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Accessibility Advisory Group
Revision of New Zealand Standard 4121:2001

Accessibility Advisory Group

Our Accessibility Advisory Group helps guide our Accessibility Work Programme. The group provides advice and ideas on different projects and initiatives and how to deliver them.

Eleven members have been appointed from the disability community, tangata whaikaha Māori, and their whānau and families. They have a deep understanding of accessibility and bring their lived experience to help make New Zealand more accessible.

The group will meet 4 to 6 times a year. The first meeting is planned for 12 December 2025.

Members are paid for their time and preparation. Reasonable accommodations are also provided.

Members

Maioro Barton

Maioro Barton (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Wai) is a wheelchair user and experienced advocate dedicated to advancing inclusion and accessibility in public spaces. He specialises in advising accommodation providers, council and community organisations on practical changes that remove barriers to increase participation and independence for disabled people. His work is guided by a belief in equity, representation and breaking down social and structural barriers disabled people face.

Pelenakeke Brown

Pelenakeke Brown is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice explores the intersections between disability theory and Sāmoan concepts. She has worked internationally presenting performances, exhibitions, published writing and residencies in New York, California, Berlin, Hamburg, London and Aotearoa.

Pelenakeke has been profiled in Art in America and most recent recognised with a 2024 Wynn Newhouse Award.

Mathias Bridgman

Mathias Bridgman is driven by a passion for accessible transport. He focuses on advocacy that amplifies the voices of rangatahi and underrepresented communities. He provides strategic advisory support to organisations working to make mobility systems more inclusive, equitable, and people-centred.

Mathias draws on lived experience to push for real, measurable accessibility improvements.

Daniel Clay

Daniel Clay is Chief Executive of an iwi-owned investment entity in Auckland’s housing sector. He chairs the Cerebral Palsy Society of NZ and previously was the Chair of the Housing Working Group for the Disability Strategy Refresh. His lived experience includes supporting his 13-year-old daughter, who has cerebral palsy and accessibility requirements.

A former lawyer with 20 years’ experience and partnerships at 2 national firms, Daniel specialised in public, local government, planning and environmental law.

Dianne Glenn ONZM JP

Dianne Glenn ONZM JP is a long-time advocate for disabled people, drawing on personal experience and supporting family and friends. A former teacher of Home Economics, Science, and later Arts and Art History, she moved into adult community education management and leadership within women’s empowerment groups nationally and internationally. She has served on the Auckland Regional Council, Counties Manukau DHB, and the Auckland Conservation Board.

In 2016, Dianne was appointed ONZM for her environmental work and advocacy for disabled women. She continues to contribute to several Government councils and committees.

Kimberly Graham

Kimberly Graham brings over 20 years of lived experience as the parent of her son Finlay, alongside extensive work in accessible travel, tourism, and council-led projects, and contributions to national accessibility guidelines and universal design working groups.

Kimberly is committed to progressing strong accessibility legislation and supporting practical, people-centred change that enables disabled people and their whānau to participate fully.

Callum McMenamin

Callum McMenamin is a digital accessibility specialist and a strong advocate for the realisation of disabled people’s human rights. He has led national accessibility initiatives and brings a combination of lived disability experience and deep technical expertise to the Accessibility Advisory Group.

Ellen Treweek

Ellen Treweek is a passionate advocate for people with intellectual disabilities, drawing on her own lived experience to create meaningful change at both local and national levels. Her advocacy work began at school as part of a mentorship and has continued throughout her life.

Ellen currently works with Community Living as a member of Ko Tātou Tēnei, a leadership group that advises the board, runs events, and delivers training.

Outside of her advocacy work, Ellen proudly represents Waikato in basketball and swimming through Special Olympics.

Jezza Williams

Jezza Williams, Director of the Makingtrax Foundation, brings over 30 years of experience across the adventure and tourism sectors, including more than 15 years specialising in accessible tourism, drawing on both lived experience and professional expertise. His work combines practical knowledge with research-based insights to develop effective, real-world solutions.

With deep industry understanding and a collaborative approach, Jezza specialises in enhancing visitor experiences and help build inclusive, future-focused environments.

Disabled Persons Organisations (DPO) Coalition representatives

Scott Boyle

Scott Boyle is an advocate and representative for the neuromuscular disability community with lived experience of SMA2, primarily representing the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Scott has participated in various strategic and high-level initiatives in the public sector, and privately as a Disability and Accessibility Consultant for research institutions and projects.

Jonathan Godfrey ONZM

Dr Jonathan Godfrey ONZM is a Senior Lecturer in Statistics at Massey University in Palmerston North. He is also the President of Blind Citizens NZ, the oldest DPO in the country. Jonathan’s experience in the accessibility of software, documents, websites, and other media for sharing information forms an important part of his research work.

Jonathon has extensive experience in multiple countries making use of public transport and managing in a range of physical environments. Jonathan’s life experiences show he lives life to the max; he is a father of 3, a husband, and loves to spend time on his small sheep and donkey farm in the Manawatu.

Representation of the disability community

We acknowledge that the membership may not always fully represent the diversity of the disability community and the range of accessibility issues. We do not have representation from the Deaf community in our current membership.

The AAG’s Terms of Reference allow us to bring in additional expertise as needed. We will work closely with Deaf and Turi Māori communities to make sure their advice is included. We may also bring in other experts if we identify gaps in disability perspectives or need advice on specific accessibility solutions.