Whaikaha update - October 2025
In our October update, our Chief Executive reflects on our progress over the past year.
You can watch a video of this update below, with NZSL, captions and audio. A transcript is also available.
You can also read the written update below.
Video transcript
Ngā mihi nui, kia koutou katoa. Ko Paula Tesoriero tōku ingoa. My name is Paula and I'm the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Disabled People - Whaikaha. My sign name is this, which is 2 fists moving in a forward direction like a bicycle.
It’s been a big year, and I’m excited to bring you regular updates as we near our first birthday as a standalone government agency. We’ve built strong foundations and worked together to help achieve our vision of disabled people thriving in New Zealand.
A key milestone has been refreshing the New Zealand Disability Strategy, focusing on health, housing, justice, education, and employment – alongside a renewed vision and principles section.
We formed working groups, including people with lived disability experience, government officials, and sector experts, to develop actions for each priority area.
Over 900 people joined more than 40 consultation sessions, and your voices have shaped our direction—thank you! I look forward to the release of the final strategy in early December.
Alongside the New Zealand Sign Language Board, we’ve updated the New Zealand Sign Language Strategy to address ongoing barriers faced by Deaf people and Turi Māori. The final strategy, aimed at enabling full participation, will be launched in November.
In August, we launched a paid summer internship for final-year disabled students and recent graduates, spanning 11 government agencies. I can’t wait to meet the interns who begin in November.
In July, we launched Whaimana – Support My Decisions, a website offering practical tools and examples to help people make informed choices. Developed with input from the disability sector, it has received positive feedback and will continue to grow.
We’ve also:
• supported agencies to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recommendations
• contributed to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care response
• released the National Pacific Disability Approach
• expanded access to disability data, evidence, and insights
• made progress on our Accessibility Work Programme, including strengthening the Alternate Formats Service, and inviting expressions of interest for our new Accessibility Advisory Group.
We’re making sure essential government information that disabled people told us need translating into alternate formats. We're beginning with details on Work and Income benefits, MSD processes, and complaints, with more resources to follow.
We're increasing public understanding of disability issues by collaborating with the parking sector to improve mobility parking enforcement and promoting awareness of disability assist dog access rights. Building strong relationships with the disability community and related
organisations remains a key focus.
You can also check out our recently released annual report, which highlights our first year of progress as a standalone department
I’m grateful for the opportunity to hear people’s views and experiences first-hand. These conversations continue to shape our priorities.
Disabled people still face many barriers, but as we approach our first anniversary on the 1st of December, I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together to create meaningful change.
There is much more to be done.
Ngā mihi nui, kia koutou katoa.
Written update
In this update
Refreshing the New Zealand Disability Strategy
Updating the New Zealand Sign Language Strategy
All-of-Government paid internship programme
Whaimana – Support My Decisions website
A word from Paula
It’s been a big year, and I’m excited to bring you regular updates as we near our first birthday as a standalone government agency. We’ve built strong foundations and worked together to help achieve our vision of disabled people thriving in New Zealand.
Refreshing the New Zealand Disability Strategy
A key milestone has been refreshing the New Zealand Disability Strategy, focusing on health, housing, justice, education, and employment – alongside a renewed vision and principles section.
We formed working groups, including people with lived disability experience, government officials, and sector experts, to develop actions for each priority area.
Over 900 people joined more than 40 consultation sessions, and your voices have shaped our direction – thank you! I look forward to the release of the final strategy in early December.
Refresh of the New Zealand Disability Strategy
Updating the New Zealand Sign Language Strategy
Alongside the NZSL Board, we’ve updated the New Zealand Sign Language Strategy to address ongoing barriers faced by Deaf people and Turi Māori. The final strategy, aimed at enabling full participation, will be launched in November.
New Zealand Sign Language Strategy
All-of-Government paid internship programme
In August, we launched a paid summer internship for final-year disabled students and recent graduates, spanning 11 government agencies. I can’t wait to meet the interns who begin in November.
Whaimana – Support My Decisions website
In July, we launched Whaimana – Support My Decisions, a website offering practical tools and examples to help people make informed choices. Developed with input from the disability sector, it has received positive feedback and will continue to grow.
Whaimana – Support My Decisions external URL
Other initiatives
We’ve also:
- supported agencies to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recommendations
- contributed to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care response
- released the National Pacific Disability Approach
- expanded access to disability data, evidence, and insights
- made progress on our Accessibility Work Programme, including strengthening the Alternate Formats Service, and inviting expressions of interest for our new Accessibility Advisory Group.
We’re making sure essential government information that disabled people told us need translating into alternate formats, gets translated. We're beginning with details on Work and Income benefits, MSD processes, and complaints, with more resources to follow.
We're increasing public understanding of disability issues by collaborating with the parking sector to improve mobility parking enforcement, and promoting awareness of disability assist dog access rights. Building strong relationships with the disability community and related organisations remains a key focus.
You can also check out our recently released annual report, which highlights our first year of progress as a standalone department.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to hear people’s views and experiences first-hand. These conversations continue to shape our priorities.
Disabled people still face many barriers, but as we approach our first anniversary on 1 December, I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together to create meaningful change. There is much more to be done.
Ngā mihi nui, kia koutou katoa.
Paula Tesoriero PLY MNZM
Te Tumu Whakarae – Chief Executive
Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha