Responses to Companion Card campaign
25 November 2010 Arts Access Aotearoa has received several responses to its campaign for the introduction of a form of companion card for New Zealand. Local authorities in several parts of the country were asked to take the initiative to ensure disabled people requiring support to attend arts and entertainment events in their regions no longer face discrimination. A selection of the responses follows:
Auckland
Auckland Council’s new community development, arts and culture manager, Louise Mason, said she was very interested in the information on companion cards, and wanted to discuss the issue further with Arts Access Aotearoa once the new city organisation was up and running.
“Once my staff are on board we will certainly be looking closely at your suggestions to improve access for disabled people to arts and entertainment events.”
Dunedin
Dunedin City Council community development team leader Rebecca Parata said it was very useful to receive the information on the companion card issue.
“I have given a copy of it to our arts and recreation advisors for their information. I have also provided a copy to the Disability Issues Advisory Committee, who are currently working on an implementation plan for our own disability strategy.”
Dunedin’s Fortune Theatre was one of only seven of the venues surveyed by Arts Access Aotearoa to offer the equivalent of a full discount for a companion. The Fortune applied the full discount to the disabled person, rather than the carer, meaning the (disabled) person could use the free pass when attending alone.
In an article in the Otago Daily Times, Dunedin wheelchair user Marty Rowlands said it was excellent the Fortune offered the discount.
Disabled people tended to earn less so it was good the discount was applied directly. Those attending shows with the disabled were also often not in the best financial position, he said. Having a discount increased the number of shows a disabled person could attend.
Fortune Theatre general manager Jeremy Smith was “delighted” the theatre was in the top group. The Fortune was not complacent, however – the historic building needed further modification to improve physical access for the disabled, which was on the “to do” list, he said.
Far North
The Far North District Council said it worked closely with the disabled community in the district, and sponsored regular meetings between representatives of that community and council’s elected members and staff.
“Council is currently in the process of creating a position for a Disability Coordinator. When this role has been filled, your request will be forwarded to that person and the Far North Disability Action Group for consideration and follow up.”
Hamilton
Hamilton Mayor Bob Simcock said the Hamilton City Council is “absolutely committed to addressing the needs of those with disabilities as it develops its facilities, infrastructure, plans and policies”.
He said although the request that Hamilton City Council should move towards having a companion card for its city facilities was “not completely straight forward… the concept of this card is something I strongly support.”
Mayor Simcock said in many cases the venues for arts, sports and other entertainment owned by Hamilton City Council are hired by event promoters, who are responsible for running the events and all associated ticketing.
“While council could certainly raise the matter of companion cards with promoters who use our facilities, we do not have direct control over ticket pricing, discounts and tickets concessions.
“Council has a disability strategy which is just about to be reviewed. We will certainly find your correspondence about companion cards useful when reviewing that strategy. We need to consider council’s own response to companion cards when we are putting on events in our own facilities and perhaps also look at developing protocols for communicating with hirers of our facilities in regard to companion cards.”
Hastings
Hawke's Bay Opera House general manager Roger Coleman told Hawke’s Bay Today the Opera House was renovated with disabled access in mind, and was congratulated for accessibility after hosting disabled dance company Touch Compass. The Opera House has never been contacted about the issue and was willing to find solutions.
The Hastings District Council said the matter would be considered by the council's disability reference group.
Invercargill
Invercargill City Council corporate services manager Stephen Ridden said free or discounted tickets were not available at the Civic Theatre because it was a venue for hire and did not stage events in its own right.
“Please be assured that disabled persons are not discriminated against in the management of our theatre. International/national show promoters, arts organisations, schools etc hire our facilities and they set the ticket pricing for various public sectors, eg adults, senior citizens, children, and these may also vary throughout the auditorium.
“All events held at the Civic Theatre are sold nationally via Ticket Direct outlets and we have no ability to discount ticket sales. Currently there is no council funding available for the purpose of purchasing companion tickets… Regrettably we are unable to further consider your request at this time.”
