Disabled people and their advocates say they are “shell-shocked” and “appalled” by changes to Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People, decrying the lack of consultation with the community.
It follows the announcement of the changes today, which include taking disability support service responsibility away from Whaikaha, and handing it over to the Ministry of Social Development (MSD).
It also makes Whaikaha a stand-alone agency instead of part of MSD, responsible for advocacy for the community, and pausing work on Enabling Good Lives, an approach developed by disabled people aimed at supporting them to have greater choice and control over the support they receive.
Senior political reporter Benedict Collins has the details of where that leaves Whaikaha and the implications of the change. (Source: 1News)
Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston earlier said the changes would “stabilise” the ministry and that it was never fair to expect it to handle service delivery when MSD has better infrastructure to do so. The changes came from recommendations from an independent review into Whaikaha.
Disabled Persons Assembly chief executive Mojo Mathers today said Whaikaha was created so disabled people could have more control over the services they received.
She said the Government’s intention in setting up the ministry — launched in 2022 — was to give disabled people a way to engage and shape a better future for themselves.
“Downsizing Whaikaha and shifting disability support services into MSD does not honour this commitment to disabled people. We are going backwards by returning to a system that we already know does not work in the best interests of disabled people.
“It is devastating that such a major decision has been made unilaterally by the Minister and Cabinet based on views of a small group of people that did not involve disabled people and our community.”
Mathers said the group was concerned that under MSD, many disabled people would “find themselves excluded from receiving the support they need to participate and belong in their communities”.
“Disabled people must be properly included in the next round of consultation as promised, there must be no further changes that impact on our fundamental rights made without us.
“We are also feeling deeply for staff at Whaikaha affected by this announcement many of whom are disabled themselves and are part of our community as well.”
Mathers is a former Green Party MP.
Disability advocate Blake Forbes-Gentle said the announcement was “another kick in the guts” for the disabled community.
“I am appalled with their decision to strip Whaikaha of the tools it was given to help ensure every disabled person can lead the best life possible. It feels like a direct attack on disabled communities and another example of the coalition not giving a good idea enough time to deliver great results but pushing changes with little to no consultation.”
He said “stripping” the ministry to minimal staff, making Whaikaha focused on only advocacy and pausing the Enabling Good Lives rollout would negatively impact the disabled community.
CCS Disability Action national policy analyst Phoebe Eden-Mann said the changes were “quite frankly, alarming” considering how the Ministry of Social Development had previously handled disability support services.
“It is difficult for disabled people to have their needs meet by a ministry that has not been set up for disability issues, and it can be a very adversarial environment for disabled people having to fight tooth and nail to get even the smallest supports.
“By having disability supports being shifted back to Ministry for Social Development, we’re running the risk of disabled people once again having to go up against a system that isn’t fit for purpose when it comes to disability.”
Disabled leadership coordinator Debbie Ward said to imply Enabling Good Lives was “somehow extravagant” was reminiscent of suggestions earlier this year that respite funding was being wasted on pedicures.
“I would urge Minister Upston to talk to disabled people and their families to better understand the positive difference a flexible funding model can have.”
Earlier, Upston said the ministry had been at risk of overspending its budget allowance by “a large amount” — $150 million this financial year.
“We need to make sure that disability support services are fair, that they’re consistent, and people can rely on the services that will be delivered.”
She said Whaikaha would be “powered up” — although team members would be transferred to MSD. She did not rule out job losses.
“We expect to have far more input and greater advocacy for the disabled community.”
Asked if the disabled community had been consulted on the changes, Upston said she had been working “incredibly hard”, meeting with disabled people, carers, family members and disability support providers and advocacy groups to “really listen and understand” what challenges they identified.
“They had high expectations when the ministry was set up, and I feel incredibly frustrated with them that it wasn’t set up well enough to be successful.”
Upston said making Whaikaha a stand-alone agency outside MSD was a strong signal the Government wanted it to do well.
Govt ‘gutting’ Whaikaha – Greens
Green Party disability spokesperson Kahurangi Carter said the Government was reverting to a “tried, tested and failed” model, while neglecting the voice of disabled communities.
“Disabled people know best about the support they need and should be empowered to make the choices that are best for them. Weakening this Ministry does not empower our disabled people — it erodes their agency.
“Once again, the Government has failed to engage and include the views and expertise of disabled people in making major changes to a Ministry tasked with supporting them.
“To shrink Whaikaha to just policy and advocacy functions, the Government is weakening its capacity to deliver, making it less effective.”
She said the key purpose of the ministry was being diluted and that risked diminishing support, and broke “the strong connection between delivery and policy by and for disabled people”.
“The Ministry is still in its infancy, and this review should be about improving it, not gutting it.”
