Input into the Draft NZ Disability Strategy 2026-2030

September 2025

Background

Our input into the draft NZDS is made on behalf of the Carers Alliance of 61 national not for profits and the peak body for carers, Carers NZ.

Many Alliance NGOs support disabled people and families; more than 40% of New Zealand’s 1m+ family carers have a disability and/or chronic health condition themselves.[1] Carers NZ was formed by and for family carers in 1995 and acts as the ongoing Secretariat for the Carers Alliance, and for Young Carers NZ, a national information and advocacy network for children and young people in caring roles.

The Carers Alliance was established in 2004 with a specific initial purpose of calling for a Government Strategy to recognise and support our country’s family, whanau and aiga carers. The then Labour government implemented a Strategy and initial five-year Action Plan in 2008. Successive governments have developed and implemented two further five-year Action Plans. A fourth ‘rolling’ cross-government Action Plan will be decided by Cabinet soon. More than a dozen government agencies, led by MSD, are signatories to and have governance and working responsibilities for the Carers’ Strategy and its Action Plans. These agencies include Whaikaha.

[1] State of Caring report, 2022, Synergia.

Read the full report here.