Linda Giltrap, an experienced trade specialist, mother, and grandmother, has faced unwarranted discrimination in public places over the past year. The reason for this discrimination is her service dog, Maisie, which is a breach of New Zealand’s Human Rights Act. Giltrap has a genetic hearing loss, and Maisie, a highly trained service dog, helps her by alerting her to sounds in the home and providing confidence outside.
Despite an amendment to the Human Rights Act last year, which made it illegal to deny service to individuals with service or disability assist dogs, Giltrap has encountered numerous instances of being turned away from various places, leaving her anxious and frustrated.
Yuchen Zheng, another service dog owner, faced similar discrimination when trying to secure accommodation and encountered issues while using public transport. She was denied housing because of her service dog, Echo, which helps her with social anxiety and a blood glucose disorder. Zheng’s complaint to the Human Rights Commission did not yield progress, and she eventually found a sympathetic rental property.
Service dog owners like Zheng and Giltrap are advocating for a government-backed awareness campaign to educate the public and prevent such situations. Some politicians, like Green MP Ricardo Menendez March, have supported the need for an awareness campaign. However, the Justice Minister suggested approaching the Human Rights Commission for complaints, which Menendez March finds inadequate.
The political parties’ responses vary, with some expressing support for awareness campaigns, while others suggest utilizing existing networks for raising awareness. Te Pāti Māori is the only party that explicitly commits to such an education campaign.