Refresh of the New Zealand Disability Strategy
Kia hiwa rā kia hiwa rā. Kia kōkiri ake, kia mataara. He karanga atu ki te ao whānui, ki te ao whaikaha. Haere mai ōu whakaaro rangatira ki tēnei kaupapa whakahirahira nau mai e te iwi e.
Be watchful, be alert. Rise up, come forward, be counted, be alert. A call going out to the world, to the disabled world. We welcome your chiefly thoughts to this important discussion. We welcome all.
New Zealand Disability Strategy
The New Zealand Disability Strategy 2016-2026 external URL guides the work of government agencies on disability issues. It represents New Zealand’s approach to the progressive realisation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
The strategy outlines key outcome areas where societal change is required. The vision and principles have a role in guiding the work and responsibilities of all government agencies to ensure disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori and their whānau can lead full lives.
How is the strategy being refreshed?
Throughout 2025 there are three main ways disabled people can contribute to the refresh of the strategy.
During the first half of this year:
- we are undertaking targeted engagement to refresh the vision and principles of the strategy
- working groups are developing actions in priority outcome areas.
During the second half of the year, we will:
- consult broadly with the disabled community and the public on a full strategy
How are the vision and principles being refreshed?
We are supporting independent facilitators to have discussions with key groups from the disability community to refresh the vision and principles of the strategy.
We are asking disabled people, their carers and their whānau if the vision and principles of the current strategy are still relevant - and if not, what they think needs to change.
The facilitators are talking to a mix of pan-disability, tāngata whaikaha Māori, and Pacific groups.
What are the working groups doing?
Members of the working groups are developing actions to be part of the strategy refresh.
Working groups members are from the disabled community, are sector experts, or from government agencies. Together they are developing actions in the priority outcome areas of:
- education
- employment
- health
- housing
- justice.
Members’ input and advice is critical to creating an action-focused strategy. The actions will be a mix of immediate and medium-term steps to create positive outcomes over the five years of the refreshed strategy.
In February, Whaikaha called for expressions of interest from people in the disability community to be on the working groups. Almost 350 were received.
We are thrilled with the knowledge, expertise and networks working group members have and are looking forward to the actions they will develop.
When will the wider disability community and the public get the strategy
Once the vision and principles work is complete and the workings groups have agreed actions we will bring these together to develop the draft refreshed strategy.
The draft refreshed strategy will go to the Minister and the Ministerial Disability Leadership Group in July for approval to consult more broadly.
We are aiming to share the draft refreshed strategy with the wider disability community and the public throughout August and September.
If you would like to receive updates on the process email: disabilitystrategy@whaikaha.govt.nz