NASC Assessment and Reviews Survey 

10/06/2025

Research, News

Mapping the Trends 

June 2025 

Executive Summary 

This report presents findings from a national survey conducted by Carers NZ and IHC, and promoted by partners in March 2025 (Quarter 1 2025) to monitor the experiences of disabled people and their family carers undergoing assessments or reviews by Needs Assessment Service Coordination (NASC) services. Some of the results are then compared to a previous survey conducted in October/November 2024 (Quarter 4 2024).  

During the interval between the surveys, new guidelines were introduced, where NASC services were instructed to operate strictly within their annual operational budgets. Together, the surveys offer a unique view of how NASC practices are changing under current budget guidelines and government policy. 

Key findings include: 

  • A marked rise in early or unscheduled reviews (23.2% of respondents in Q4 2025 compared to 15.5% in Q4 2024). 
  • A sharp increase in support reductions, with a third (33.1%) of respondents in Q1 2025 reporting decreased supports—more than double the 13.7% who reported decreases in Q4 2024.  
  • The patterns of change showed marked regional variation. Respondents who accessed Kaikaranga, formerly Taikura, (Auckland) were more likely to have an early review (40.7% of respondents compared to 22.6% for the rest of New Zealand) but this did not impact the results of their reviews. They were no more likely than the average to have their supports reduced (37% for Kaikaranga/Taikura (Auckland) compared to 35.2% for the rest of New Zealand). By comparison, Lifelinks (Canterbury) was the least affected by the policy changes; only 2.4% (1 person) said they had had an early review, and the proportion whose supports decreased was 19.5% compared to 35.2% for the rest of New Zealand. 
  • The needs assessment process is taking an emotional toll on some family carers and disabled people, with 29.1% of respondents reporting feeling let down/angry/scared.  
  • Comments revealed a loss of trust in a system respondents find opaque and inconsistent. 

Although a minority of respondents reported stable or improved outcomes, the overall trend is one of greater restriction, less flexibility, and a sense of deepening insecurity. 

Carers NZ will repeat its survey in July 2025 to further monitor and report on disability system changes and NASC trends. 

Read and / or download the full report here.