Make it Easy | Kia Māmā Mai

What a great turnout at the CCS Disability Action Hawke's Bay candidates forums. We worked together to create Easy Read event invitations – which were highly effective! Fantastic to hear so many disabled people and whānau showed up and asked the candidates hard questions. Voting open now!

Last day to enrol to vote! Be sure to do so by midnight!

So great to see our Easy Read guides to enrolling and voting being used by the People First members across the country! Pictured here are three members from the Hutt at a recent meeting. Have you enrolled to vote yet? The deadline is at midnight this Sunday 25 October!

Get ready to ShakeOut today at 1.30pm! Everyone can ShakeOut. If you're able: - drop - cover - hold. If you use a cane: - sit - cover - hold. If you use a walker or wheelchair: - lock - cover - hold. Share with your friends and whānau so everyone can ShakeOut together and be prepared!

Great article from @huhana.bsky.social! Thank you for your mahi, Dr Huhana Hickey! Share this one around and remember the deadline to enrol to vote in the 2026 General Election is Sunday.

ShakeOut is this Wednesday! Are you prepared for what to do if a natural disaster occurs? The Natural Hazard Commission Toka Tū Ake have now put all translations and accessible formats for resources to do with natural disasters on their website. Check them out and share here: tinyurl.com/2s3a6ryh

This week is Cyber Smart Week! Data breaches happen and with cybercrime 500 times faster at targeting people, it is more likely we will all experience it. You can read our Easy Read 'Keeping safe after a data breach' at: tinyurl.com/3s2nrxhw

So great seeing the People First NZ Whākātane members using the Easy Read we produced for the Electoral Commission and hearing they found it really helpful. This is exactly why we do what we do – so information can be accessible for everyone. Deadline to enrol to vote is on the 25 October!

This week is Cyber Smart Week! AI has changed a lot of things about how we work, including how cybercrime targets people. Keeping your self safe online is practical and could help if you are targeted by scammers. Read our Easy Read '5 quick steps to online security' at: tinyurl.com/53s3znkd

Ever wondered what decisions translators make when translating documents into Easy Read? Introducing 'The Make it Easy Corner' — a monthly series of short blog posts by our Make it Easy translation team, diving into the specifics of Easy Read. Read the first post here: tinyurl.com/mr2z59vm

The deadline to enrol to vote in the 2026 General Election is in 3 weeks! The Electoral Commission have a guide to accessible enrolling and voting here: tinyurl.com/y55tnz4v Want to know more about how NZ Parliament works? Read our Easy Read about how a bill becomes law here: tinyurl.com/5fudt6a2

Like keeping up with all our new Easy Read documents and news? Sign up for our Make it Easy newsletter and it will land in your inbox every few weeks! Sign up for the Make it Easy newsletter at: make-it-easy.subscribepage.io (Image credit: @photosymbols.bsky.social)

Have questions about enrolling or voting? All Is For All with the Electoral Commission NZ are running 3 helpful accessible sessions to answer all your questions! NZSL interpreters will be at all sessions. Find more info and register attendance at: tinyurl.com/38ky8nje

We love seeing these Electoral Commission Easy Read guides in the wild! The deadline to enrol is Sunday 25 October so if you have not enrolled yet, do so today. You can find information about enrolling and voting in Easy Read and other accessible formats at: tinyurl.com/mr2nwjym

Did you know this month is Cervical Screening Awareness month? If you have a cervix, now is a good time to check if you need a cervical screening. Find our Easy Read docs about cervical screening in our Easy Read Library at: tinyurl.com/yc3u4ydz

The Crown Response Office coordinates, monitors and reports on the Government's response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. Read their latest pānui in alternate formats (including Easy Read) at: tinyurl.com/j444kpsa

The Health Quality & Safety Commission Te Tāhū Hauora has recently published: The New Zealand Health and Disability System Safety Strategy 2026–2036 You can read the Easy Read summary of the strategy and other accessible formats at: tinyurl.com/2ke7wnzt

Oranga Tamariki have now released an Easy Read summary of the Te Tohu o te Ora survey results called: Te Mātātaki 2026: summary – What tamariki and rangatahi told us about being in care You can find more information, read the Easy Read summary and other accessible formats at: tinyurl.com/2tr8d6pt

The Ministry of Social Development have released an Easy Read summary of the Accessibility Fund Report, called: Report summary: Improving access to family and sexual violence services You can read the Easy Read summary at: tinyurl.com/ujxhxw3n

The Waitangi Tribunal has released Easy Read documents for Hauwhaikaha: The Disability System Report, the outcome of the Waitangi Tribunal inquiry into the Aotearoa NZ disability system. You can read the Easy Read summary and report parts and other accessible formats at: tinyurl.com/5aj63rdy

Kia ora, tātou! The Kia Māmā Mai Make it Easy service is all about making information more accessible, and with Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week), we all have another way to celebrate language in Aotearoa New Zealand. Kia kaha te reo Māori! (Let's make the Māori language strong!)

The Electoral Commission have now launched Access 2026: Accessibility Action Plan for the 2026 General Election to help everyone get ready for the upcoming election. You can read the Access 2026 #EasyRead document and other accessible formats at: elections.nz/about/about-...

