A recent incident at the Hillsborough Holden Museum in New Plymouth has sparked outrage after a blind woman was denied entry with her guide dog. Maelie Johnston, a resident of Hawera, was visiting the museum with her son and his friends for his eighth birthday when staff at the museum confronted her about her service animal.
Johnston, who is visually impaired, was told by a staff member that dogs were not allowed in the museum. Upon explaining that her dog, Belinda, was a trained guide dog, the staff member allowed her in. However, while they were browsing the exhibits, another staff member approached Johnston and her group, telling them that the museum was “not really the sort of place to bring a dog.” Johnston felt humiliated and uncomfortable, explaining that Belinda was a well-behaved, highly trained working dog.
The confrontation left Johnston feeling discriminated against, as she tried to explain her legal rights to access the museum with her guide dog, but felt that the staff member was uninterested and rude. She described the situation as discrimination based on disability and stated that her son was “gutted” by the experience.
After posting a negative review online, Johnston received support from others in the community. The museum responded publicly, apologizing for the “miscommunication” and explaining that they had never had a blind person with a guide dog visit the museum before. They acknowledged that they had misunderstood the situation and committed to retraining their staff to ensure that future visitors with disability-assist dogs would be welcomed.
The Human Rights Commission noted that denying access to a person with a disability-assist dog could be a violation of the Human Rights Act, emphasizing the importance of equal treatment for all individuals. The museum’s apology and commitment to retraining staff were welcomed, but the incident has raised important questions about accessibility and the treatment of individuals with disabilities in public spaces.