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To: The House of Representatives

Leave no-one behind: Campaign to address digital exclusion

Citizens Advice Bureau
We're asking the NZ House of Representatives to pledge their commitment to the following: 

1. Leave no-one behind: Ensure that steps are taken to address digital exclusion and that no-one is left behind or left out because they can’t or don’t wish to engage online.  

2. Public services accessible to all: Implement accessibility and inclusion standards for the delivery of public services that include offline channels as part of the proactive design of government service delivery. 

3. CAB compensated for cost-shifting: Ensure that the Citizens Advice Bureau is properly funded to meet the demands and cost-shifting that has resulted from government services going online.

Add your voice to this call to address digital exclusion!

Why is this important?

Have you or someone you know ever tried to fill out a government form online?
How about doing that on your phone? And uploading documents to it?
What if your internet connection was limited? Or English wasn’t your first language? Or you were vision impaired? Or didn't have a credit card?
What if you needed help to understand, and what you really wanted was someone to talk to?

Consider the frustration this causes you and what it looks like when you’re made further vulnerable as you stare into the digital divide.

The digital-only or digital-first approach being embraced by government agencies is excluding some of Aotearoa’s most vulnerable people and communities. This is unacceptable. We want to see people’s needs put at the centre of public services and are asking our representatives in Parliament, to pledge to ensuring this is the case.

Interacting with government services is often about accessing rights and entitlements and it’s important that there aren’t any barriers in the way. Digital services are not the right response for all people or in all circumstances. There needs to be genuine choice for people about how they can interact - whether online, face-to-face, through others or by phone.

It is critical that as a country we don’t allow the digital transformation of public services to further entrench disadvantage and vulnerability.

We have written to politicians asking them to commit to addressing digital exclusion so that no-one is left behind or left out because they can't or don't wish to engage online.

As part of this campaign, we are also seeking funding to cover the transfer of costs that has resulted from government agencies closing up shop in communities and sending people to get help from CABs, including to get paper copies of forms.

Join us in this call to address digital exclusion so that we leave no-one behind!

This campaign builds on the findings and recommendations of our report, ‘Face to Face with digital exclusion’. You can read the full report here: https://www.cab.org.nz/what-we-do/social-justice/digital-exclusion/

Partner

Links

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Updates

2022-12-01 18:24:46 +1300

‘Commitment 3 – Establish an integrated, multi-channel approach to public services and support’ has been included in the consultation draft of New Zealand’s National Action Plan under the Open Government Partnership! https://ogp.org.nz/assets/New-Zealand-Plan/Fourth-National-Action-Plan/OGPNZ-draft-4th-National-Action-Plan-24-November-2022.pdf

2022-08-05 18:45:50 +1200

You can watch the special debate on our petition on demand on Parliament TV https://ondemand.parliament.nz/parliament-tv-on-demand/?keyword=Citizens+Advice+Bureau&subject=&person=&stage=

2022-08-05 18:44:39 +1200

There has been a special debate in Parliament on our petition.
You can read what the MPs said here:
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20220728_20220728_20
And https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20220728_20220728_28

2022-08-05 18:42:54 +1200

We have a campaign website! https://inclusioncampaign.cab.org.nz/

2021-12-09 13:23:22 +1300

Today, Thursday 9 December at 3.30pm, we will be speaking directly to Members of Parliament on the Petitions Select Committee. This is our chance to get our key messages through to those who have the power to take action.
Like you, we want a future where services are designed with people’s needs at the centre and all people are supported to participate fully in society. This means people should be able to access and use public services in a range of ways – whether online, face-to-face, through others, or by phone, so they can get what they need, and are entitled to, with dignity.
You can watch our oral submission here https://www.facebook.com/petitionscnz

2021-07-05 11:28:14 +1200

On Wednesday 7 July at 1pm, we will gather at Parliament to present the petition to the Minister of Digital Economy and Communications, Hon Dr David Clark. We invite you to join us! https://www.facebook.com/events/345242836986227

2021-07-05 11:26:20 +1200

Listen to Citizens Advice Bureau Acting Chief Executive, Andrew Hubbard on RNZ, Nine to Noon with Kathryn Ryan, talking about digital exclusion in Aotearoa New Zealand. "One of the key things we wanted to highlight through this research - is that there is a whole range of barriers that are in place around people accessing public services online, and it is not just access to devices and access to the internet which is what the government's focus is on", says Andrew Hubbard. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018802552/digital-is-best-excludes-nz-s-most-vulnerable

2021-06-24 12:19:10 +1200

5,000 signatures reached

2021-06-21 18:17:00 +1200

Your stories help to strengthen the campaign. We would love to hear why this issue is important to you. Have you faced barriers because of services being online? Do online processes meet your needs? Do you have thoughts about the value of being able to access human support? Maybe it affects someone close to you and you can help them to share their story? https://forms.gle/SjYyKGNfS8ccjdnd6

2021-04-23 12:29:17 +1200

Staff from CAB National Office made a bit of a spectacle of themselves drawing attention to the issues around digital exclusion at the recent Newtown Festival in Wellington. 328 signatures were collected on the day, bringing the total to over 4,800! https://www.facebook.com/citizensadvicenz/posts/794355244543212

2020-10-12 16:25:55 +1300

Sacha Green, author of the Citizens Advice Bureau report on digital exclusion, tells Eldernet just how big the problem is and how we all can help to ensure no one gets left behind in the rush to move online https://www.eldernet.co.nz/gazette/qa-cabs-sacha-green-on-digital-exclusion/

2020-09-30 10:58:17 +1300

CAB Wairarapa has put their local candidates on the spot about how they will address digital exclusion https://times-age.co.nz/online-only-problematic/.

2020-09-19 15:35:36 +1200

1,000 signatures reached

2020-09-16 11:57:46 +1200

500 signatures reached

2020-09-10 20:03:05 +1200

Great coverage of the campaign launch today, where the Chief Human Rights Commissioner signed the petition https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/wellington/122724067/its-ruling-us-out-vulnerable-people-are-being-lost-by-governments-digitalfirst-strategy