Clarifications on Purchasing Rules for Flexible Funding

Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People is providing clarifications to support disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori and whānau to apply the Purchasing Rules for flexible funding supports. 

You can also view a video message with NZSL from Paula Tesoriero on the Clarifications.

Alternate formats

The clarifications have been informed by the feedback received from our community and providers. 

Whaikaha recognises we have a lot to learn from the way we made our announcement on 18 March 2024.

We acknowledge the changes have been distressing and caused confusion for the community, and for the service providers who support disabled people.

We are committed to our partnership approach and the transformation of the disability support system.  


The clarifications, are: 

i) ride and driver services can be used to support a disabled person to access services or engage with the community, where this is a reasonable and cost-effective option 

ii) the following items can be purchased for a disabled person to assist self management, on a one-off basis within a flexible funding allocation period:  

  1. Electronic tablet devices
  2. Noise cancelling headphones
  3. Sensory toys, fidget spinners etc
  4. Weighted blankets

iii) household support arrangements in place through Choice in Community Living or a personal budget can continue, where these arrangements are an alternative to residential care that enables people to live in the community 

iv) existing support arrangements can continue where:

  1. the disabled person has committed to employment, a course of study, therapy, or a timebound programme; and
  2. they have relied on the availability of flexibility under the previous Purchase Rules to support them to participate in those commitments; and
  3. that commitment was made before 18 March 2024.

Whaikaha recognises that every person and every situation is different. If you have specific questions about how these changes relate to you, please contact your Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination service (NASC)/Host or Enabling Good Lives site in the first instance, this information has been shared with them.  

Whaikaha is committed to working with disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori and whānau to develop longer term settings that are aligned to the Enabling Good Lives vision and principles, UNCRPD and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Key links: 

Video message from Paula Tesoriero

View a video message from Chief Executive Paula Tesoriero on the Clarifications to the Purchase Rules with NZSL.

Captions are available and you can find a transcript below the video. You can also download the transcript as a word document (DOCX 50KB).