General Election 2023: Analyzing the "wheel spin" of disability policies
- Without Limits
- Oct 3, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 7, 2023
New Zealand goes to the polls on Saturday 14 October. Whichever party wins, what will they do to help disabled people and their families? We asked each of the main political parties a series of questions and got the following responses. We also profile each party’s disability spokesperson below to see what experience and understanding each of them has of living with a disability.
Disclaimer: Without Limits is a non-profit publication. As such, due to our limited resourcing we only reached out to the "main" political parties, being those that have the largest media presence (i.e., we did not reach out to every registered political party).
In the lead up to New Zealand's general election on 14 October 2023, we have prepared a handy repository to help inform you of each political parties' disability policy. We reached out to the political parties, and received responses from the following:
Labour | Greens | National | TOP | Act |
For completeness, we also reached out to Te Pāti Māori | The Māori Party who redirected us to its Mana Haua Policy on its website.
We asked each political party the following series of questions. Click on each question below to read to see each parties' responses:
1. How will a government that your party leads or is a part of help disabled people and their families?
NB: click the left-adjacent arrow to the party name to see their response to the question.
Labour
The Labour Party is committed to continue working towards a more inclusive and accessible Aotearoa, New Zealand. Labour recognises that disabled people face significant obstacles when it comes to their wellbeing and remains strongly committed to improving outcomes for disabled New Zealanders.
This means continuing work to nationally roll out the Enabling Good Lives (EGL) approach and transforming the disability system, considering further advice before progressing accessibility legislation, and progressing 51 of the 60 Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
We will develop and rollout diagnostic and assessment pathways for neurodiversity in
the public health system, so that we can focus on early interventions. Labour will also increase the number of New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) interpreters working nationwide so that deaf people can better access health services.
Labour has made a record investment into the disability sector. In the 2023 Government Budget, we committed $863.6 million to help ease cost pressures on Government disability support services.
We are also proud to have permanently increased the government subsidy to 50% for the Total Mobility Scheme. This brings the total discount for the Total Mobility Scheme to 75%, which includes the 25% subsidy provided through local authorities. This scheme provides subsidised taxi services for people who cannot use public transport because they have a disability.
A re-elected Labour Government will also end the discriminatory Minimum Wage Exemption (MWE) by mid-2025, which allows disabled people to be paid less than the minimum wage, replacing it with a Wage Supplement. Approximately 800 disabled people will have their wages increased to minimum wage.
We’ve announced funding of $73.7 million over the next four years and $40.5 million each year after that to expand the EGL approach. This will go toward empowering disabled people so that they have better choice and control over the decisions made to support them to lead a good life.
We’ve made some significant steps toward realising true partnership between Government and disabled people, tāngata whaikaha, their whānau, carers and supporters. However, there is much more to do and Labour is dedicated to continuing this mahi.
Greens
The Green Party is committed to building an inclusive Aotearoa where everyone has what they need to participate fully in their community. We will remove barriers faced by neurodivergent and disabled people, and will continue to work to make Aotearoa a place where people with disabilities have equal access to education, work opportunities, health, incomes, and housing.
Our plans to achieve this as part of the next Government include:
introducing a minimum Income Guarantee where all people limited in their capacity to work due to a disability or health condition receive at least 80% of the full-time minimum wage;
improving access to disability-related supports, including by doubling the Disability Allowance and expanding the criteria;
funding advocacy services that support people with disabilities to advocate for themselves; including Māori led support for tangata whaikaha.
co-designing accessibility legislation with the disabled community, underpinned by enforceable accessibility standards and cultural requirements, to prevent and remove accessibility barriers;
reforming the Building Code so new houses and buildings are accessible by design, unless specifically exempted, as well as building more accessible social housing in all communities and funding Māori led initiatives to provide accessible housing within papakāinga;
requiring television to provide media in an accessible format, including captioning, audio description and New Zealand Sign Language content, and to set a target of 100% captioning for all television programming in New Zealand;
eliminating the use of seclusion and put in place safeguards against the abuse of disabled people in state care or in disability services, including by training people to help identify and respond to signs of abuse and ensuring appropriate pathways for disclosure; and
ensuring all schools provide an inclusive learning environment, with support for children with disabilities and additional learning needs, and opportunities for all tamariki to thrive.
