Cabinet Papers and information releases

This information is released by Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People. In releasing this information, Whaikaha takes into account the public interest in making the information public. 

Alternate formats for some publications are available.

Consultation on the New Zealand Sign Language Strategy

This Cabinet paper sought agreement for the New Zealand Sign Language Board (NZSL Board) to release a draft NZSL Strategy for consultation. Consultation on the draft NZSL Strategy started on 22 April 2025, and finishes on 2 June 2025.

More information on the NZSL Strategy consultation external URL can be found the NZSL Board website. 

Alternate formats to follow.

Progressing the Government response to the UNCRPD Concluding Observations

Alternate formats of the paper summary

• Large Print – Summary of Cabinet paper (DOCX 54KB)
• Easy Read – Summary of Cabinet paper (PDF 1.8MB)
• New Zealand Sign Language – Summary of Cabinet paper external URL
• Audio – Summary of Cabinet paper (MP3 3.9MB)
• Braille – Summary of Cabinet paper (BRF 10KB)

The full Cabinet paper will also be available in three alternate formats; braille, large print and audio soon. 

Review for Whaikaha of policies, processes, and practices for managing complaints about IDEA Services Limited

Whaikaha commissioned a review, from an independent barrister, into the processes and practices for managing complaints about the delivery of disability support services by IDEA Services.

We have made a screen-reader friendly version of the report. There are formatting changes made, to make this version more accessible for blind or low vision readers. The content in this version has not been changed or altered from the original content.

Alternate formats of the full review

• Screenreader friendly - Full Review for Whaikaha of policies, processes, and practices for managing complaints about IDEA Services Limited (DOCX 308KB)
• Large print - Full Review for Whaikaha of policies, processes, and practices for managing complaints about IDEA Services Limited (DOCX 306KB)
• Braille - Full Review for Whaikaha of policies, processes, and practices for managing complaints about IDEA Services Limited (BRF 128KB)
• Audio - Full Review for Whaikaha of policies, processes, and practices for managing complaints about IDEA Services Limited external URL

Alternate formats of the review summary

• Large Print - Summary of the review for Whaikaha of policies, processes and practices for managing complaints about IDEA Services Limited (DOCX 81KB)
• Audio - Summary of the review for Whaikaha of policies, processes and practices for managing complaints about IDEA Services Limited (MP3 4.6MB)
• Braille - Summary of the review for Whaikaha of policies, processes and practices for managing complaints about IDEA Services Limited (BRF 11KB)
• NZSL - Summary of the review for Whaikaha of policies, processes and practices for managing complaints about IDEA Services Limited external URL
• Easy Read - Summary of the review for Whaikaha of policies, processes and practices for managing complaints about IDEA Services Limited (DOCX 9.2MB)
• Easy Read - Summary of the review for Whaikaha of policies, processes and practices for managing complaints about IDEA Services Limited (PDF 3.3MB)

Disability Transformation Tagged Contingency Drawdown

In September 2023, the Government announced that Whaikaha could access $73.7 million over the next four years and an additional $40.5 million per annum in the following years to support our disability system transformation work.

We have proactively released the Disability Transformation Tagged Contingency Drawdown paper we sent the Government.

The full report is available as braille and audio files. The summary of the report will be available in Easy Read, Braille, Audio and NZSL.

Alternate formats of the full paper

• Audio - full paper - Disability Transformation Tagged Contingency Drawdown external URL
• Braille - full paper - Disability Transformation Tagged Contingency Drawdown (BRF 58KB)
• Large Print - full paper - Disability Transformation Tagged Contingency Drawdown (DOCX 225KB)

Alternate formats of the paper summary

• Audio - Summary of Disability Transformation Tagged Contingency Drawdown paper (MP3 3.1MB)
• Braille - Summary of Disability Transformation Tagged Contingency Drawdown paper (BRF 7KB)
• NZSL - Summary of Disability Transformation Tagged Contingency Drawdown paper external URL
• Large Print - Summary of Disability Transformation Tagged Contingency Drawdown paper (DOCX 102KB)
• Easy Read - Summary of Disability Transformation Tagged Contingency Drawdown paper (DOCX 4.8MB)
• Easy Ready Summary of Disability Transformation Tagged Contingency Drawdown paper (PDF 2.1MB)

UNCRPD: Government response and proposed mechanisms to support implementation

The paper sought agreement to a Government response to the Concluding Observations provided by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2022.

The approach to this response was updated by Cabinet in 2024. You can find more information about the new approach on the Response to recommendations from second UNCRPD examination webpage. external URL

The full Cabinet paper is available in three alternate formats. The summary Cabinet paper is available in all alternate formats.

Summary of Cabinet paper with alternate formats

The summary of the Cabinet paper is produced by Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People.

COVID-19 Outcomes for People Receiving Disability Support Services (DSS)

Additional Information on this data is also available:

• Whaikaha Covid 19 DSS data news article external URL
• Manatū Hauora Covid 19 Risk among disabled people  external URL