP31. Parties, there is NO true multilateralism without the real inclusion of Indigenous Peoples. Our duty to our future generations requires us to put relationships over ego, money, and power. It’s time for you to learn to do the same. Thank you.” @diana.chavezvargas Photo credit: Jason Boberg, Activate Agency by @keraoregan
A serious photo first & then back to whānau shenanigans celebrating this fine fellow’s 86th birthday! Rā whānau ki tōku Poua ❤️ May there always be a maritime idiom on the tip of your tongue, and your favourite kai to follow! 🥧 by @keraoregan
Update: FOUR days til you need to be submitting your Treaty Principles Submissions. Submissions have been extended til Tuesday 14th at 1pm. You can also copy and paste points that resonate with you if you’re unsure what to say - it doesn’t have to be in your own words apologies for earlier slide encouraging this. If copy & paste is what you can manage go for it! — ADHDers and Last Minute babes - I know you are overwhelmed right now so start a 15 minute timer and let me hold your hand through this 💚 I know it’s tempting to leave it a little longer until the 11pm adrenaline kicks in, but that doesn’t account for the website crashing or any other issues outside of the control of your wonderful super-speed self ⚡️ SO… Here’s the unofficial ADHDer’s / Last Minute guide to making a Treaty Principles Bill submission - it has a bunch of points you can pick from to include in your submission; and the last-minute tricks to make it SUPER easy while still being a submission you can feel proud of. Write it as you go through this carousel, literally one minute per slide. Boom! Done! 🤜🏽💥🤛🏼 #toitūtetiriti ✊🏼 by @keraoregan
by @keraoregan
Watch the Treaty Principles & Disability session replay over on our Facebook page! We talk about how Te Tiriti & disability rights are connected and take you through how to make your own submission - make sure you get yours in before the deadline on 7th January! #DisabilityJustice #TreatyPrinciplesBill #toitūtetiriti by @keraoregan
Big day today on the back of several big days so it was likely inevitable that a migraine would strike at some point - and unsurprisingly right before I was meant to go live on @koekoeaa for our session on the Treaty Principles Bill & Disability. The brain not braining coupled with tech challenges was a little much so I will share some slides when my brain is fully back online so everyone gets the full information I was hoping to share tonight. I also cannot overstate how incredibly grateful I am to have had the phenomenal @tinangata jump in to tautoko on such short notice, and Laura & Rangi interpreting and giving me such grace as my brain short circuited with the tech. Was so nice to see lovely and encouraging comments from whānau watching as well. Such a beautiful reminder of community care kā mihi tino nui e hoa mā 🙏🏽 Even though the tinana is not feeling the best, and the kōrero can be taumaha talking about such regressive government actions, it feels so affirming to be part of a kaupapa and community that are just rad like that. Go check out the wicked kōrero from our whole rōpū of fab humans on @koekoeaa and don’t forget to make your submissions! Pōmarie! by @keraoregan
Tell your mates - this Friday’s Whāmere Rāmere webinar is tailored specially for our whānau whaikaha and tākata hauā 🙌🏽 Join @keraoregan (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) to talk all things disability justice and Te Tiriti, along with practical tips and suggestions for your own submission against the Treaty Principles Bill 👩🏽‍💻 NZSL will be provided, and live Zoom captions will be enabled. This session will be disability-focused, and all are welcome. Head over to the Koekoeaa Facebook to catch the session this Friday 20th December from 7pm-8pm! by @keraoregan
Why is the Treaty Principles Bill relevant to disabled people, tākata hauā, and whānau whaikaha? Swipe for a quick primer, or watch our Facebook live replay for the full kōrero on @koekoeaa 🌱 Art by @keraoregan #TreatyPrinciplesBill #IndigenousRights #DisabilityRights by @keraoregan

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