Public submissions sought in Government review of disability support services

The Government is inviting New Zealanders to contribute their thoughts on the future of Disability Support Services (DSS) as part of a comprehensive review designed to improve the system’s fairness, transparency, and sustainability.

DSS, part of the Ministry of Social Development, supports 50,000 disabled individuals and their whānau and offers equipment and modification services to about 100,000 New Zealanders.

Chris Bunny, Deputy Chief Executive of DSS, is leading the review in response to a significant budget overspend and swift policy changes last year that adversely affected many disabled people and their families.

“Almost exactly a year ago, there were big changes to Disability Support Services. There was a big budget blowout, and there were changes made pretty quickly. Many of those changes had quite a negative impact on people,” Bunny told Pacific Days host Nemai Tagicakibau.

“After those decisions were taken, the Government had an independent review done on Disability Support Services, and that review made a series of recommendations to stabilise the system, to get it into some better order.

“From that stabilising the system, we can then really start to move towards making it a better system, a system that supports disabled people in our community better than it does at the moment.”

Bunny says it's important to hear directly from those who use DSS and their families.

“We’d love to hear from everybody, but we’re interested in the over 50,000 people who receive Disability Support Services, and their family and whānau around them, and their carers.”

Bunny highlights the need to engage with underrepresented communities, including Māori, Pacific, younger and older Kiwis, and those in rural communities.

“We especially want to hear from parts of the community that perhaps we haven’t heard as well as we should and need to.”

Watch Chris Bunny's full interview below.

Bunny says there are multiple ways to participate in this review, including nationwide face-to-face meetings, online and written submissions, videos, and surveys.

He also says that materials are available in multiple languages and accessible formats.

“The material we’ve produced to engage with people, we’ve got versions in Sāmoan, Tongan, Braille, Easy Read, audio, New Zealand Sign Language, large print, and te reo Māori.”

Bunny says the review aims to strengthen and repair the relationship between DSS and the communities it serves.

“If we can set it up so that we have a successful relationship now, that’ll help us to help create and maintain a system into the future that is so much better for people who do it tough often in our society.

“For Pacific people, often there is that sense of village, that sense of family looking after each other, making sure that we look after that family as well, that things we need to think about about that are properly being put on the table and worked through.

Bunny says the review aims to strengthen and repair the relationship between DSS and the communities it serves. Photo/RNZ.

“That’s an example of where I would expect that what’s important to me as a Pākehā might be different to what it might mean for someone from the Pacific.”

Bunny encourages communities to share their honest feedback.

“Speak your truth. If people have real issues with what’s happening, then please tell us. “It needs not be polite, but unless we understand what the issues are, we really can’t fix them.

“I think we’ve got a great opportunity to make a difference here. We want a long-term relationship.”

The consultation review deadline is Monday, 24 March 2025. The feedback will be used to develop policy options to create a more consistent and effective support system for disabled people and their families.

For more information or to participate in the consultation, visit https://www.disabilitysupport.govt.nz/consultation