Working with government

Central government

• Ministry of Health: a significant provider of policy advice on disability issues, with responsibility for strategic and operational policy advice, and funding for disability support services.

• Ministry of Social Development: has responsibility for disability policy work for the Minister for Social Development and Employment, particularly relating to income support, and in the funding and provision of vocational services for disabled people.

• Ministry of Education: focuses on the provision of education services to children and young people with disabilities.

• Department of Labour: provides policy advice to Ministers on labour market and employment issues, vocational services, and transitions for people with disabilities.

• Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC): administers New Zealand's accident compensation scheme and provides advice on accident insurance and injury prevention.

Local government

Government at the local and regional level has an impact on people’s everyday lives, and the Office is developing its relationship with local government through the promotion and implementation of the NZ Disability Strategy.

Other agencies

• Human Rights Commission: an independent statutory body which administers the Human Rights Act 1993. The Commission's primary functions are to:
  • advocate and promote respect for, and an understanding and appreciation of, human rights in New Zealand society; and
  • encourage the maintenance and development of harmonious relations between individuals and among the diverse groups in New Zealand society.
  The Commission provides assistance to people who believe they have been discriminated against and has the power to resolve disputes.

• Health and Disability Commissioner: is the primary agency for dealing with complaints about any health and disability service provider in New Zealand. Its functions are provided for in the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994, which has the purpose to

• promote and protect the rights of health consumers and disability services consumers, and
• facilitate the fair, simple, speedy, and efficient resolution of complaints relating to infringements of those rights.

This objective is achieved through the implementation of a Code of Rights, the establishment of a complaints process to ensure enforcement of those rights and the ongoing education of providers and consumers.

• Mental Health Commission: has three functions defined by the Mental Health Commission Act 1998 as:

• monitor and report to Government on the performance of the Ministry of Health and the District Health Boards in the implementation of the Government's National Mental Health Strategy;
• work with the sector to promote better understanding by the public of mental illness and eliminate discrimination; and
• strengthen the workforce by working with the sector and those involved in training to promote training opportunities, and the recruitment of staff with the appropriate range and quality of skills.