Our role and responsibilities

The Office for Disability Issues is the focal point within government on disability issues.

We support implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

The key areas of responsibility for the Office include: 

  • supporting the Minister for Disability Issues
  • coordinating and reporting on implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, New Zealand Disability Strategy and the Disability Action Plan.
  • providing advice to government agencies on disability issues.
  • sharing ideas and growing the understanding of issues that are important to disabled people.
  • helping to facilitate an effective working relationship between the disability sector and government agencies.
  • providing secretariat support to the New Zealand Sign Language Board and Fund.

We also have delegated responsibility from the Ministry of Social Development for administering the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006 and responding to requests for advice on determinations about accessibility under section 170 (b) of the Building Act 2004.

Our activities are funded from Vote: Social Development. Our annual work programme is agreed directly with the Minister for Disability Issues.

The Office for Disability Issues is a small team administered by Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People . The Director of the Office for Disability Issues is Brian Coffey and there are the equivalent of 17 other full-time staff.

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