What Enable does

Enable New Zealand Limited is a wholly owned Crown entity subsidiary of Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora, established in 1974 and headquartered at 585 Main Street, Palmerston North. The organization administers over NZ$270 million of government funds and serves more than 100,000 disabled and injured New Zealanders annually, functioning as the country's central procurement, distribution, and refurbishment channel for assistive technology, rehabilitation equipment, housing modifications, vehicle modifications, hearing aids, and children's spectacles. Funding flows from three principal government principals: the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) for rehabilitation equipment under the Managed Rehabilitation Equipment Service (MRES), Disability Support Services (DSS) within the Ministry of Social Development for long-term disability equipment, and Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People, with additional revenue from equipment hire to Health New Zealand hospitals and rest homes.

The operating model combines a national warehouse and refurbishment network (Palmerston North headquarters plus Hamilton and Christchurch refurbishment centres), a field force of more than 5,000 credentialed assessors (occupational therapists, physiotherapists, audiologists) using the EMS Assessor Online portal, and a downstream network of 500+ repair partners. Core technology comprises the EMS Assessor Online portal, the Enable Equipment App, the Enable Hearing App (ESH), the Specs App, the Enable Short Term Loan (STL) inventory management system for Health New Zealand facilities, and a recently digitized EMS Equipment List online catalogue (January 2026). Sub-brands include EASIE Living (flagship retail store, mobile van, and online shop for self-funded consumers) and Firstport (national disability information portal). Refurbishment operations process more than 31,000 pieces of equipment annually at approximately 70% lower cost than new procurement, which is the structural lever that makes Enable's cost position defensible to its government principals.

Revenue mechanics are entirely government-funded: services to eligible end users are free at point of delivery, and Enable retains an administrative and procurement margin on the funds it manages. Direct-to-consumer sales through EASIE Living are a minor ancillary channel for self-funded buyers. The organization is not venture-backed, has no external equity investors, and its Board is appointed by Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora, making strategic direction subject to central government policy rather than commercial market dynamics.

Name

Enable

Legal name

Enable New Zealand Limited

Website

https://enable.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Enable New Zealand is a Crown entity subsidiary of Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora that administers over NZ$270 million in government funds to procure, distribute, refurbish, and manage disability and rehabilitation equipment for more than 100,000 disabled and injured New Zealanders annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Rehabilitation Equipment Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Home Health Care Services (62161)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Disability equipment services
• Assistive technology provision
• Rehabilitation equipment supply
• Hearing aid funding services
• Housing modifications services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamilton

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Contract Revenue: Enable New Zealand is a Crown entity subsidiary of Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora, managing government funds from ACC, Disability Support Services, and Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People. The organization manages over $270 million of revenue and government funds. Services are provided free of charge to eligible recipients, with funding coming from these government agencies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Enable New Zealand is the largest government-funded provider of disability and rehabilitation equipment in New Zealand, supplying assistive technology, mobility devices, hearing aids, children's spectacles, housing modifications, and vehicle modifications to eligible disabled and injured people. Services are delivered through credentialed assessors and funded by ACC, Disability Support Services, and Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People, with a complementary self-funded retail channel through the EASIE Living store and online shop.

Product overview

Enable New Zealand is a government-funded disability equipment and modification services provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services. The core offering centers on the EMS Equipment List (now a searchable online catalogue) and various online application systems (Enable Equipment App, Enable Hearing App, Specs App) that enable assessors to submit equipment and subsidy requests. Supporting services include ACC Equipment Services, DSS Equipment Services, Hearing Aid Services, Children's Spectacle Subsidy, Housing Modifications, and Vehicle Modifications. Sub-brands include Firstport (national disability information portal) and EASIE Living Store (retail and demonstration center with mobile services). Additional offerings include Enable Short Term Loan (equipment inventory management system), Clinical Advisory Services, and Equipment Returns and Refurbishment services. The organization manages over $270 million of revenue and serves over 100,000 New Zealanders annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EASIE Living: Equipment, Advice, Services, Information, and Education - a flagship store providing services for people who need support to live independently and engage in community activities, including a retail store, accessible show home, and learning and demonstration space.

Products and services

• ACC Equipment Services (Managed Rehabilitation Equipment Service - MRES)

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 100,000 disabled and injured New Zealanders annually with equipment and services
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled PeoplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment funding agency for disability services. Enable New Zealand holds contracts and receives funding allocations for equipment and modification services under this ministry.
• Disability Support Services (DSS) - Ministry of Social DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funding body for disability equipment services. Enable NZ manages equipment provisioning, hearing aid funding, children's spectacle subsidies, and housing/vehicle modifications on behalf of DSS.
• Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACC funds rehabilitation equipment for injured New Zealanders. Enable NZ is the provider for all ACC-funded rehabilitation equipment throughout New Zealand through the Managed Rehabilitation Equipment Service (MRES).
• Health New Zealand - Te Whatu OracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnable New Zealand is a wholly owned Crown entity subsidiary of Health New Zealand. The parent entity appoints the Board and monitors organizational performance.
• New Zealand Federation of Disability Information CentrescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing relationship with this national organization representing disability information centres. Partnered in developing the Firstport website.
• Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education New ZealandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for children's hearing aid services, with Ko Taku Reo supplying and servicing hearing aids for children in schooling years 4-13.
• FliwayminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShipping company that collects returned equipment from customers across New Zealand on behalf of Enable NZ. Staff are trained on disassembling items.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Northcott: Major Australian disability services provider offering accommodation, allied health, assistive technology, and community participation services. Comparable to Enable as a major national disability services provider in a trans-Tasman peer jurisdiction, though operating under the NDIS rather than NZ government contracts.

Broad incumbents

• Permobil: Global manufacturer of powered wheelchairs, seating and positioning products, and manual wheelchairs. Comparable to Enable in the powered mobility and complex rehabilitation equipment space, operating internationally as a manufacturer.
• Sunrise Medical: Global manufacturer of mobility products including manual and powered wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and seating systems. Comparable to Enable in the disability equipment domain, though operating as a global manufacturer rather than a national service provider.
• National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA): Australian government agency administering the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the largest national disability funding program in the region. Operates as a counterpart in the broader disability services ecosystem where Enable operates, though it is a funder rather than service provider.
• Invacare Corporation: Global manufacturer and distributor of medical equipment including wheelchairs, respiratory products, and homecare products. Comparable to Enable as a major player in the disability and rehabilitation equipment industry, though operating as a global for-profit manufacturer rather than a national service provider.
• Ottobock: Global leader in prosthetics, orthotics, and mobility solutions including wheelchairs and rehabilitation products. Comparable to Enable in the assistive technology space, though operating internationally as a manufacturer rather than a service provider.

Direct peers

• Accessable: New Zealand-based disability equipment and modification services provider serving the upper North Island. Direct competitor to Enable, providing government-funded disability equipment and housing/vehicle modifications under similar contracts with ACC and DSS.
• Geneva Healthcare: New Zealand community healthcare and disability support services provider offering home and community support, including disability equipment and modification services. Comparable to Enable as a community-based government-funded health and disability services provider in NZ.
• Lifeway: New Zealand disability services organization providing residential, vocational, and community support for people with intellectual disabilities. Comparable to Enable as a NZ-based government-funded disability services provider serving similar populations.
• Access Community Health: NZ-based community health and disability support organization providing home support, personal care, and disability services funded by government. Comparable to Enable as a community-based government-funded disability services provider.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCetX3KSHC_CUAycpjilmqpA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Enable-New-Zealand-446395258785373
• LinkedInnz.linkedin.com/company/enablenz

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Enable