The government has announced its decision to restructure Whaikaha, the Ministry of Disabled People, which will lose control over funding disability support services. “It’s a heartbreaking decision,” says Disability Support Network CEO Peter Reynolds. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston announced that the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) will assume control over the funding and contracting of disability support services, significantly reducing Whaikaha’s budget and staff. As a result, Whaikaha, established in July 2022 under then-Minister Carmel Sepuloni, will serve primarily as an advisory body to other government departments and ministers. While it will cease managing frontline services, Whaikaha will gain increased autonomy to provide comprehensive advice and oversight on disability matters across the government.
David Seymour: New truancy crackdown to address attendance crisis
“We can’t keep ignoring the truancy crisis.”