National
Our first priority will be addressing the cost of living crisis, particularly recognising the heightened financial strain for families and individuals living with disabilities that this is causing. We will ensure that the new Ministry of Disabled people liaises closely with Kainga Ora to ensure accessible rental properties are available for individuals with disabilities.
Addressing the broader cost of living concerns and over time reviewing respite care rates will provide positive steps to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families.
TOP
The Opportunities Party wants to help build a society where all people have an opportunity to participate in ways that meet their needs and goals. With several candidates with lived experience, and through listening to disabled people, we see many of the ways our country’s systems create barriers, or fail to put in enablers for disabled people. But we know disabled people are diverse and there’s no way politicians can have all the insight we need to fix everything. That’s why it’s important that disabled people are at the table and that we have our ears open to those who know what needs to change.
We believe in universal design and in investing in people and communities. We believe in fixing the foundations of our society rather than tinkering at the edges. We know that money doesn’t solve all problems, but that lack of investment is at the root of many problems we face.
Act
ACT has yet to develop specific disabilities policies, however, we have developed several policies which will improve the lives of those living with disabilities and their families. For example, ACT’s alternative budget will tackle Crown debt by slashing bureaucracy and Government waste, boosting New Zealand’s productivity and easing the cost of living for all New Zealander’s. This includes New Zealanders living with disabilities who may be struggling to make ends meet in this cost-of-living crisis.
ACT’s housing policy will also make it easier for new homes to be built. It will achieve this by implementing GST-sharing to fund infrastructure between central Government and local councils, implementing codes of practice for infrastructure developments to replace resource consenting, and allow for private insurance to be used in place of resource consenting. This will ensure that more modern and more accessible homes get built, affording greater choice of living situation and accommodation types for disabled New Zealanders.
ACT has also committed to increasing GP capitation by 13%, among a suite of other health workforce policies, to ensure that New Zealanders can access a General Practitioner. This funding is equivalent to 2.5 million extra subsided GP visits, many of which will be used to the benefit of New Zealander’s living with a disability.
2. Will a government that your party leads or is a part of increase the quote of accessible housing that Kāinga Ora provides to disabled people?
NB: click the left-adjacent arrow to the party name to see their response to the question.
Labour
Our public homes need to be fit for purpose and accessible for those who live in them. In Government, we set, and Kāinga Ora has achieved and exceeded, the target of 15% of new builds being at a universal design standard.
A re-elected Labour Government will deliver universal design in 20% of new public housing so it is fully accessible for disabled people by 2027, as we work towards 25% and an overall housing stock that reflects the diversity of those who need public housing.
Greens
Yes, the Green Party is committed to ensuring our homes are accessible, warm, dry, safe, climate-friendly, and enable people to be part of their communities.
We’ll reform the Building Code so new houses and buildings are accessible by design, build more accessible social housing in all communities, and fund Māori-led initiatives to provide accessible housing within papakāinga.
We’ll provide development bonuses which will incentivise developers to build thousands of warm, energy efficient, and affordable homes in the places people want to live. Developers that meet climate-friendly and accessible design standards will get an extra one-third height allowance, ensuring that more accessible units are provided.
We will also provide a government-backed underwrite so community providers can build new rental homes with confidence. The underwrite will be targeted towards housing that delivers for communities with unmet needs – including housing for disabled people – and will also come alongside more flexible and responsive funding for support services.
National
The new Ministry of Disabled People should collaboratively engage with various government departments to advocate for the rights of disabled individuals. We anticipate a proactive role from this Ministry, to ensure Kāinga Ora has an adequate supply of accessible rental accommodation tailored to the needs of disabled individuals.
TOP
Yes.
Act
Although ACT has yet to make a formal commitment to increasing the quota of accessible housing that Kāinga Ora provides to disabled people, ACT agrees that having accessible housing stock is crucial to ensuring that disabled New Zealanders can live fulfilling lives.
