18+ Card revamped to be more inclusive

Brian from New Lynn

Hospitality New Zealand's 18+ Card has been revamped to be more inclusive of elderly and people with disabilities. As of today they've been rebranded as the Kiwi Access Card, in the hopes that the cards will be more suitable for a wide range of users. The new cards have been created to "better facilitate access to goods and services for everyone in New Zealand". Vicki Lee, chief executive of Hospitality New Zealand, says the cards have been revamped to cater for minority groups who feel misrepresented. "We've got a lot of people in disabled communities who felt it didn't really represent them, so we're trying to go for a broad cross section so everybody can feel like it's their card." The new cards feature a map of New Zealand, along with "lots of security features" and even braille for people who are blind or visually-impaired. They have also been "specifically designed with New Zealand's over-60s and retired community in mind. The cards were created as a means of identification if you don't have a valid passport or driver licence. The cost of getting on is $55 including GST. No changes have been made in the process of obtaining a card. You can pick up the application form from your local New Zealand Post outlet, or download the form from the Kiwi Access website.
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