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New Zealanders reading about politicians’ pay rises today can be forgiven for wondering why this is the priority now. Yes, we know politicians’ wages are awarded by an independent body. As it should be. If I were an MP today, headlines about more money in my pocket in gloomy economic times is pretty inconvenient. If …

New Zealand Disability Support Network media release 30 April 2024 Disability support providers welcome the disability funding review, as they expect it to confirm the sector is significantly underfunded and that the Government needs to do better for disabled people, their whānau, and for care and support workers, says Disability Support Network CEO Peter Reynolds. …

New Zealand Disability Support Network media release 24 April 2024 Disability Support Network welcomes Minister Upston, thanks Minister Simmonds The disability sector hopes that new Minister for Disability Issues, Louise Upston, will champion improved services for disabled people to enable them to live fulfilling lives with the support that they need, says New Zealand Disability …

17th & 18th June 2024, Takina Events Centre, Wellington Seeing the Opportunity! Tirohia te whai waahi Focussing on innovation, solutions to issues and problems that providers have found and are likely to face in future, amidst the most challenging of times. The Conference, over two days, will include keynote presenters, presentations from NZDSN members across …

We at New Zealand Disability Support Network applaud the Commerce Commission for filing proceedings against One NZ for their latest failure on 111 Contact Code. It doesn’t take much to think of harmful or fatal scenarios for people with disabilities and their families if they can’t call on 111 in an emergency. Disabled people are amongst our …

The Court of Appeal’s just-released decision that family carers of disabled people are not employees of Whaikaha, the Ministry of Disabled People, shows policy in this area must be fixed, says New Zealand Disability Support Network CEO Peter Reynolds. “While it’s positive to finally have a Court of Appeal decision on this issue, it’s not …

This is about where to draw the line and when to move forward. As we all know, on 18 March, Whaikaha issued a statement imposing purchasing guidelines on those accessing equipment management services and to guide those on Individualised Funding packages on where they can spend their support funding and where they can’t.  This announcement …

Where do things stand as the dust settles after a week’s worth of headlines on the Whaikaha support fund announcement? I personally think some rules around the use of support funds are appropriate. But the announcement of the purchasing guidelines for equipment management services’ funding and the use of funding by those receiving Individualised Funding …

RNZ:  https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018931831/disability-support-network-on-funding-boost- ft Peter Reynolds interview  Newsroom: https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/03/26/external-review-to-probe-disability-ministrys-spending-and-systems/ Our position – NZDSN welcomes the additional Cabinet oversight of Whaikaha to ensure they have the funding to do the job.  The decision addresses the previous ill-advised decision to appoint a Minister outside of Cabinet for such an important portfolio. Disability support has been subject to decades …

New Zealand’s population over the second half of 2023 grew at its fastest rate since 1946 putting our population at just over 5.3 million people. The government has introduced changes to immigration settings with Finance Minister Nicola Willis saying the door has been open to too many low-skilled workers. Minister Willis has been saying she …