Pasifika communities invited to help shape CCS Disability Action’s Pasifika disability strategy

CCS Disability Action is hosting a series of community fono events across Aotearoa to hear directly from Pasifika disabled people, their families, and support networks. The events, called Our Pasifika Gathering, are part of a nationwide engagement process to develop the organisation’s National Pasifika Strategy.

Funded by the Ministry of Social Development, the fono will be held in Auckland, Hamilton, and Wellington between September 2025 and June 2026. The first confirmed event will take place on Wednesday 24 September 2025 at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) - Ōtara.

"Pasifika disabled people are the experts in their own lives, and this strategy must be shaped by their knowledge, experiences and hopes for the future," says Janine Hoete-Thornton, General Manager Central region and Pasifika lead for CCS Disability Action.

"These fono are about coming together – Pasifika communities, disabled people, and families – to co-create a strategy that truly reflects our shared values."

The events are open to:

• Pasifika disabled people.

• Families and caregivers.

• Community groups and agencies.

Accessibility support, NZSL interpretation will be available.