This implementation review covers the six year period from April 2001 to June 2007. The timing was chosen to coincide with the planned release of the findings of the 2006 Post-Census Disability Survey, to enable changes in life outcomes for disabled people between the 2001 and 2006 surveys to be incorporated into the review. Unfortunately, the release of the findings was delayed and so this could not occur.

The main purpose of the review is to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of the processes used to implement the Disability Strategy, and the impact of implementation on the lives of disabled people. Future implementation of the Disability Strategy will be informed by the review, including expansion of implementation beyond central government. The outcomes of the review will also contribute towards facilitation of the 10-year review of the Disability Strategy’s implementation, due to occur in 2011.

The review’s objectives were to:

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the scope, mechanisms and actions applied and followed in promoting and monitoring the implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy.
• Inform work to improve the effective future implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy, so that it will contribute to an increase in disabled people’s quality of life and ability to participate independently in the community.
• Inform work to expand implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy beyond government departments, through making recommendations on where and how this expansion can best be achieved.
• Develop a framework to facilitate an effective 10 year evaluation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy implementation.