FAQs
Who is eligible for the card?
To be eligible for the card, you will need to provide evidence that you have a physical, or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term effect on your ability to carryout out normal day-to-day activities.
Your card can have up to nine barrier icons depending upon the additional information you provide us about your accessibility challenges. For information about these barriers go to Guidance on Symbols (Note: opens a new tab to a Nimbus webpage in the UK).
Is the card nationwide?
The card has been launched in Canterbury in December of 2020 and we are now onboarding businesses nationwide. If you are applying outside of Canterbury first checkout the number of businesses in your region. However, If you are planning a trip to Christchurch/Selwyn, then getting the card could be a good idea. Just remember it will take about two to three weeks to get it, although we can send you a photo image that you can have on your phone.
I have a Christchurch City Council KiwiAble Card - what happens now?
Well, in short nothing changes. You can still use your KiwiAble card to get discounts and concessions at the current participating CCC facilities and businesses until it expires - Note: Hoyts Cinemas are no longer part of the scheme. However, when your card expires, you will not be able to renew it. Also, as of the beginning of November 2020, new applications for the KiwiAble card are not being accepted.
I have lost my KiwiAble Card can I get a replacement?
The short answer is no. The KiwiAble Card is no longer administered by the Christchurch City Council so replacements, new applications, or renewals are no longer available.
Will my KiwiAble Card be automatically replaced with a Hapai Access Card?
The short answer is no. The KiwiAble Card was aimed at getting people with disabilities doing activities in the community by offering discounts and concessions at CCC facilities and participating businesses.
The Hapai Access Card is aimed at improving accessibility for people with a disability by working with businesses to remove, or reduce barriers, and displaying the information about participating businesses on the Hapai Access Card website.
The card itself shows the barriers that the cardholder has when in the community, and provides an easy way for businesses to know that the person has those barriers, without the person having to disclose personal details about their disability.
To be able to create this personalised card, the person with a disability has to produce evidence in the application process that they have those barriers. But the good news is that while working with businesses on accessibility, discussions are held about the potential for a discount, or concession. So you will find many places provide both improved accessibility and a discount.
Why should I have to provide evidence?
It’s only appropriate for certain types of provider to ask for evidence – particularly those offering things like free Essential Companion tickets, concessions or discounts which you access remotely, i.e. over the phone or internet. The fact is that people, disabled and non-disabled, have in the past exploited some organisations reasonable adjustments, and this ultimately means that disabled people with genuine needs suffer in the long run. We ask you for evidence to remove the need for other providers to ask for anything other than your card. For the Card to be taken seriously by providers, we have to make sure that we are making accurate decisions related to need and impairment; we only do this with enough information backing up the detail that you give in your form.
Where is the Card Accepted?
We work extensively to increase the number of venues where the card is recognised as a means to meet your access requirements. For some businesses, it might give you a discount or a special offer, for others they may accept this as evidence to access a free companion ticket. Others will let you link your card to their booking systems, or be able to process your requests over the phone. You can find details of all of the businesses we work with on our directory, on our map page, and we regularly update our Facebook.
We also work directly with cardholders to report businesses where they have used their Access Card to have their needs met. These providers are listed as "Partially Certified" in the listing.
Remember, though – the card is a demonstration of your needs and is related to the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.
Except in a number of circumstances, all providers have a legal duty not to discriminate against you on the grounds of your disability, and the card can help you explain that to them, whether they ‘accept it’ or not. Failing to acknowledge and respond to your needs may in effect be a breach of the Act, and you can complain to the NZ Human Rights Commission. Go to their website for more information, where you can download a "Disability Complaints Booklet" in a variety of formats.
However, bear in mind that you should apply the test of "reasonableness", and try to see the providers perspective. Please be polite, as you are representing the disabled community, and know that you can raise an official complaint, which if upheld, helps you and those who go after you.
What if my needs change?
If your needs change, you can ask to be reassessed at any time. To reissue a new card we need to charge a NZ$10 plus GST admin fee.
Are there age limits to the card?
No – none at all. We just have to see that you have an impairment that results in needs, in line with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. This is just as relevant for children as it is for adults. Providers policies on things like free tickets may vary on age though. For older people, this is important too as you may not think of yourself as a ‘disabled person’ but may have medical conditions that still have an impact on you.
Who makes the decision on my card?
Straightforward applications are processed by the card team staff. Where an application requires extra consideration it is passed to the manager of the card team to assess what icons are appropriate. The manager of the card team will on occasions check with the leaders.
Will I have to be reassessed when my card is renewed?
All cards will be renewed at least every three years, but we may make decisions about reassessment on a different timescale. A good example will be if you submit evidence that very clearly states that you have a permanent impairment that will not vary for the rest of your life, then we will not reassess you.
If you have a temporary impairment, we may decide that your award will only last one year. In this case, there is no additional charge for reassessments falling within three years.
I ordered my card weeks ago and still don't have it?
We typically post out all cards within a week of receiving all of the information we need from you. If you’ve not received your card within one week of receiving your confirmation email, you need to make sure that you get in touch with us as soon as possible (cards@hapaiaccesscard.org.nz). We may still be waiting for information from you, or there’s been a problem with delivery.
If you need your card in a hurry for a booking, we can give you your card number straight away, and this is usable in several venues without the card itself.