[Did not give permission to publish]

I just want to be able to park my car and go to the supermarket. Why is Countdown allowed to get away with the following ...

At a new Countdown store I counted:

• 6 electric vehicle (EV) carparks
• 2 expectant mothers carparks
• 4 parents with prams carparks
• 6 click and collect carparks
• 4 accessible carparks for people with disabilities

It’s cool that Countdown is providing these designated carparks, but the distribution seems way off [given one in four Kiwis has a disability].

On top of that, I could only use one of the four accessible carparks due to bollards and poor design. So that’s really limiting, and I literally would not be able to do my shopping if that one [actually accessible] carpark was already taken.

Four accessible carparks?!! Really?! They are always going to be full, especially with the aging population.

Meanwhile the other designated carparks were close, plentiful and EMPTY! These are provided for people who, for the most part, would still be able to do their shopping should they have to park in a regular carpark. The click and collect carparks even had shelter!

It hurts that no one is seeing the relative impact of this on our lives.

This is a story about the barriers many face. We're sharing it because we want a law that puts accessibility at the heart of an inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand.

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