Supporting Tāngata Whaikaha Māori and Disabled People - Cost Pressures

We want to ensure funding is available to cover the increased costs and additional demand for disability support services in New Zealand.

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Vote Social Development 2023

Government has allocated $863.6 million to ensure Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People can continue to deliver existing disability support services and develop and deliver future services for disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori.

This initiative maintains the Government’s $2 billion per annum investment in disability support services by funding cost pressures on the Disability Support Services budget, including price increases due to inflationary pressures and service volumes due to demand for services.

• This initiative will support an increasing number of disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori to access the disability services they need.
• It will allow more people to access Individualised Funding. Individualised Funding gives disabled people, and their family and whānau, more choice and control over who provides their support and how and when they use it.
• Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People contracts nearly 500 providers to provide a wide range of disability support services. Providers are facing a wide range of cost and volume pressures.
  • This funding will help Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People to adjust its prices to support wage and inflationary pressures on providers.
  • Providers will be able to continue to meet their commitments to disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori.
• These commitments include:
  • Home and Community Support Services - support with household management and personal care.
  • Respite care - supporting people to take a break.
  • Community Residential care – supporting disabled people to have safe and satisfying home lives, including accommodation, food, other general costs, and skilled staff able to provide supports specific to the client’s needs, aspirations, and wellbeing.
  • Environmental Support Services – which help disabled people navigate their everyday lives. These can include things like wheelchairs, communications technology, hearing aids, contact lenses and cochlear implants.

Costs (operating)