Who we are............  

PIASS is a private NGO (non government organization)

PIASS welcomes referrals from all people irrespective of religion, culture, ethnicity, sex and age. It recognizes that service delivery can be strengthened by the interface of its own philosophy with the varying perspectives of other people.

The concept of fono is an important feature of PIASS. This characteristic has been adopted and implemented in the overall philosophy of the organization. This means that every person has a valuable role to play as all participate in enjoying the privileges and meeting their responsibilities within the organization. 

PIASS Trust is Government funded to:

“Promote the Overall Health and Well-Being of Pacific People Experiencing Disability and Pacific Elderly in Aotearoa (New Zealand)”

The Trust is committed to the underpinning vision of the New Zealand Disability Strategy to ensure that people with impairments can say they live in:

‘A Society That Highly Values Our Lives and Continually Enhances Our Full Participation.”

The core business of PIASS

To educate, advise and train Pacific People with disability and Pacific Elderly people about information relating to Disability Support Services and how to access such services;

To promote and facilitate the attainment of knowledge and expertise in all matters relating to Disability Services and the culture of Disabilities;

To assist by the most effective means, disabled persons and their fanau/aiga/kainga, to live a productive and happy life to their fullest capacity within their own normal social networks and environment;

To educate the public, specifically Pacific People, on how to access publicly-funded services for people with disability and providing the necessary linkages to such services as necessary;

To design, train and deliver educational activities that will contribute to improving the awareness of Pacific Islanders about disability issues;

To facilitate and participate in Community Development that will contribute to improving Pacific People’s Social and Economic status;

To provide a forum for groups, individuals and communities so involved to unite around issues of common interests or concern;

To develop and implement a framework in which the Trust can assist the Pacific Island community to gain opportunities and chances to enhance the understanding of how to access and find out about services to people with disabilities;

To inform the Government, government departments, local bodies, statutory bodies, community organizations, non-government organizations and other disability information and advocacy services, of whatever kind, in respect of current and future needs of Pacific Peoples;

To establish a communications network which will enable the Pacific Communities to link with mainstream organizations for support, education, and information and support services specifically in relation to disability and the elderly;

To work alongside various church denominations and church leaders and other relevant Pacific communities to encourage, support and enhance each others’ health promotion, exercise programmes and day programmes for Pacific Island adults;