The challenges faced by whānau living with disability across Aotearoa remain a major concern for many communities, with ongoing issues around access to housing, employment, health services and adequate support continuing to shape the daily reality for thousands of families.
In the fourth part of Waatea News’ series examining disability and the pressures faced by whānau, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has outlined the Government’s response and the steps it says are being taken to improve disability support services across the country.
The Minister acknowledged that disabled people in Aotearoa continue to encounter significant barriers in many parts of life, particularly in employment, housing and health. She says the Government is focused on ensuring disability support services are fair, transparent and sustainable for the long term, while also providing better outcomes for disabled people, their whānau and those who care for them.
A major component of that response is new funding allocated through Budget 2025. The Government has committed more than $1 billion over four years to disability support services, a move it says is designed to stabilise the system and improve the delivery of assistance to people who rely on these services every day.
Alongside the funding boost, the Government has also refreshed the national Disability Strategy. The updated strategy outlines the actions that will guide government policy over the next five years and is intended to reduce barriers across society. Health and housing have been identified as two of the key priority areas where change is needed to improve outcomes for disabled people and their families.
The Minister says reforms to Disability Support Services are already underway following public and community consultation held in September last year. One of the first changes introduced earlier this year is a nationally consistent approach to needs assessments. From February, all assessments have been conducted in the same way across the country, with a stronger emphasis placed on recognising the role and needs of family members, whānau and carers who support disabled people.
Further changes are scheduled to take effect from April, when purchasing guidelines that previously restricted the use of flexible funding will be removed. The move is intended to return greater choice and control to disabled people and their families, allowing them to determine how best to use the support available to them. The Government says additional guidance and advice will also be provided to help people navigate how that funding can be accessed and used.
For Māori communities, kaupapa Māori providers remain an important part of the disability support network. Disability Support Services currently contracts with 39 kaupapa providers delivering culturally grounded care and assistance to whānau.
Budget 2025 also included additional funding to support residential care delivered through community group homes. The Government has allocated $240 million over four years to strengthen that part of the system. While the funding is not specifically ring-fenced for Māori providers, kaupapa organisations are expected to benefit alongside other service providers delivering residential care.
Despite the policy changes and funding commitments outlined by the Government, advocates say many disabled people and their whānau continue to experience significant challenges navigating the system, accessing appropriate housing, and securing the support needed to live independently.
As Waatea’s series continues to highlight the lived experience of whānau across the motu, the conversation is increasingly turning to whether the reforms underway will translate into meaningful change for those who rely on disability support services every day.
Check out our Series so far:
- Part One: Whaikaha: Families warn disability sector under strain as housing shortages and support barriers deepen
- Part Two: Waatea Question of the Day: Listeners say Government falling short for disabled whānau
- Part Three: Whaikaha: The Cup of Tea That Revealed a Hidden Crisis
The unedited response from the Minister:
“We know many disabled people do face barriers in areas such as employment, housing, and health.
Our Government is committed to delivering fair, consistent, transparent and sustainable disability support services for disabled people, their whānau and carers.
That’s reflected in a Budget 2025 investment of more than $1 billion over four years in new funding for disability support services.
Reducing barriers for all New Zealanders is also a key focus of last year’s refreshed Disability Strategy – this sets out the actions the Government will take over the next five years to improve the lives of disabled people and represents a huge opportunity to make a positive difference, particularly in Health and Housing as two of the five priority outcome areas.
Additionally, and following public and community consultation in September 2025, the Government announced significant changes to Disability Support Services.
From February this year, all needs assessments are being done the same way right across the country, and will include dedicated focus on the needs of family, whānau and carers, where that is relevant to the needs of the disabled person they support.
From April this year, the Purchasing Guidelines on flexible funding will be removed, returning choice and control, and people will get greater support and advice for how they access and use flexible funding.
In relation to Māori, Disability Support Services currently contracts with 39 kaupapa providers.
Budget 2025 also included $240 million over four years ($60 million each year ongoing) for residential care delivered by Community Group Home providers. While the additional funding is not specifically ringfenced for kaupapa Māori service providers, Māori providers will benefit alongside other providers from this funding increase.”
