Mötika Tangata më Te Tiriti o Waitangi: Mate Korona më te Noho Rähui i Aotearoa Taumata 4 well as the views and experience of tangata whenua, while also highlighting the impact of racism on those communities who are currently feeling it most acutely. Lack of understanding can sometimes lead to a backlash against steps to uphold Te Tiriti and this highlights the continued need for education and to remain firmly committed to Te Tiriti and Mäori human rights throughout the COVID-19 recovery phase. Any attempt to address racism in Aotearoa New Zealand must include honest discussions about anti-Mäori racism in all its forms. Disability - Whaikahatanga Accessible information Accessibility is a precondition for disabled people to live independently and participate fully and equally in society. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires the government to provide accessible information on an equal basis with others; for example, New Zealand Sign Language for deaf people and ‘easy read’ for people with a learning disability. This is especially important in a health emergency. The Ministry of Health worked quickly with Disabled People’s Organisations, and the Human Rights Commission, to set up a ‘hub’ within government that helps to streamline the provision of COVID-19 information in accessible formats. However, there have been delays in approval processes and uploading accessible formats so that some information has been unavailable when required. Sometimes accessible formats are hard to locate. Accessible information about COVID-19 testing has been a problem. The COVID-19 government website, the public’s main information source, does not always provide accessible information. As we move into Level 3, decision makers need to continue to proactively seek the feedback of disabled people and their families about access to information. Decision makers should involve disabled people early in the drafting and production of materials and information. Tängata whaikaha (Mäori disabled people) must be linked to Mäori and disability COVID-19 response teams to benefit from, and contribute to, selfdetermined culturally effective and disability sensitive initiatives. Absence of disaggregated data COVID-19, and the response to it, have distinctive impacts on disabled people. Without data on these impacts, government cannot ensure individualised and holistic support to disabled people affected by COVID-19. Also, without this data, government cannot monitor any disproportionate burden that may fall on disabled people. The Commission understands that out of several government COVID-19 surveys only one appeared to ask about disability. Also, there is limited disability data on COVID-19 testing. As New Zealand moves into Level 3 and beyond, it is critical that better data are collected to understand how disabled people are affected. Agencies should liaise with Statistics NZ, Office for Disability Issues and the Human Rights Commission on how to collect robust disaggregated data. New Zealand has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which requires the government to provide data disaggregated for disability. The government’s current failure to provide such data is inconsistent with its obligations under the Convention. Te Tiriti requires a focus on quality data collection and assessment of impacts on Mäori, undertaken in partnership with iwi and Mäori organisations. Data collection and the monitoring of the health and disability system remains critical, in order to ensure the equitable provision of services to Mäori at all levels and that the services are reaching those whänau who need them. 13