Appendix 2: Ethical and thematic analysis approaches Ethical processes, which have been an essential part of phase one, were informed by Te Ara Tika Guidelines for Māori research ethics: A framework for researchers and ethics committee members,30 the Community Research Code of Practice,31 and ethics of care and transformational research practices.32 This ensured a strong ethic of manaakitanga and regard for the mana of the participants and the information they shared about the experiences of disabled people and their whānau. It also ensured the application of rigorous research ethics processes and practices. All document and video/audio storage and security complied with the Human Rights Commission document management processes. Baker Consulting undertook a thematic analysis of the evidence submitted during phase one. This involved systematic coding, allowing for the identification and labelling of components of the evidence.33 Once the initial coding was generated, Baker Consulting undertook analysis wānanga to review the coded evidence to identify commonalities and differences between the various codes, collectively discussing patterns and meanings identified in the coded evidence that demonstrated coalescing characteristics. From here, initial themes and related sub-themes were generated. Following this, an iterative process of quality-checking the developing themes and sub-themes against the coded evidence was undertaken. The final themes were then described with anonymised quotes from the submissions used to illustrate key points. Report recommendations informed by the evidenced findings were developed by the Commissioner and reviewed by the Chair of Te Ao Mārama and the President of the Disabled Persons Assembly on behalf of the Disabled People’s Organisations Coalition. 48 30 The Pūtaiora Writing Group (2010). 31 Community Research (2022). 32 Brannelly and Boulton (2017). 33 Braun and Clarke (2012). Inquiry into the Support of Disabled People and Whānau During Omicron