What We Do

Leading strategic disability policy

We lead policy work that involves working with other government agencies and which has a longer term or strategic focus. Current priorities for the Office include:

• improving long-term disability supports
• the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• supporting the Ministerial Committee on Disability Issues
• improving attitudes towards disabled people.

The Office is responsible for meeting formal international obligations in relation to disability issues.

Building Act 2004 and the built environment

The Office for Disability Issues has a delegated legislative role under the Building Act 2004 section 170 (b) in relation to accessibility of buildings accessed by the public. Improving the accessibility of the built environment for disabled people is critical to their being able to live independent lives on an equal basis with others.  We have an ongoing role in working with government agencies responsible for building and housing policy to improve access to the built environment.

New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006

The Office is delegated responsibility for administering the New Zealand Sign Language Act. This requires promoting knowledge of New Zealand Sign Language and working with government agencies to make their services accessible to deaf people. Implementation of the Act is due to be reviewed some time after April 2009.

Providing advice to other government agencies

We work with other government agencies to promote action in key areas impacting on disabled people. We provide advice on policy and service development that will implement the New Zealand Disability Strategy and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

We focus our advice to government agencies in the priority areas of:

• transport
• built environment (such as buildings, housing)
• employment
• education
• health
• sport and recreation
• broadcasting and communications
• accessibility
• disability supports.

Government agencies plan and report on their implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy. You can read about what they are doing in these areas and others.

Monitoring implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy

Promoting the New Zealand Disability Strategy and monitoring its implementation by government agencies is ongoing work for the Office, and threads throughout everything that we do. This includes regular contact with government agencies in the development of implementation plans and reports on progress.

However, we are not responsible for implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy. Our role is to guide, lead, inform and advise wherever appropriate. The  United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will help with implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

We suggest priority areas for government agencies to focus their implementation activity. Making government accessible for all New Zealanders is an ongoing priority for all government agencies. This includes information, buildings, services, and being a good employer of disabled people.

The Office supports the Minister for Disability Issues in their annual report to Parliament on progress with implementing the the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

Nominations Service

Our Nominations Service identifies and nominates appropriately skilled disabled people for positions on government boards and committees. It has the goal of increasing the diversity of government appointments to reflect the New Zealand population.

Supporting the Minister for Disability Issues

Providing support to the Minister for Disability Issues in their advocacy role is an important function of the Office, and sits alongside our other ongoing work. We fulfill the ordinary functions of the Public Service for the Minister, such as providing advice for correspondence, Parliamentary questions, meetings and other briefings on issues.