on the committee. stated that New Zealand looked forward to participating in forthcoming meetings of the committee and to examining proposals in more depth. Following this meeting and subsequent discussions led by the Human Rights Commission and members of the disability community in New Zealand, the New Zealand Government formally agreed to participate in the Convention negotiations in May 2003. It demonstrated this commitment by funding a delegation to attend the second Ad Hoc Committee meeting at the UN in New York in June 2003. The delegation included several government officials and two representatives from the disability community. At the meeting, the delegation put forward a proposal to establish a working group which would: consist of 27 State representatives including five from the ‘Western European and Others Group’ of which New Zealand is a member, 12 non-governmental representatives selected NGOs themselves, and one representative from Human Rights Institutions meet for 10 working days in New York early 2004 prepare and circulate a draft text for negotiation at least three months before the (proposed) third session of the Ad Hoc Committee. This proposal was subsequently adopted by the Committee and the Working Group was formed. The Government again demonstrated its commitment to the development of the a convention when it made a written submission to the Working Group in November 2003. The submission stipulated a number of recommendations as to the approach, structure, and scope of the proposed convention. New Zealand was given the opportunity to put these views forward further when, represented by the Director of the Office of Disability Issues, Dr Jan Scown, it was granted a place on the Working Group in December 2003. As proposed, the Working Group met in New York for two weeks in January 2004 to develop a draft convention text. At its first meeting on 5 January, New Zealand Ambassador, Don MacKay, was appointed to co-ordinate the group. It also included Jan Scown as the New Zealand delegate and New Zealander Robert Martin as a representative of NGO Inclusion International. Presented to the third Ad Hoc Committee meeting held from 24 May to 4 June 2004, the draft text acted as a basis for negotiation by member states and other stakeholders. New Zealand continued its active participation by again attending this Ad Hoc Committee meeting. Its official delegation included both government representatives from the Office for Disability Issues and MFAT and non-government representatives