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Story: Disability and disability organisations

People First protest rally

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People First protest rally

Julie Corbett from People First protests outside Parliament in November 1989 against a steep reduction in welfare benefits for people with disabilities. More than 300 fellow members and supporters from throughout New Zealand joined the demonstration. Rising IHC housing costs meant that residents had only $15 left for weekly spending money.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)

Reference: EP/1989/4361

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Martin Sullivan, Disability and disability organisations – Disabled peoples organisations, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/29187/people-first-protest-rally (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Martin Sullivan, published 24 February 2012.