
Case Study: City-Wide Accessibility Audits for Palmerston North Council
Case Study: City-Wide Accessibility Audits for Palmerston North Council

Client: Palmerston North City Council
Project: City-wide accessibility audits and ongoing advice
Date: 2003–2005 and ongoing
Location: Palmerston North
Overview
Palmerston North City Council engaged BarrierFree to provide a comprehensive audit of all council-owned facilities, to support their commitment to accessible public infrastructure.
The council took a proactive approach to improving usability and inclusion across its facilities, seeking to better understand how public spaces and facilities serve people with disabilities, older adults, and others with access needs.
Scope of Work
BarrierFree’s work included:
- Extensive accessibility audits of public facilities
- Ongoing technical advice for new developments and upgrades
- Recommendations for compliance and best practice
The audits were designed not only to meet minimum standards but to help the council achieve a high level of accessibility and usability across their assets.
Key Outcomes
BarrierFree provided:
- Clear, actionable recommendations for improving accessibility
- Guidance on achieving compliance with NZ standards
- Strategic advice to support long-term inclusive planning
The council demonstrated strong engagement with its community, including disabled users, ensuring that accessibility improvements were informed by lived experience.
Impact
BarrierFree’s involvement helped Palmerston North City Council:
- Strengthen its commitment to inclusive public spaces
- Improve the experience of all people, including disabled residents and visitors
- Embed accessibility into its long-term infrastructure strategies
Conclusion
BarrierFree’s advice was successfully incorporated into Palmerston North City Council’s maintenance and asset purchase programmes. This project highlights how local councils can lead by example when it comes to inclusive design.
Through early engagement and ongoing collaboration with BarrierFree, Palmerston North City Council has taken a meaningful step toward creating environments that are accessible to all.