Articles tagged with Disability
Budget 2026 Boosts Support for Children with High Needs and Families
2 weeks ago | 220 viewsBudget 2026 allocates $93.5 million over four years, plus $0.8 million in capital funding, to enhance support for children and young people with high and complex needs. This investment aims to improve stability in care, prevent placement breakdowns, and provide earlier, more intensive support for vulnerable youth and their families. The government emphasizes that this approach will reduce the need for more restrictive and costly care while addressing the increasing challenges faced by these children.
Tags: Budget 2026 children young people high support needs Karen Chhour mental wellbeing disability specialist care clinical support vulnerableNew Community Consultation to Improve Disability and Carer Support Services
2 weeks ago | 185 viewsDisability Issues Minister Louise Upston announced a new community consultation from June 8 to July 31 to gather feedback on improving disability support services, focusing on flexible supports, better planning, and enhanced respite options for carers. The consultation will inform the development of a new carer support package aimed at providing financial aid, improved respite, and practical assistance, addressing the complexities of current formal employment arrangements for family carers. The government has committed $2.1 billion in recent budgets to strengthen the disability support system and emphasizes ongoing engagement with the disability community to create a fair, transparent, and sustainable service framework.
Tags: Louise Upston Disability Issues Minister DSS Disability Support Services family carers carers New Zealand Government Disability Support Services Bill carer support package disability communityGovernment Introduces Disability Support Services Bill to Strengthen NZ Support System
1 month ago | 344 viewsThe Government has introduced the Disability Support Services Bill to provide a clear legislative framework, improving consistency, fairness, and transparency for the support system aiding thousands of disabled New Zealanders. The Bill clarifies the role of DSS, confirms the importance of family and whānau support, and responds to Supreme Court issues regarding carers, while maintaining existing services and funding. With a record $2.1 billion investment and ongoing reforms, the Bill aims to stabilize and sustain disability support, benefiting around 55,000 disabled people and 26,000 children annually.
Tags: Disability Support Services Louise Upston New Zealand Government Disability Support Services Bill Supreme Court carers whānau flexible funding Social Services and Community Committee Child Development ServicesDisabled People Gain More Choice and Control as Flexible Funding Rules Are Removed
2 months ago | 460 viewsFrom April 1, 2026, disabled people with flexible funding will have more choice and control as purchasing rules are removed, while budgets remain at current levels and spending must align with individual funding plans. This change follows significant government investment and reforms since 2024 that stabilized the disability support system, ensuring fairer, more consistent access and stronger financial controls. Additional guidance will be provided to help manage budgets, with certain purchases requiring pre-approval, aiming to support disabled people, their families, and carers more effectively.
Tags: disability support flexible funding Louise Upston Minister for Disability Issues Independent Review 2024 whānau carers DSS Enabling Good Lives purchasing rulesMore Choice and Control for Disabled People’s Flexible Funding from April 2026
3 months ago | 487 viewsFrom April 2026, disabled people will have greater choice and control over their flexible funding without changes to their current budget allocations, as purchasing rules will be removed while still requiring spending to align with individual plans. These changes follow successful efforts since 2024 to stabilize the disability support system, including strengthened financial controls, improved needs assessments, and significant new funding to ensure sustainability and consistency. Support will be provided to help individuals manage their budgets, with some high-cost or specific purchases requiring pre-approval, reflecting feedback from the disability community and recommendations from the 2024 Independent Review.
Tags: Louise Upston disability support flexible funding Independent Review 2024 DSS NASCs Enabling Good Lives Budget 2025 residential care carersErin James Appointed New Aged Care Commissioner to Enhance Quality Care
3 months ago | 532 viewsAssociate Minister of Health Casey Costello announced Ms Erin James as the new Aged Care Commissioner, a role within the Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner focused on advocating for quality health services for older people. Ms James, currently Director of the OPCAT team at the Office of the Ombudsman, will serve a five-year term starting 7 April 2026. Her appointment aligns with ongoing efforts to improve the aged care system by ensuring timely, appropriate, and sustainable care.
Tags: Casey Costello Erin James Aged Care Commissioner Health and Disability Commissioner Office of the Ombudsman Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture OPCAT Associate Minister of Health aged care system health systemMorag McDowell Reappointed as Health and Disability Commissioner for Two Years
3 months ago | 572 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown has announced the reappointment of Ms Morag McDowell as Health and Disability Commissioner for a two-year term starting 7 March 2026. Ms McDowell brings extensive legal expertise and health sector experience, which will help the organization deliver fair and effective services. The Government aims to keep patients central to the health system and improve healthcare quality for all New Zealanders.
Tags: Simeon Brown Morag McDowell Health Minister Health and Disability Commissioner New Zealand Government healthcare patients legal expertise health sectorNew National Approach Streamlines Disability Support Services for All
4 months ago | 575 viewsA new nationally consistent approach to Disability Support Services (DSS) will standardize needs assessments and support allocations across New Zealand, ensuring fairness regardless of location. This change, informed by extensive consultation, includes personalized funding plans, consideration of families and carers, and greater choice for about 38,500 people with flexible funding. These improvements aim to simplify processes, enhance wellbeing, and provide a stable foundation for strengthening the disability support system long-term.
