5,000 signatures reached
To: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Deputy Prime Ministers David Seymour and Winston Peters, Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston
The Government must apologise to disabled adults, children and their whānau
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Deputy Prime Ministers David Seymour and Winston Peters, Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston,
We, the undersigned, urge the New Zealand Coalition Government to acknowledge and apologise for the harm inflicted upon disabled people and their families since 18 March 2024.
March 18, 2025, marks one year since the government began disrupting, removing and restricting supports for disabled tamariki and adults. It also marks one year since former minister Penny Simmonds falsely claimed in Parliament that parents and carers of disabled tamariki were misusing disability support funding.
Her repeated public accusations were an attack on a vulnerable community. Her words caused families and carers shame, distress, and trauma.
This Coalition Government has forced disabled children and adults, along with their families, to endure untrue claims and cruel jibes. Alongside this, the Coalition Government has also limited the resources and support available to disabled people. It remains unclear if or when support will be returned to disabled communities.
In wrongly suggesting parent carers were taking funds from disabled people, this government tried to create a wedge between disabled adults and parents and carers of disabled tamariki. This has not worked - the community is united.
Disabled adults are not receiving increased or better support as a result of the removal of flexibility for carer supports, in fact - there have just been more restrictions on the use of all flexible supports, disrupting disabled adults' independent lives as much as those of their families.
In the current environment the NASC service acts as fund manager for the government, rather than in partnership with disabled people and families. NASC services must be sufficiently funded to meet the current and future need of the disabled community, but also they must act for, and with, disabled people and their families not as gatekeepers for those needing support.
Parent carers of disabled tamariki have said the impacts of the March 18 changes have disrupted their family’s security, ended relationships, and instilled a persistent fear that remains. They say they are unable to plan for the future and feel in limbo, lost, and unsupported.
There is now a mental health crisis for parents of disabled tamariki with higher-than-usual incidences of anxiety, suicidality and distress.
Rates of mental distress in Aotearoa continue to climb. International research shows that parents of disabled tamariki live with higher than normal incidences of anxiety, suicidality and distress. Uplifting wellbeing and increasing supports to reduce prevalence of psychological distress and suicidal behaviour for this carers is crucial.
The decision to end new or planned residential places has had an enormous impact on disabled tamariki, adults and their parents, despite this Government's denials.
The decision to place a loved one into residential care is one of the most difficult faced by families. As published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, the decision is often made only when severe difficulties are being experienced, and family carers develop burnout and mental health challenges.
Before addressing issues of insufficient funding, inadequate services, and shortfalls in the workforce, this coalition government must take responsibility for its role in perpetuating harm.
We call upon the government to do the following:
- Apologise to disabled adults, and their families and carers for accusations of mismanagement of support funding and acknowledge the harm this has caused.
- Ensure access to tangible mental health support for disabled adults and their families.
- Develop supports and services that work alongside parents and disabled people. Where staff have the skill and experience to listen and support, rather than act as transactional gatekeepers.
Until steps towards repair are taken, attempts at consultation and solutions will be viewed as insufficient and insincere.
The time to apologise is overdue. It must happen now.
We await your response and commitment to taking the necessary steps towards healing and justice for disabled people and their families in Aotearoa.
Why is this important?
Signed by
Awhi Ngā Mātua, IHC, Disabled Persons Assembly NZ Inc, Parent to Parent, Disability Connect, Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, NZEI Te Riu Roa, Parents of Vision Impaired PVINZ, iFUNZ, NATINA Neuroscience And Trauma Informed Network Aotearoa, ASD Dads NZ, VIPS Equity in Education, Flying Kites, Empower Learning Project, Inclusive Performance Academy, Fragile X New Zealand, NZ Disability Advisory Trust Inc, United Community Action Network (UCAN), Te Aka Tauira - Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association, Auckland Action Against Poverty, United Community Action Network, Project Gender, ActionStation, The Angelman Network, Fairer Future Collaboration, Aotearoa Liberation League, Little Shadow, Te Kura o Hāpuku, System Change Aotearoa, NZ Disability Advisory Trust Inc., Supporting Diversity, Whakaata Tohu Tohu | Mirror Services, Justice and Peace Commission Catholic Diocese of Auckland, Standards and Monitoring Services, Chrome Collective Charitable Trust, Willow Corner, Kahu Hurihia Durie Family Trust, Barbarian Productions Ltd.