Independent Review

The Ministry of Disabled People - Whaikaha was facing cost pressures and the Minister for Disability Issues wanted a full picture of the situation before considering any changes to the system and Independent Review (the review) was commissioned.

The review included 7 recommendations external, which were accepted by the Government.

Cabinet also agreed to:

• transfer Disability Support Services (DSS) to a newly branded business unit within the Ministry of Social Development - this happened in September 2024
• create a standalone department for the rest of the Ministry of Disabled People, to provide leadership and stewardship for disabled people across government by the end of 2024
• establish a cross-agency taskforce of senior officials within MSD to deliver the review’s recommendations for DSS. The taskforce will include experts in policy, finance, contract management, service delivery, risk management, auditing, and evaluation.

Many of the decisions from the review have now been implemented.

View supporting documents (as at August 2024)

• View the Minister's Press Release on the Beehive website external
• View the Independent Review Disability Support Services Phase One Report – 28 June 2024 (PDF 4.8 MB)
• View factsheets:
  • For people using Disability Support Services
  • Recommendations 1-7
• View Questions and Answers
• View the Cabinet paper, 29 April 2024
• View the Cabinet paper, 12 August 2024
• View the Rapid Assurance Review, May 2024
• View the Operational Policy and Guidelines 2024/25

Alternate formats

• Large Print Update on Disability Support Services (DOCX 117 KB)
• Braille Update on Disability Support Services (BRF 3 KB)
• Audio Update on Disability Service (Whaikaha file) external