People First New Zealand

What People First New Zealand does

People First New Zealand Ngā Tāngata Tuatahi is a Disabled People's Organisation (DPO) founded in 2003 and headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand. It is a non-profit entity run by and for people with learning (intellectual) disability, operating 41 local groups across 6 regions (Northern, Midland, Central, Top of the South, Midsouth, Southern) with hundreds of members aged 18 and over. The organisation's work centres on self-advocacy, rights awareness, and ensuring the voice of people with learning disability is heard in policy and community settings across Aotearoa New Zealand.

The core service portfolio includes the Easy Read Library (88 accessible documents across 12 topic areas), the Make it Easy Kia Māmā Mai translation service (converting complex information into Easy Read format for government agencies, health providers, disability organisations, and researchers), the Learn with Us Ako i Tō Mātou Taha life skills courses and online web-tool, the People for Us peer visiting service for disabled adults in DSS-funded homes, the Disability Information and Advice Service (DIAS), and Speaking Up advisory representation on government and sector bodies. The underlying technology is the Easy Read methodology — a human-driven accessibility framework using straightforward language, clear sentence structure, and supporting pictures. An Easy Read Hub app is in development as of May 2026.

The business model is primarily government-funded through Disability Support Services, supplemented by B2B revenue from the Make it Easy translation service to organisations. Membership and the DIAS information/advice service are free to individuals and families. Distribution is nationwide through direct service delivery via local groups and regional coordinators. The organisation is governed by a National Committee composed of six regional presidents, with an Independent Advisor role. Coalition partnerships include Disabled Persons Assembly, CCS Disability Action, NZDSN, Carers NZ, and four other national disability organisations for joint advocacy on issues such as the Disability Support Services Bill.

Name

People First New Zealand

Legal name

People First New Zealand Ngā Tāngata Tuatahi

Website

https://peoplefirst.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

People First New Zealand is a Disabled People's Organisation run by and for people with learning disability, providing Easy Read translation services, self-advocacy training, peer visiting, and accessible information resources across New Zealand through 41 local groups and 6 regional offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

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), Self-Advocacy & Self-Determination Training (EDAKANAI)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy
• Easy read translation
• Self-advocacy support
• Disability peer support
• Accessible information

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Funded by government to provide services for disabled people including Disability Support Services funded programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

People First New Zealand is a Disabled People's Organisation (DPO) run by and for people with learning (intellectual) disability. It provides self-advocacy training through 41 local groups across 6 regions, Easy Read translation services for organisations, life skills courses via Learn with Us, the People for Us peer visiting service for disabled adults in Disability Support Services-funded homes, and a free Disability Information and Advice Service.

Product overview

People First New Zealand operates as a Disabled People's Organisation (DPO) offering a portfolio of services centered on self-advocacy and accessible information for people with learning disability. The core offering includes the Easy Read Library (88 accessible documents across 12 topic areas), the Make it Easy Kia Māmā Mai translation service, Learn with Us life skills courses with an online web-tool, the People for Us peer visiting service, the Disability Information and Advice Service, and Speaking Up advisory services. The organization also publishes the Butterfly Express Newsletter and Annual Reports. An Easy Read Hub app is currently in development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Make it Easy Kia Māmā Mai: Easy Read translation service that translates information for government agencies, health providers, disability organisations, and researchers using straightforward language, clear sentence structure, and supporting pictures.
• People for Us
• Learn with Us Ako i Tō Mātou Taha

Products and services

• Easy Read Library

Quantifiable outcome

• 88 Easy Read resources created and available in the library
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA)coreOthersJoint coalition partner in advocacy efforts. People First NZ is part of a coalition of eight national disability organisations united on issues affecting disabled people, including the Disability Support Services Bill process.
• Carers NZcoreOthersJoint coalition partner in advocacy efforts. Eight national disability organisations united on issues affecting disabled people.
• CCS Disability ActioncoreOthersJoint coalition partner in advocacy efforts representing thousands of disabled people in New Zealand.
• Home and Community Health Association (HCHA)coreOthersJoint coalition partner in advocacy efforts for disability support services.
• New Zealand Disability Support Network (NZDSN)coreOthersJoint coalition partner and co-author of joint media statement on Disability Support Services Bill.
• Parents of Vision Impaired NZcoreOthersJoint coalition partner in advocacy efforts for disability community.
• Complex Care GroupcoreOthersJoint coalition partner in advocacy efforts.
• Massey University Fin-Ed CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with People First NZ to develop the Money Smarts Made Easy course, providing financial education for people with learning disability.
• IHCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed Easy Read Individual Employment Agreement template and Easy Read Tenancy Agreement with IHC.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Carers NZ: NZ organisation supporting family carers of disabled people. Peer in the disability information and family/whānau support space, and a confirmed coalition partner.
• IHC New Zealand: Largest NZ disability support organisation providing services and advocacy for people with intellectual disability. Directly comparable in mission and confirmed co-development partner on Easy Read employment and tenancy templates.
• CCS Disability Action: NZ disability support organisation providing community inclusion, advocacy and disability information services. Directly comparable in mission and a confirmed coalition partner.
• Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA): New Zealand's national umbrella Disabled People's Organisation representing disabled people. A direct peer to People First NZ in DPO advocacy and a confirmed coalition partner on disability policy.
• New Zealand Disability Support Network (NZDSN): National collective of NZ disability support providers. Direct peer working at the intersection of disability services and policy advocacy, and a confirmed coalition partner.
• Inclusion New Zealand: National NZ disability organisation advocating for people with intellectual disability and their families. Direct peer in the self-advocacy and intellectual disability services space.

Regional players

• People with Disability Australia (PWDA): Australia's peak Disabled People's Organisation. Comparable as a national DPO with self-advocacy focus; operates in a different geography but serves the same cross-Tasman intellectual disability advocacy space.
• Inclusion Australia: Australian national organisation representing people with intellectual disability and their families. Comparable DPO mission; cross-Tasman regional peer.

Emerging players

• Change (UK): UK-based organisation specialising in Easy Read translation and accessible information for people with learning disability. Closest international peer in the Easy Read translation niche.

Broad incumbents

• Blind Low Vision New Zealand: NZ organisation providing disability information, advocacy and services, focused on blind/low vision. Adjacent peer in the NZ disability information and advice sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@peoplefirstnewzealand64/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/peoplefirstnz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/peoplefirstnz
• Instagraminstagram.com/peoplefirstnz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 People First New Zealand