Welcome to Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People.
About 1 in 6 New Zealanders are disabled. We work across government, businesses, and communities to improve outcomes for them.
We focus on things that make a tangible difference to disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori, and their families and whānau, whether that means working with partners to get more people into employment or making New Zealand more accessible.
Disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori make an important contribution to society and the economy. We have a huge opportunity for that to grow even further.
Whaikaha does not provide direct support to disabled people or their families. For more information about services and support available, visit Disability Support Services.
In November 2025, the Ministry of Health released the latest results from the New Zealand Health Survey (NZHS), which monitors the health and wellbeing of people living in New Zealand.
Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People congratulates Kerri Butler, the recipient of the inaugural Erin Geaney Scholarship.
An action plan to make New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) more visible and accessible was launched by the NZSL Board today.
Get to know Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People, our role in Government, and our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Find resources on collecting and using disability data and recent updates from across New Zealand.
The New Zealand Disability Strategy gives direction to government agencies on issues disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori and whānau say are important.