3. Will a government that your party leads or is a part of continue to support Whaikaha | Ministry of Disabled People?
NB: click the left-adjacent arrow to the party name to see their response to the question.
Labour
The Labour Government is proud to have established Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People - the first Ministry of its kind in Aotearoa, New Zealand’s history, marking a huge step in the journey toward creating a more inclusive society.
Labour is committed to continuing to support Whaikaha to lead a true partnership with the disabled community and to help transform the disability system in line with the Enabling Good Lives approach.
Greens
The Green Party absolutely supports the Ministry of Disabled People and will ensure that it is adequately resourced to provide robust policy advice right across Government.
National
We will ensure ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of Whaikaha | Ministry of Disabled People in serving the disabled community. To ensure that resources are well utilised for the direct benefit of disabled individuals, and all Government departments are mindful of their impact on people with disabilities, we would expect vigilant scrutiny and advocacy from the Ministry of Disabled Peoples.
TOP
Yes, TOP will continue to support Whaikaha | Ministry of Disabled People.
Act
Yes, ACT will continue to support Whaikaha | Ministry of Disabled People.
4. How will a government that your party leads or is a part of help disabled beneficiaries with the added costs of living with a disability?
NB: click the left-adjacent arrow to the party name to see their response to the question.
Labour
In 2017, the Labour Government committed to overhauling the welfare system, with a vision for a welfare system that ensured people in need are able to have an adequate income, are treated with respect and dignity, and are able to participate meaningfully in their communities.
As part of our welfare overhaul, one of our priorities is to increase rates and expand eligibility to Child Disability Allowance and Disability Allowance.
We’ve also started work to ensure that benefits increase in line with the higher measure of either wage growth or inflation.
This is all in addition to our 10-point cost of living plan to support all Kiwis which includes removing GST from fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, free dental care – starting with under 30s and scrapping the $5 prescription co-payment.
According to the Labour market statistics (disability) as at June 2023 quarter, we’ve seen an increase in median wages and salaries for disabled people aged 15-64 years. Disabled people’s median salaries have increased from $960 in 2022 to $1055 in 2023 and mean hourly wages from $30.77 in 2022 to $33.05 in 2023.
Labour is committed to increasing disabled people’s employment rates to be comparable with non-disabled people, especially for disabled women, tangata whaikaha Māori and Pasifika. We will implement the Disability Employment Action plan and start to shift the way employment services are contracted for and delivered, so that disabled people are put at the centre, in line with Enabling Good Lives principles.
There is always more to do, but overhauling the welfare system, alongside $863.6 million from the 2023 Government Budget to help ease cost pressures on Government disability support services and the sector, adds to the Government’s record investment in supporting disabled people.
Greens
We know that having enough income to afford the essentials, along with having a warm, dry home, are fundamental to living a good life.
That’s why we’ll Introduce a minimum Income Guarantee where all people limited in their capacity to work due to a disability or health condition receive at least 80% of the full-time minimum wage. We’ll also improve access to disability-related supports, including by doubling the Disability Allowance.
National
Prioritising controlling the cost of living challenges is paramount. The strain faced by fixed-income groups, including beneficiaries, due to inflation and the current cost of living crisis means any new Government needs to be relentlessly focussed on getting inflation and the cost of living under control.
A National-led government is committed to addressing these issues through more disciplined Government spending, a Reserve Bank absolutely focussed on getting inflation under control, and unblocking immigration bottlenecks to ensure sufficient workers to take cost pressure off producers which then get passed onto consumers.
TOP
Under our Fair Tax policy - we will introduce a series of targeted welfare reforms that ensure those Kiwis doing it toughest are fairly supported, including:
removing unfair and unreasonable sanctions on benefits;
increasing income support for disabled people by $400 million; and
improving accessibility to support disabled people through more streamlined processes.
In our Public Services policy we acknowledge the vital support that public services provide, which we all depend on. Our public services should be accessible, affordable, and high quality, but it starts with rectifying the years of underinvestment which we are now dealing with those consequences. Everyone should be able to access quality healthcare and education, and feel safe in their communities.