Tags: Louise Upston Disability Support Services NASC Enabling Good Lives Independent Review My DSS families carers disabled people flexible fundingNew National Approach Improves Disability Support Services for All
4 months ago | 629 viewsA new nationally consistent approach to Disability Support Services (DSS) will standardize needs assessment and support allocation across New Zealand, ensuring fairness regardless of location. This includes personalized funding plans, consideration of families and carers in assessments, and greater choice and control for around 38,500 people with flexible funding. The changes, informed by extensive consultation, aim to simplify processes, improve wellbeing, and provide a stable foundation for the disability support system's future.
Tags: Louise Upston Disability Support Services NASCs Enabling Good Lives Independent Review My DSS Minister for Disability Issues disability community families and carers flexible fundingGovernment to Adjust Total Mobility Scheme Subsidies to Ensure Long-Term Viability
6 months ago | 857 viewsThe New Zealand Government will reduce the Total Mobility fare subsidy from 75% to 65% starting July 2026 and work with public transport authorities to lower fare caps by about 10%, aiming to ensure the scheme’s financial sustainability amid rising costs and demand. To support public transport authorities facing funding shortfalls, the Government will allocate $10 million and recycle savings to reduce regional shortfalls over 2025-2030, while also consulting on improving access and targeting of the scheme. These changes seek to maintain consistent, fair, and sustainable support for disabled and older New Zealanders who rely on subsidised taxi fares when they cannot use public transport independently.
Tags: Chris Bishop Louise Upston Total Mobility NZ Transport Agency Ministry of Transport New Zealand Government public transport disability support fare subsidy transport authoritiesNew Zealand Government Advances Disability Inclusion with New Strategy and Funding
6 months ago | 663 viewsMinister Louise Upston reaffirmed the New Zealand Government’s commitment to improving the lives of disabled people, endorsing the 2025 international theme of fostering inclusive societies. The government recently launched the New Zealand Disability Strategy 2026–2030, focusing on education, employment, health, housing, and justice to address ongoing disadvantages faced by disabled individuals. Key initiatives include significant investments in learning support, enhanced Disability Support Services, increased funding for residential care, and the development of a new Carers’ Strategy Action Plan.
Tags: Louise Upston New Zealand Government International Day of Persons with Disabilities New Zealand Disability Strategy Disability Support Services Early Intervention Service Carers’ Strategy Action Plan residential care providers disabled people disability communityNew Zealand Disability Strategy 2026-2030: Driving Positive Change for All
6 months ago | 751 viewsThe New Zealand Disability Strategy 2026-2030 outlines a government plan with clear goals and actions across education, employment, health, housing, and justice to improve the lives of disabled people. It aims to address barriers through meaningful, measurable initiatives, including employer support, accessible healthcare, improved housing definitions, early intervention in justice and education, and adherence to UN recommendations. The Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha will oversee implementation, report progress annually to Parliament, and measure the strategy's impact.
Tags: Louise Upston New Zealand Disability Strategy Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Government Parliament disabled people youth justice system social housingNew Zealand Expands Gender Pay Gap Toolkit to Include Ethnicity and Disability Gaps
7 months ago | 678 viewsNew Zealand’s expanded Gender Pay Gap Toolkit now includes tools for calculating gender-ethnicity and gender-disability pay gaps, along with resources tailored for small to medium-sized businesses and young women. Despite the overall gender pay gap falling to 5.2 percent, significant disparities persist for Asian, Māori, Pacific, and disabled women, highlighting ongoing challenges. Developed in partnership with businesses and community groups, the toolkit provides practical guidance to help organizations measure, analyze, and address overlapping pay gaps to create fairer workplaces.
Tags: Nicola Grigg Karanina Sumeo YWCA Auckland New Zealand Gender Pay Gap Ethnicity Pay Gap Disability Pay Gap SMEs Women Wāhine MāoriGovernment Boosts Support for High Needs Youth & Families with New Services
7 months ago | 698 viewsIncreased funding under the government has enabled Oranga Tamariki to provide more services to high support needs young people and their families, with an additional 59 placements across 11 community care providers. These services encompass everyday support, access to education, community inclusion, extracurricular activities, and family contact, benefiting the youth immensely. The funding of $99.784 million over four years has allowed for trauma-informed care, specialist disability support, and tools like visual timetables to help these individuals manage and avoid triggers, demonstrating the government's commitment to addressing the needs of these young people and their families.
Tags: services funding government young people families Minister for Children Karen Chhour Oranga Tamariki support needs disability community care providersEmpowering Choice & Control: New Flexible Funding System for Disabled Community
9 months ago | 792 viewsImprovements to the disability support system will provide disabled individuals, families, and carers with more choice and control over flexible funding starting early next year. The changes aim to address feedback for greater autonomy in decision-making and to create a more transparent and sustainable system. These adjustments, informed by extensive community consultations, will standardize assessment processes, develop personalized support plans through NASCs, and offer more clarity and certainty to users of flexible funding.
Tags: Disabled people families carers flexible funding disability support system Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston Independent Review NASCs Enabling Good Lives