NZ Disability Rights

16/02/2026

"Many of the inequities we highlighted in 2023 remain, and in some cases are getting worse." - IHC New Zealand

I welcome this report released today by IHC New Zealand on the health and wellbeing of people with intellectual disability.
The 'From Data to Dignity 2026' report draws on Government data and updates IHC's 2023 work. Quality data on how disabled people are faring is essential for monitoring that our rights are being upheld and what needs improving. I encourage you to share this report in your networks. - Prudence Walker, Disability Rights Commissioner at Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission

IHC’s research report reveals people with intellectual disabilities are experiencing poor outcomes in most areas of life.

12/02/2026

Submissions on the Emergency Management Bill No. 2 close at midnight on Sunday February 15. Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission's submission is publicly available giving disability rights and Te Tiriti perspectives. Links to our submissions are in this news story.

04/02/2026

Heading to Waitangi? The D List NZ talks through some access things to consider.

01/02/2026

The deadline for submissions on the Emergency Management Bill has been extended to 11.59pm on Sunday, 15 February 2026. This is a significant opportunity to have disabled people explicitly included in emergency management legislation.
Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission has shared resources and key messages to help make submissions in the link below.

19/01/2026

Your voice counts. Let the government know you want an emergency management system for Aotearoa that works for everyone — and that means ensuring tangata whenua authority is recognised and resourced, and disabled people are explicitly included in the new Emergency Management Bill.

Make your submission by midnight Tuesday 3 February 2026.

Go to this link below for more information from Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission about why it's important to make a submission on this Bill.

04/01/2026

This meeting includes interpretation. Please find instructions in French and Spanish below: Veuillez sélectionner votre langue de préférence : anglais, français ou espagnol. Pour sélectionner une langue, assurez-vous d’abord d’avoir rejoint l’audio à l’aide d’un ordinateur ou de l’...

17/12/2025

The Ministry of Education and IHC have settled a litigation case to enable the New Zealand education system to work better for disabled students.

16/12/2025

From Hardship to Equity: Ensuring disabled people have a decent standard of living. (Webinar recording now available)

Please note: this recording is captioned and a transcript is available but the NZSL did not properly save. A version with NZSL will be shared in early 2026.

Data shows that disabled people continue to face worse social and economic outcomes, and that disabled children and children living with disabled people are more likely to experience hardship.

The webinar explored recent research commissioned by MSD on why this is happening and what can be done to uphold the right of tāngata whaikaha Māori and all disabled people to a decent standard of living.

The panel included advocates with lived experience and researchers: Moira Wilson, Dr Jonathan Godfrey, Dr Rebecca Gray, Helena Tuteao and Dr Fiona Cram.

Prudence Walker, Disability Rights Commissioner, hosted the panel for International Day for Persons with Disabilities.

12/12/2025

Do you have lived experience and expertise in education for disabled students? We'd love for you to apply to join our new stakeholder group.

The Ministry has committed to a Framework for Action to tackle barriers in education for disabled students, following a settlement with IHC. This Framework will focus on areas such as:

✅ Improving data collection and reporting
✅ Access to specialist support services
✅ A responsive curriculum
✅ Accessible infrastructure

The new stakeholder group would support us to progress this Framework for Action, and we're looking for 6-8 members who have:

➡️ Lived experience as a disabled person in the education system
➡️ Tāngata whaikaha Māori and Pacific people's perspectives
➡️ Knowledge of supporting disabled students
➡️ Experience in the education sector
➡️ Awareness of current priorities and barriers for disabled students

To find out more, or to apply, head to our website: https://bit.ly/4s9PW99

If you are Deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, speech impaired or find it hard to talk, you can contact us through the New Zealand Relay Service: https://www.nzrelay.co.nz/

12/12/2025

11/12/2025

"As Disability Rights Commissioner, I welcome this significant milestone towards providing an education system that is fundamentally inclusive and ensures that disabled children and young people are able to exercise their right to education on an equal basis with others.

IHC has worked hard to reach this point in advancing the right of all children to education. I also acknowledge the work of the Office of Human Rights Proceedings in the success of this claim.

In the absence of appropriate and accessible education in all schools, parents and whānau have lacked genuine options for their disabled children and young people in their communities and local schools.

The IHC designed Framework for Action is a good start to creating equity and a welcoming environment in all schools. Critically, there will be an accountability mechanism that will include disabled people, and will monitor its progress.

An inclusive education environment is required by the Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other Treaties that Aotearoa has committed to.

We need to see the right of children to attend their local school as per the Education Act 1989, upheld in reality and with the right supports." - Prudence Walker.

The Director of Human Rights Proceedings, Greg Robins, says this is a landmark day for the rights of disabled children.

“This is a milestone achievement, and reflects years of determination by IHC in bringing and pursuing the claim in the Human Rights Review Tribunal. I am very grateful to IHC for their efforts, and to their counsel Michael Timmins and Nicole Browne who provided expert advice and representation.”

IHC first complained to Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission about this matter in 2008 and filed proceedings in the Human Rights Tribunal in 2012.

The Office of Human Rights Proceedings has worked with IHC on the claim since early 2021 for a negotiated settlement with the Ministry of Education.

09/12/2025