Disability-Led Climate Adaptation Pilot

Supporting disability communities to explore what climate adaptation means and develop solutions that strengthen resilience and wellbeing.

A group of seven people posing together outdoors in a parking lot, smiling at the camera, including one person seated in the front center.
A group portrait of six people posing indoors. In the center foreground, a man in a striped shirt sits in a wheelchair, smiling.

Grant Advisory Panel Members: Monica Leach, Tracey Gayner, Paul Brown, Leslie Marsh, Tamara Grant, Jade Farrar and Pip Patston (not in the photo).

Disabled communities leading the way on climate adaptation

Developed in partnership with Auckland Council, Foundation North, Spectrum Foundation, the disability-led Grant Advisory Panel (GAP), and implementation partners Juliana Carvalho and Community Think, the pilot sets out to answer:

How can disabled people shape climate adaptation in Tāmaki Makaurau?

Our goals:
  • Help disability communities to adapt to climate disruption.
  • Build skills, knowledge and leadership within disability communities.
  • Build trust and strengthen relationships between Auckland Council and disability communities.

Designed by the community

1

Over several months in 2026, disabled people, disability organisations, climate experts and community groups worked together to explore the impacts of climate change and develop practical solutions.

2

The pilot used participatory grantmaking, meaning disabled people designed the grants process, shaped the assessment criteria, supported groups to develop projects and recommended projects for funding.

3

Nine groups presented projects at a public Pitch Day to the Grant Advisory Panel. In June 2026, six projects were recommended for funding.

Check out this video of Pitch Day, at The Fickling Convention Centre, captured by Becki Moss.

Funded Projects

Six disability-led initiatives have received funding through the pilot. Projects start in August 2026 and have up to two years to complete their work.

Together, these projects aim to build climate skills, knowledge and leadership within disability communities, helping create a more resilient and climate-ready Tāmaki Makaurau.

A close-up portrait of two women standing side-by-side indoors, smiling warmly at the camera. The woman on the left has light brown hair and is wearing a maroon floral blouse. The woman on the right has short dark hair, wears glasses, a silver chain necklace, and a black-and-white patterned top. The background features vertical wooden slats and a bright green accent wall.
Julie-Anne Taylor and Mary Anna Smith, from Auckland Deaf Society.

Deaf Community Climate Adaptation Workshop Series

Auckland Deaf Society $16,082

A series of 10 climate adaptation workshops will be delivered in New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), ensuring Deaf communities can access information about climate change and preparedness in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways.

The project will also create a library of NZSL video resources to support future learning and community resilience.

A smiling man in a black hoodie and beige trousers sitting in a wheelchair on a suburban street curb under a cloudy sky.
Tim Young, CEO of My Life My Voice

Ready Together

My Life My Voice $22,580

An accessible disability-led climate adaptation app to help disabled people and their whānau create personalised household resilience plans.

The app will support practical preparedness actions and allow plans to be shared with trusted support networks.

A medium portrait of a person with long, straight black hair smiling warmly. They have a traditional Māori moko kauae on their chin and are wearing a ruffled white blouse with a large bow at the neckline and black trousers. They stand outdoors with their hands loosely clasped in front of them against a background of vertical architectural pillars.
Franceska Tangaere from TAMA.

Kia Noho Mataara (Be Watchful, Be Ready)

Te Ao Mārama Aotearoa (TAMA) $40,000

A series of 12 short educational films led by Tangata Whaikaha Māori and presented in Te Reo Māori, English, NZSL and subtitled formats. The project combines climate adaptation, emergency preparedness, accessibility and mātauranga Māori to support culturally grounded resilience.

A medium portrait of two individuals standing side-by-side indoors and smiling at the camera. The person on the left wears glasses, has their hair tied back, and wears a teal-and-black patterned top with a name tag that reads "Kylie". The person on the right has short greying hair and wears a blue polo shirt with a name tag that reads "Brendan". They are standing in front of a background with vertical architectural slats.
Kylie Elsbury-Dawson and Brendan Murphy, CCS Disability Action.

Can You Dig It!

CCS Disability Action $50,000

Building on more than four decades of community gardening experience, this project will deliver workshops focused on food growing, sustainability and climate resilience.

Disabled people, whānau hauā and the wider community can learn practical skills to strengthen food security and community connections.

A group of six smiling individuals stands in a well-lit hallway. In the foreground, one person sits in a wheelchair with a communication device attached to the front, while another individual in a checkered shirt stands next to them. Behind them, two people stand on the left—one wearing a purple cardigan and the other in a blue hoodie—and two people stand on the right—one waving in a red hoodie and another smiling in a green sweater. Framed artwork hangs along the wall in the background.
Wilson School students: Joshua Leak, Satchien Vijayakumaran, Tajzhae Bartlett and Joshy Nel-McCauley with supporting staff Katie Riley and Lauren Billet.

Growing Food Security for Local Communities

Wilson School Student Leadership and Te Hōnonga a Iwi $29,100

A partnership between students, educators, iwi and environmental restoration leaders, this project will create food gardens, composting systems and native plant nurseries.

The project has an holistic focus on climate adaptation, ecological restoration, youth leadership and food resilience.

A group portrait of seven people standing and sitting closely together outdoors in a sunlit parking lot. In the front center, one individual in a textured white top sits in a wheelchair, with another individual standing beside them with an arm linked. Five other colleagues stand around them, all smiling at the camera. They wear casual attire, and several have lanyards or name tags. Cars and buildings are visible in the background.
XR Rogers (Xavier, Awhina and Rocky Rogers) and People First team (Teresa Nicol, Michael Chubb and Lydia Starr).

Disability-Led Climate Adaptation and Readiness Forum

People First New Zealand and XR Rogers $44,605

A disability-led forum focused on helping people with learning disabilities understand climate change, prepare for emergencies and contribute their own ideas for adaptation.

The project will also create Easy Read resources, videos and personalised emergency contact cards in collaboration with XR Rogers.

Four people smiling together outdoors in a parking lot, wearing "Hello My Name Is" name tags (Teresa, Lydia, and Lorene) and event badges.
A person speaks and gestures with papers in hand during a presentation about climate change in a community space, while an audience listens around a table with refreshments.
Two smiling adults standing together outdoors, with one holding a young child who is leaning against them. One adult wears a red shirt, and the other wears glasses, a black shirt, and a "Hello My Name Is Larissa" name tag.
A diverse audience sits in rows listening attentively during a presentation or event. A large video camera on a tripod is visible in the upper left background near a window.
Three people are seated at a panel or presentation in front of a projection screen. The person in the center speaks into a microphone while looking at a tablet, flanked by a person in a blue hoodie on the left and a person in a yellow patterned shirt on t
A person in a checkered shirt sits holding a tablet, while another person stands nearby smiling and clapping. In the background, illustrated posters about accessibility and climate adaptation hang on the wall next to a large speaker stand.
A smiling person wearing a glittering silver top and black trousers, seated outdoors in front of a parking lot filled with cars.
A person in a blue and purple floral top stands at a podium giving a presentation. Behind them, a large screen displays the text "Ideas to Action: Community Pitch Day – Disability-Led Climate Adaptation Pilot" alongside organizational logos.
Three people stand together smiling outdoors in front of a building and parking area. They are all wearing lanyards with event badges, and the person on the right wears a black hoodie with a "Hello My Name Is Rocky" name tag.
A person stands at a podium using sign language during a presentation, while another person stands behind them next to a projection screen and a third person sits listening on the left.

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