Disabled Kiwis left hanging as Government consultations end

New Zealanders will have their say on last year’s abrupt funding freeze of disability support, as the government launches nationwide consultations on its future.

The cuts drew fierce backlash following the government’s controversial decision to dismantle Whaikaha, the ministry responsible for managing access to flexible funding.

Justified as a cost-saving measure, the sudden funding freeze disrupted support for approximately 50,000 people and another 100,000 who rely on essential equipment or home modifications.

The chief executive of Independent Living Service, Karen Beard-Greer, says the downfall was inevitable as Whaikaha was never properly resourced to keep up with rising costs and a growing population.

Whaikaha functioned as a standalone Crown entity. However, it has remained financially dependent on the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), inheriting a support system with an unclear funding criteria and limited ability to execute reforms successfully.

“We’re a small country with just a couple of million taxpayers. The real challenge is redesigning a system where disabled people can thrive, have a choice, and the budget to make it happen,” Beard-Greer said.

The government rolled out sets of community consultations from February 10 to March 24, 2025.

The government wants these consultations to show the disabled community that they aim to create a fair and consistent support system. However, some find this approach hypocritical.

Tony Howe, a former Wheel Blacks coach with muscular dystrophy who went to two Paralympics, attended one of the meetings.

He believes that the “fair and consistent” consultation discussions should have happened before the announcement of Whaikaha’s transition, not after the decision was made.

“Sudden TV announcements by ministers continually surprising us with cuts and freezes hardly builds trust.

“You try to take part in these consultations in good faith, but history is full of people who tried, only to be blindsided by the very leaders meant to protect us,” he said.

The consultations, held in person and promoted online, focus on important topics like the transition of disability support services back to the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and refining the disability assessment processes.

However, Howe has been monitoring online reactions from the community and says many view the process as a typical governmental protocol.

He says consultations are conducted as if officials are merely “ticking a box,” with more “silence” than meaningful engagement or progress, which only deepens the sense that “decisions have already been made” on their behalf.

Disabled New Zealanders are calling on the government for quick answers and clear solutions. After a year of uncertainty from Whaikaha, they require assurance that their needs will be met.