Accessibility attitude adjustment

Featherston man Richard Clark just wants to be able to explore the tracks and trails of the Wairarapa region but often finds himself blocked by a range of obstacles.

Mr Clark, who uses a wheelchair to get around, said there needs to be a shift in attitude towards disabled people to allow them to have a normal life.

"At the bottom of the Rimutakas, there's a great trail, my new chair will do it but DoC has big concrete blocks blocking the trail," he says.

The blocks are there to stop people on motorbikes, said Garry Foster, Department of Conservation (DoC) Wairarapa community relations programme manager.

He said the problem DoC faces is how to stop people on motorbikes but allow people with wheelchairs and mobility scooters to access the trails.

Mr Foster said DoC has some wheelchair-friendly tracks and there are plans to provide more access for mobility-impaired people, adding: "We're interested in talking to people who are in that situation."

Mr Clark has a "hopeless" wheelchair from the District Health Board (DHB) but ended up buying his own off-road power wheelchair.

"They will only give you something for indoors, they make you a prisoner," Mr Clark said.

"I've been stuck in the garden so many times, I had to ring people to help pull me out, that's crazy."

Mr Clark, who is a photographer, writer and former film editor, with motor neuron disease, said people with disabilities need to be able to express themselves and be out in the community.

"Our society would be healthier if young people walked down the street and could see people how they really are," he said. Being able to access the tracks and trails in the area is important to him.

"The biggest thing is that I've been physically active my whole life and all of sudden I couldn't do what I used to do."

"Nature is a big part of who I am," Mr Clark said.

Jen Olson, resource management officer at the South Wairarapa District Council, said it hasn't planned to upgrade any tracks but it doesn't have many under its control.

"If we build a new track or substantially upgrade an existing one then we are required to consider accessibility if it is feasible," Ms Olson said.

Accommodation with wheelchair-accessible bathrooms and entrances is also limited in Wairarapa, said Mr Clark.

He found there were no places in Castlepoint, a place where he likes to write, where he could stay.

Mary Tipoki, co-owner of the Lake Ferry Hotel, wanted to provide disabled bathrooms at her hotel so she started the consent process with the council.

Because the hotel is an old building, she was required to do other work on the hotel to meet building requirements which took six months longer than she had planned for.

"It's a shame we can't offer it [a disabled bathroom] sooner," Mrs Tipoki said.

She said she is glad they will be able to host Mr Clark once the bathrooms are completed.

"One client is as important as 100," she said.

Mr Clark said he was pleased the hotel would be able to host him but he was frustrated at how long it took.

Mrs Tipoki said the building consent process was not easy and could be improved.