Napier
Napier City Council tourism services manager Neil Fergus said the operation of a companion card, while on the surface appears easy to administer, has some practical issues that make implementation of this very difficult.
“Events at each of our venues are often not Napier City Council events but events where we have hired the space to promoters or other organisations.
“We are not prepared, nor do we feel it is right, to put conditions on hirers that they must give away companion passes. We are not able to assist further with this.”
Napier tourism services operates the Napier Municipal Theatre and Hawke’s Bay Museum and Art Gallery, which includes the Century Theatre and Century Cinema.
Nelson
Nelson Mayor Kerry Marshall thanked Arts Access Aotearoa for its research and for introducing the companion card concept to Nelson City Council.
“The research was very enlightening, and the card concept certainly has merit as shown by the international examples you included.
“Here in Nelson we have very few council-operated facilities. The Theatre Royal, which was included in your research, is owned and operated by a community trust, as are the majority of key arts and events facilities in Nelson.
“We will certainly consider how best to promote equitable access to local arts and other facilities for people with disabilities. The information you have provided will be made available to staff who work with the arts community and facility operators so they can promote the concept within the Nelson community.”
New Plymouth
New Plymouth Mayor Peter Tennent referred the request from Arts Access Aotearoa to his senior team and the chair of the council’s disabilities issues working party “so this can be brainstormed… and look at ways as a community, we can do better”.
He said in the case of privately owned venues like the Arthouse Cinema, or privately promoted events in council-owned venues, like the TSB Bowl of Brooklands, there may be greater challenges.
“But at the very least, we should be asking the question! Your communications ensures this will happen.”
Lance Girling-Butcher, chairman of the council's disabilities issues sub-committee, who is blind, told the Daily News steps have been taken to ensure there are adequate facilities for the disabled at event venues. "While it is definitely useful to have someone with you at an event like Womad I do wonder if this is going overboard," he said. "If you are going to an event or concert you will likely have someone going with you anyway. I usually take my wife to an event and she pays for her ticket like everyone else because she would have been coming anyway."
Taranaki Arts Festival Trust chief executive Suzanne Porter said they would most likely be offering free tickets to Womad for those accompanying a disabled person.
"We would have to carefully manage this because it could be open to abuse," she said. "It is early days for us but we are probably going to do it. We will work with Taranaki Disabilities Information Centre Trust on the type of disabilities that would need a caregiver."
She said Taft would be careful to clear up any loop holes which could be open to abuse from people wanting a free ride. "It is a pity but we don't want to disadvantage people."
Taranaki Disabilities Information Centre Trust manager Brian Eriksen said the key is for everyone to have an equal opportunity to attend events around the region. "It's about choice," he said. "It's a good idea but it's very dangerous as its open for people to abuse it."
The Daily News published the responses of five local people to the question: do you think tickets should be subsidised for the caregivers of a disabled person?
Betty Wisnewski (New Plymouth) said: “Yes, I think they should. We will all be like that some time and need someone with us.” Ngaire Foreman (Inglewood) said: “Yeah, probably. If they have to have a companion they should be.” Cody Crawford (Waitara) said: “Yeah, but I think they should all be subsidised.” John O’Sullivan (New Plymouth) said: “It does discriminate against the disabled. Yes, I think they should be.” Susan O’Sullivan (New Plymouth) said: “Yes, if they can’t go without the other then it’s double discrimination.”
In a letter to the editor of the Daily News, Arthouse Cinema trustee Rose Stoddart applauded Arts Access Aotearoa for bringing the issue to the media’s attention.
“Arthouse Cinema will henceforth permit these patrons a free ticket for their companion. The rub is that in New Zealand we have no way of identifying these patrons, and Arts Access thinks we should introduce a yellow companion card system like Australia/UK so any event can recognise their legitimate request.
“Yet the problem is that our steep stairs do not allow wheelchair access. We are a small charitable trust, we haven’t the capital for a ramp or lift, but we have prioritised this now that our heat pumps are done. The flaming hoops of cash, building consent, neighbouring businesses and resource consent will be negotiated, and then perhaps Arthouse access can be equitable for all.”