Act
ACT will assist disabled beneficiaries by tackling the cost-of-living crisis that has blown out of proportion because of a Labour-led Government which has spent well beyond its means. Bringing down everyday costs is key to ensuring that disabled beneficiaries get the most out of their benefit and can live fulfilling lives.
You can read about this in our alternative budget which can be found here.
5. What will a government that your party leads or is a part of do to help parents of disabled children receive the resources needed to help their children receive a good education in a school of their choosing?
NB: click the left-adjacent arrow to the party name to see their response to the question.
Labour
Labour is committed to barrier-free access to education for all students through designing a system that better supports our kids and young people with the highest needs.
The Highest Needs Review was launched in April 2021 and was completed in 2022. Following the feedback from the review, we committed to substantial changes to ensure our learners with the highest needs have their needs met.
We invest $1.2 billion each year on learning support, yet we know the supports available for those with the highest needs have historically been fragmented and lots of our kids and young people aren’t getting the support they need, when they need it.
To ensure that the support system is better fit for purpose, a mixed model approach will be developed that creates a partnership between the student, their whānau and the early learning centre or school. This will give students and whānau greater choice and control over what support looks like and works best for them.
This work is on-going and teaching staff are being supported to take up professional learning and development to further develop their skills and confidence in working with children with high needs.
Greens
Our Income Guarantee will ensure everyone has enough for the essentials, with extra support for those who need it. We will also ensure all schools provide an inclusive learning environment, with support for children with disabilities and additional learning needs, and opportunities for all tamariki to thrive.
National
National is very conscious of the importance of catering to our diverse learners in schools across New Zealand so they can receive the education they deserve. Around 25% of classrooms comprise neurodiverse students so it is crucial that we equip teachers with the right skills so they can empower these young people and their parents. Already National has announced its Teaching the Basics Brilliantly which focusing on giving every student an excellent foundation in the basics to set them up for success later in life and we will announce more policies in education before the election.
TOP
The Opportunities Party is committed to championing the rights and needs of our diverse disabled communities, and remain open to future collaborations with organisations in this space, like Without Limits.
Our education system was not designed to meet the needs of many disabled people, including neurodiverse communities, which, despite bursts of efforts spearheaded by various Ministers, still only provides for the learning needs of a tiny proportion. The education system is failing the neurodiverse community in multiple ways, from lack of commitment, limited identification and no access to diagnosis to lack of coordinated support, failure to differentiate learning and absence of in-school support. The Opportunities Party is committed to making sure that throughout all the work the government is doing.
Act
ACT believes that almost every person’s adult life will be defined by the education they receive as a child. This is why ACT has developed several education policies which will benefit New Zealand students, including those with disabilities, and their families.
Partnership Schools: ACT aims to enable public schools to become partnership schools. Partnership schools offer flexibility in operations and funding in exchange for accountability. ACT would reintroduce and expand the partnership school model, allowing public schools to convert to this model. This would allow for schools to choose to focus more specifically on catering to the education needs of children with disabilities if they choose. Agreements with the Ministry of Education ensure they maintain standards for delivering such specialised education. This would also give parents o more choice in the type of education their child receives.
Student Education Accounts (SEAs): ACT envisions a long-term plan for SEAs, giving parents control over education funding. SEAs would follow a child's educational journey, providing flexibility in choosing registered educational institutions, public or private. Extra funding, such as for equity or special needs, would be added to SEAs.
So you've read about the "wheel spin"of policies above, and you may be wondering who is the face fronting each policy? Well, we are delighted to introduce you to these dedicated individuals below (in no particular order).
Labour: Priyanca Radhakrishnan
You may recall our earlier article in which we introduced Minister Radhakrishnan as Minister for Disability Issues, among other Ministerial portfolios.
“I strongly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live with dignity – that means having equitable access to safe and affordable housing, quality education and healthcare and decent, secure work.
As the Minister and Labour’s Spokesperson for Disability Issues, I advocate strongly to lift wellbeing outcomes for disabled people and the sector that supports them. It is important that the voices and experiences of the disabled community are heard in Parliament and that they’re supported to thrive.