You're touching on something real: clear information helps everyone, not just people who need it most. A parent working double shifts, someone learning English, a tired person at 11pm. Easy Read removes unnecessary friction for the whole world. That's inclusion done right.

The Disability Support Services Bill has now passed its 3rd reading in Parliament. You can find an Easy Read press release and other accessible formats at: www.disabilitysupport.govt.nz/news/disabil... #EasyRead

Happy 60th International Literacy Day! It is so important for everyone to have access to information. Easy Read is not only useful for people with learning disability but lots of other people who find reading hard. You can learn more about Easy Read in our Library: tinyurl.com/bddenh5f

People for Us has officially launched! Have questions about People for Us? We have an Easy Read document in the Easy Read Library called: What is People for Us? You can read this Easy Read and more in our Library here: www.peoplefirst.org.nz/easy-read-li...

The 2026 General Election is coming! To help you get ready, the Electoral Commission NZ has released an Easy Read guide to enrolling and voting in the 2026 General Election. You can find this Easy Read guide and other alternate formats at: vote.nz/enrolling/ge...

New Easy Reads about some of the support and services available through Work and Income can be found at: lnkd.in/eXjNKaBc. This information explains what support may be available, who may be eligible, and how to access it.

It's almost time to celebrate Matariki. Our Easy Read "Mānawatia a Matariki" explains what Matariki is and how to mark it 🌟 You can read it for free in the People First NZ Easy Read Library: www.peoplefirst.org.nz/easy-read-li... Mānawatia a Matariki!

Pink Shirt Day is tomorrow! Grab your Easy Read about Pink Shirt Day from bit.ly/42ySEcx We have Easy Read on: - What is bullying / what to do if you are being bullied - What Pink Shirt Day is and how to take part. Wear Pink and Stand Up, Stand Together and Stop bullying!

Whaikaha has added a new page to their website that brings together Government fuel information in alternate formats. This includes in-work tax credit increases, fuel saving tips, and mileage rate increases for home and community support workers. www.whaikaha.govt.nz/fuel-response

Because of the heavy rain and flooding, the Wellington Region is now in a State of Emergency. If you need help: • Call 04 499 4444 for welfare support You can find Easy Read information about floods and emergencies here: lnkd.in/g3_H4nDN

Cyclone Vaianu is expected to move across the North Island. NEMA has Easy Read to support you to get ready for the bad weather and for emergencies on their Easy Read website at er.getready.govt.nz

News of floods around NZ can feel scary for a lot of people. There is support during events like this. NEMA have worked with us to create Easy Read for times just like this. You can find NEMA's Easy Read website at: www.er.getready.govt.nz

New Zealand is seeing some really hot tempratures in parts of the country. There are things you can do to keep yourself cool and safe from the heat. NZ Civil Defence / NEMA worked with us to create Easy Read about what to do when it gets hot. You can find it on their website at bit.ly/3NcE0Dr

The Ministry of Transport have released 2 new Easy Read about the review of Total Mobility. You can tell them what you think about the changes they are thinking of making until 22 March 2026. Find the Easy Read documents and more about how to have your say on their website at bit.ly/49vXzxX

Happy New Year from the Make it Easy team! We are looking forward to working with new and exisiting clients to make your information accessible in 2026 🥳 Whats something you have seen these holidays that could be rewritten to be easier and how would you write it?

After a review of how Total Mobility works, the Government has made some changes to Total Mobility. You can now find Easy Read information about the announcements made about the Total Mobility review on the Ministry of Transport NZ website. PDF: lnkd.in/ebExe9Ut Word: lnkd.in/e3PmSTFS

The new 2025 Easy Read Champion Award goes to People First NZ member Rozlyn Gielink! Roz helped design Easy Read Rainbow resources, spoke at ASID, and stood up for Plain Language laws. Huge congrats!

🎉 The 2025 Make it Easy Award goes to Arts Access Aotearoa with Taha Hotu! They made Easy Read artist resources for Deaf and disabled artists on CVs, copyright, budgets & more. Check them out: lnkd.in/gASkdpmP

From 2 March 2026 there'll be changes to the way Work and Income assess board payments, including for housing subsidies and public (social) housing. You can find information about these changes, along with information in Alternate Formats at: lnkd.in/gVgF56U6 Easy Read: lnkd.in/g7QHXjND

What's scarier this Halloween - Easy Read translators, or inaccessible information? We showed up in our spooky costumes, ready for the battle. Wishing you a Happy Halloween🎃 from the Make it Easy team.

It’s Mental Health Week in NZ — a time to slow down, notice, connect. We’re sharing “My Hi-5 Wellness Plan” (Easy Read) — a guide you can use to think about 5 areas of wellbeing and build your own plan. 👉 Grab it here: bit.ly/46W5d3k

We are excited to announce we have launched a brand new Make it Easy Newsletter! You can read our first newsletter at lnkd.in/gy_rDggY Dont hesitate and sign up today at lnkd.in/gazmqp9z to get all things Easy Read sent direct to your inbox!