“Exclusion is expensive – the question is, who pays for it? And when?” – Access Matters Aotearoa
Access Matters Aotearoa Trust (AMA) is a charitable trust that advocates for the rights, participation, and inclusion of disabled people and individuals with access needs in Aotearoa New Zealand.
With a vision of an Aotearoa where access is universal, disability is valued, and everyone has what they need to thrive, the Trust advocates for long-term national policy reform that enables all New Zealanders to participate in society.
In 2025, Foundation North approved a multi-year impact grant in support of the Trust’s work to increase equity and accessibility for both the disabled community and the people of Aotearoa.
The Access Matters Aotearoa campaign began in 2013 when the ‘Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind’ asked a single question: why does NZ lack enforceable accessibility standards?
Since then, the kaupapa has evolved, developing a multi-faceted approach that goes beyond traditional political advocacy to achieve long-term systems change.
Kōrero for Change is the highly successful webinar series created by AMA that empowers lived experience by sharing conversations that challenge ableism and promote inclusive thinking and shared understanding – enabling the wider community to engage with perspectives and experiences they may not have considered previously.
“Korero for Change has shifted dialogue from awareness to influence, embedding lived experience in national conversation and contributing to systemic change” – Access Matters Aotearoa
With one in six Kiwis excluded from everyday life due to physical, digital, and social barriers, the Accessibility for All campaign, led by AMA and the disability community, advocates for a strong, co-designed Accessibility Act that makes accessibility the norm in workplaces, schools, transport, homes, and public spaces.
“It’s a simple, effective way to build an Aotearoa New Zealand that works for all of us.” – Access Matters Aotearoa
Access Matters Aotearoa are not trying to reinvent the wheel, they’re not introducing ground-breaking ideas, they’re simply requesting a legal framework that enables all New Zealanders to fully participate in life in Aotearoa.
Learn more about Access Matters Aotearoa by clicking the link below
