Andrew Dickens Afternoons

There's a call for New Zealand to introduce a disabled "companion card" scheme similar to those run overseas.In Australia, such a programme gives discounted and free tickets to the companion escorting a registered disabled person to an event.There's a similar scheme in Great Britain.Caller Melanie, who cares for her disabled son in Sydney, told Andrew Dickens that she was shocked to learn that no such scheme exists in New Zealand. She had been intending on taking her son to see Cher at Spark Arena. She said both LiveNation Australia and Spark Arena were unable to help her. Richard Benge, Executive Director of Arts Access Aotearoa, told Andrew Dickens that hindering the ability of disabled people to bring a companion is denying them their human rights.He says New Zealanders have every right to be very disappointed by this, given how successfully it has been run in Australia.A spokesperson from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage says they are currently leading research work on companion ticketing in New Zeala