I strongly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live with dignity – that means having equitable access to safe and affordable housing, quality education and healthcare and decent, secure work.
I have met with many disabled New Zealanders and support organisations across Aotearoa to better understand their aspirations and concerns. I am on a journey to learn New Zealand Sign Language and have also answered a question in the House in sign – I understand that’s the first time it has been done in the New Zealand Parliament.
Politics is about choices. I believe that decision-making should be community-led and should lead to better outcomes for everyone, not just the privileged few. As such, the motto ‘nothing about us without us’ is one that will continue to guide my advocacy and the decisions I make.
I also hold Ministerial portfolios for the Community and Voluntary Sector, and for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities. I am also the Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment, and Workplace Relations and Safety."
Greens: Jan Logie
Jan worked for Women’s Refuge, the New Zealand University Students’ Association, the YWCA and numerous other social causes before entering Parliament in 2011. She also has a proud history as a volunteer - for Youthline, HELP Sexual Abuse Crisis Line, Wellington Rape Crisis Board and others.
Combining her big picture thinking with her experience of helping individuals personally gives Jan a uniquely caring and practical political perspective.
In Parliament she has been a champion for people and families affected by domestic and sexual violence. She initiated a select committee inquiry into funding for specialist sexual abuse and social services, and her Workplace Protection Bill is designed to protect victims and reduce the significant economic impact of domestic violence.
Jan wants to see the way we practice politics change to strengthen faith in our democracy. She believes that public engagement and greater transparency are central to trust in both the system and our politicians.
As under-secretary to the Minister of Justice, Jan stewarded through changes to the Family Violence Act to improve its responsiveness to the needs of disabled people. She also secured funding for disabled communities to start developing tailored prevention initiatives. As the Green Party disability spokesperson, she has worked with the inclusive Greens to ensure disabled people helped set her priorities and supported all Green MPs to integrate a disability lens into their work programmes. She campaigned, with disabled people and their organisations, for more accessible housing and accessibility legislation that would deliver on disabled people’s human rights.
National: Maureen Pugh
Prior to her time in Parliament, Maureen was a councillor and the Mayor of Westland.
Through that role in local government, she encountered people with diverse disabilities and listened to their concerns and comments.
...she is in close contact with organisations throughout the country to learn more about the barriers and difficulties the sector is facing.
Now that she is the spokesperson for Disability and Carers, she is in close contact with organisations throughout the country to learn more about the barriers and difficulties the sector is facing.
TOP: Jessica Hammond
Jessica is a public servant who has worked on issues ranging from transport infrastructure
funding, to health and disability legislation, to Māori economic development. She has a Masters Degree in Philosophy from Victoria University of Wellington. She has two children and is standing for The Opportunities Party (TOP) in the Ōhāriu electorate because she wants to take action for those who can't vote: children, future generations, and other species that also have a stake in this country.
Jessica has lived experience of an invisible disability, as a support person for disabled parents and as a parent of children with complex health needs.
Jessica wants to help build a society where all people have the opportunity, and the support they need, to participate in ways that meet their needs and goals.
Act: Toni Severin
Toni was diagnosed with Dyslexia when she was 21. While Toni sees herself as having a learning difficulty rather than a disability, she understands how some people experience adversity and require additional support in life. Toni is also a godmother to a down-syndrome teenager who she wants to see have the best opportunities in life.
Toni has been working closely with the disability community to develop a better approach for the community. She believes having more regular and accurate data will be able to inform better outcomes for the community. This means a more regular survey than the current ten-year disability survey, and further implementing services like Snap Send Solve in Christchurch, a register that records barriers for the disability community so they can be recorded and fixed.
While Toni sees herself as having a learning difficulty rather than a disability, she understands how some people experience adversity and require additional support in life.
ACT has also advocated for the Government to make changes to the Accessibility Bill more in line with what has worked overseas and supports the Ministry of Disabled People to educate New Zealanders around accessibility dogs and other barriers within the disability community.
Most of all ACT’s vision is to ensure New Zealand is accessible to people with a diverse range of disabilities, and that we provide every opportunity for individuals to be a part of society.
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