This is the third report on progress by government departments in the implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy.  It covers the 12-month period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003.

This is the first time that the report on progress includes information from all 37 government departments.  For 27 of those departments, this report covers their first year of implementation activity.  The remaining 10 departments are reporting on their second year of activity.

Background

In December 1999 the portfolio of Minister for Disability Issues was established. Until this time there was no Minister or Ministry in New Zealand with overarching responsibility for disability issues.  In 2000 the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act was passed, coming into effect on January 2001.  The New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 requires the Minister for Disability Issues to develop a Disability Strategy for New Zealand, to 'provide the framework for the Government's overall direction for the disability sector in improving disability support services'^[1].

Under the Act, the Minister is required to consult with relevant organisations and individuals before determining or altering the Strategy^[2], and to report on progress in implementing the Strategy each year^[3].  The Strategy, and any amendment, replacement or report must be made available to the public and to the House of Representatives^[4].

In 2000-01 a disability sector reference group was established to develop the first New Zealand Disability Strategy.  The disability sector was widely consulted, with over 68 meetings around the country and more than 700 submissions received.  The Disability Strategy was released in April 2001. 

Eleven key public service departments were required to produce plans for the 2001-02 year^[5].  These 2001-02 plans were the subject of the first and second reports on progress.  The first report covered the three-month period from 1 July to 30 September 2001.  This time period was set in order to enable the report to be presented to Parliament by December of that year, as required under section 8 of the Public Health and Disability Act.  The second report on progress covered the nine-month period from 1 October 2001 to 30 June 2002. 

All government departments were required to produce plans for the 2002-03 year.

[1] New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000, Section 8.
[2] ibid, section 8(3).
[3] ibid, section 8(4).
[4] ibid, section 8(5).
[5] Two of the original 11 departments merged during 2002 (the Ministry of Social Policy and the Department of Work and Income merged to form the Ministry of Social Development.