Oamaru
Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton said the suggestion of a companion card was “fair and reasonable”. “Disabled people should get consideration which places them at no disadvantage, attending events, with respect to the rest of the community.”
Mayor Familton said he had passed the request to the council’s community services department and Opera House “so they may consider the matter and take action”.
Palmerston North
The Palmerston North City Council told the Manawatu Standard that though it is sympathetic, it is the event promoters who need to take responsibility.
Council chief executive Paddy Clifford said though he council part-owns venues – such as the Regent on Broadway and The Globe theatres – they don’t actually run many of their own events. Pricing was dependent on the event promoter, but council could certainly make suggestions, he said.
“I take their (Arts Access Aotearoa) point about equal access, and it’s certainly an issue of quality of life and equal access to facilities… we can take a positive approach, but ultimately it’s the event organisers’ call.”
Centrepoint Theatre marketing director Alaina Moore said the theatre was reviewing its pricing, with a view to catering for the high-need disabled. “If it did happen (now) we would certainly be compassionate, and give them a community services card discount. But no, we don’t have a policy in place.”
Abbey Theatre director Allen Nagy said if a discount was offered proof of a full-time caregiver would be needed. “Otherwise you’d have every joker jumping in a wheelchair.”
Downtown Cinemas chief executive Paul Wood said the cinema would investigate what changes could be made. “Obviously there’s a concern out there and we need to look into it. We encourage everybody to come to the cinema.”
Timaru
Timaru District Council property manager Matt Ambler said the council's hall hire arrangements already include capacity for a carer of a disabled person to accompany such patrons into our hired facilities at no charge.
"The companion card approach should be met satisfactorily by our current arrangements, but it certainly deserves plaudits for the initiative."
Wellington
Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast said the Wellington City Council was committed to increasing accessibility.
“We recently ensured that all arts organisations receiving contract funding from us operate out of venues that are accessible. I understand you have been working closely with us on other initiatives to increase accessibility since the release of the Arts for All publication and we are committed to continue that work.
“As a next step, a series of sessions will be held with arts organisations to help them develop accessibility plans and initiatives. This will also be a chance for like organisations to see if there are opportunities to develop a collective response. We think these sessions would be an ideal forum in which to raise the companion card issue.
“We would be happy to advocate and support the initiative in other ways where possible.”
West Coast
Westport’s NBS Theatre manager Debbie Crackett told the Westport News she is considering whether the theatre should offer full discounts to companions of disabled movie-goers.
She said she hadn’t come across the issue before, but the NBS would consider it. She was unsure whether disabled would include anyone in a wheelchair, anyone who couldn’t attend the theatre without a carer, and intellectually handicapped people.
IHC subsidiary IDEA Services Westland Buller team manager Diane Kavanagh said her organisation did not receive discounts at the movies and had not asked for them. However it had come to an agreement with the Solid Energy Centre (SEC) for a package deal at the swimming pool.
Local wheelchair user Sharee Seymour said she would like to see discounts for carers at the NBS and SEC. “Disabled people like to go out just like everybody else, but they can’t always afford to pay for their carer as well.”
She had been disabled for 18 years, after a car accident, and said being disabled could be quite costly. Her partner, Mark Harrison, always accompanied her to the pool, as she never knew when she might fall, but he was never paid for it. He said caregivers weren’t really looked after in New Zealand. Giving discounts to caregivers gave them the opportunity to take a disabled person out, he said.
The couple said they received a discount at the Greymouth theatre and were always really well looked after there.
Whangarei
Whangarei District Council’s event and venue coordinator said the Capitaine Bougainville Theatre was generally sold as a one-price house.
“If a two-price house is warranted then the wheelchair seats always fall in the lower priced seating. The Expo Hall is also sold as a one-price house.
“At time of booking wheelchair seats, the patron’s name is always taken and passed onto our Front of House staff so on arrival they are greeted by name then shown to their area in both Capitaine Bougainville Theatre and the Expo Hall. We take extra care to ensure their theatre experience is enjoyable.”