Minister announces innovative approach to uplift disabled community.
The New Zealand government has begun the process of refreshing its strategy to improve the lives and uphold the rights of people with disabilities, using an innovative new approach led by the Ministry of Disabled People - Whaikaha. According to Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston, the current 10-year strategy ends in 2026 but significant progress still needs to be made.
A key focus area will be creating employment opportunities for disabled New Zealanders, with recent data from the Stats NZ Household Disability Survey showing that three quarters of unemployed disabled people want to work. The draft strategy will go through a collaborative development process involving working groups drawn from the disabled community, industry, and government agencies before being reviewed by the wider disabled community.
The resulting document is expected to last for five years and address key areas such as education, employment, health, housing, and justice, where differences can be made for people with disabilities. Minister Upston acknowledges that there will be challenges ahead but also sees huge opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of disabled New Zealanders.
The Ministry has received almost 350 expressions of interest from disabled people keen to take part in the refresh process, highlighting the community's enthusiasm and eagerness to contribute to this new initiative.