New service
Disability Disability
Disability assist dog handlers get a national ID card
The card creates no new rights but helps businesses and staff recognise trained and certified dogs.
Deaf Aotearoa says some disability assist dog handlers are still questioned or refused access to public transport, businesses and services, despite their rights under New Zealand law.
The Ministry of Disabled People, Whaikaha worked with disability assist dog organisations, Service Dog Advisory New Zealand, and the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport to develop the National Service Dog ID Card.
The card is a nationally consistent way to identify trained and certified disability assist dogs and their handlers.
The organisations responsible for training and certifying disability assist dogs issue and manage the card.
It gives businesses, service providers, transport operators and frontline staff a simple way to recognise these dogs. It also helps them understand the rights the dogs and their handlers already have.