New Zealand's approach to disability issues and disabled people has changed over the last 15 years, like it has in the rest of the developed world. This change presents challenges to what government services are provided, how these services are delivered and, more broadly, to some of society's attitudes towards disabled people.

Driving this change are the raised expectations and aspirations of disabled people themselves. Disabled people expect to participate as full and equal citizens - with the same set of rights, obligations and opportunities that other people have. The New Zealand Disability Strategy and the recently ratified United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities both reflect this.

To realise their aspirations, disabled people need access to the goods, services and facilities that others can access. Some disabled people may also need disability-specific support services to help them to be as independent as possible at each stage of the life cycle. Regardless of the services needed, disabled people need to retain control over their lives, and the decisions that affect them.

Responding to this change is made more challenging, and also more urgent, by another key driver - demographics. Today around one in six New Zealanders are disabled. With an ageing population, we expect a 60 per cent increase in the number of disabled people over the next 40 years.

As Minister for Disability Issues, you have a statutory role to oversee the New Zealand Disability Strategy, established under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000. The New Zealand Disability Strategy requires a whole of government response, and your position will allow you to influence other portfolios from a disability perspective.

The Office for Disability Issues is committed to helping disabled people achieve full inclusion in society by supporting you in your role as Minister for Disability Issues. In doing so we are guided by the views and experience of disabled people and their families and others within the disability sector.¹

In this briefing we give you an overview of current disability issues and challenges, and identify some opportunities we have to address those challenges and advance the position of disabled New Zealanders.
We look forward to working with you.

Dr Jan Scown
Director
Office for Disability Issues