Explore Wellbeing

What Explore Wellbeing does

Explore Wellbeing is a New Zealand-based specialist disability and mental health services provider, founded in 2004 and headquartered in Wellington, with regional offices across the North Island (Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Napier, Hastings, Taranaki). It operates as a subsidiary of New Zealand Health Group, the country's largest healthcare network, sharing group infrastructure with sister brands including HealthCare NZ, Geneva Healthcare, and Solora. The organisation supports more than 6,000 people annually through a network of 170+ behaviour specialists across a portfolio of services: Autism Support, Behaviour Support, Community Disability, Community Mental Health, Deaf Support, Individualised Funding, Seating To Go (wheelchair/seating), and Neurodevelopmental Assessment.

The core clinical methodology is the Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) framework, delivered under license from the British Institute of Learning Disability (BILD), with three credentialing tiers (Active Support, Practitioners, Coaches) priced at NZ$1,695 to NZ$26,199.25 + GST per cohort. Cultural engagement with Māori is anchored in the Mana Manaaki framework and the Te Whare Tapa Whā wellbeing model, underpinned by the Awhi Te Tangata values of Aroha, Tūmanako, and Whakapono. Sub-brand Seating To Go (operating since 1997) provides accredited wheelchair and seating services across Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Lakes, funded by DSS and ACC.

Revenue is overwhelmingly government-funded: Ministry of Social Development (Disability Support Services), ACC, and Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People are the primary payers, with services accessed via referral through NASC coordinators, ACC case managers, Work and Income, Community Mental Health Teams, and Enabling Good Lives sites. Training programmes sold to other disability providers, plus a small athlete sponsorship programme (NZ$10,000 annually), round out the revenue mix. Following the August 2025 restructuring, Explore narrowed its portfolio to community disability and Deaf services, with mental health and wellbeing offerings migrated to Geneva Wellbeing.

Name

Explore Wellbeing

Legal name

Explore Wellbeing

Website

https://explorewellbeing.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Explore Wellbeing is a New Zealand-based specialist disability and mental health services provider delivering community disability, autism, behaviour, and Deaf support to 6,000+ people annually, fully funded by MSD, ACC, and Whaikaha as part of New Zealand Health Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ), Benefits Counseling & Financial Literacy for Transition-Age Youth (EDAKANAJ), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Disability & Chronic Condition Care Coordination (EDALAFAI)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Mental health services
• Autism support services
• Positive behaviour support
• Community healthcare services

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-funded disability support services: Services are fully funded by Ministry of Social Development / Disability Support Services for eligible participants. Includes community disability, autism support, behaviour support, individualised funding, and very high needs services.
2. ACC-funded services: ACC contracted services including wheelchair and seating assessments, Living My Life services, concussion services, and ACC psychological services for injury-related disability support.
3. Professional training programmes: BILD Positive Behaviour Support training delivered to disability support providers. Pricing from $1,695 + GST for half-day Active Support to $26,199.25 + GST for 4-day Coaches programme.
4. Fully funded VHN services: Very High Needs services fully funded by Ministry of Social Development for people assessed at school as very high needs under the ongoing resourcing scheme (ORS).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Explore Wellbeing is a specialist disability and mental health services provider in New Zealand, offering wrap-around, person-centred support across autism, behaviour support, community disability, community mental health, Deaf support, individualised funding, and wheelchair/seating services through its Seating To Go subsidiary. Services are fully funded by government agencies (MSD, ACC, Whaikaha) and accessed primarily through NASC/Enabling Good Lives referrals, with a parallel BILD-licensed Positive Behaviour Support training line for disability support providers.

Product overview

Explore Wellbeing is a healthcare and disability support services organisation providing a comprehensive suite of wrap-around services for New Zealanders. The offering consists of multiple distinct service lines: Autism Support (including Exploring Autism, Teen Life, and Targeted Parent Support programmes), Behaviour Support (positive behaviour support and specialist training), Community Disability Services (employment support, VHN services, transition services, community participation), Community Mental Health Services, Deaf Support Services, Individualised Funding, Seating To Go (wheelchair and seating services), and Neurodevelopmental Assessments. Services are delivered through Explore Hāpainga Ora and are funded by the Ministry of Social Development, ACC, and Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People. The organisation is part of New Zealand Health Group and has been supporting Kiwis since 2004.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Seating To Go: Specialized wheelchair, seating, and postural management provider offering assessments, equipment repairs, servicing, and modifications. Operating since 1997 in Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Lakes regions.

Products and services

• Autism Support Support services for parents, caregivers, and whānau to understand autism and learn new ways to support their autistic child, including Exploring Autism (0-9 years), Teen Life (10-15 years), and Targeted Parent Support programmes. Funded by Ministry of Social Development for eligible participants.
• Behaviour Support Specialist positive behaviour support for people with disabilities/autism, their whānau, and support services, including Positive Behaviour Support delivery, specialist training, neurodevelopmental assessment, and resources to prevent violent extremist grooming.
• Community Disability Services Community support services including employment support, Very High Needs (VHN) services, school-leaver transitioning, community participation, and individualised funding for people with disabilities. Fully funded by MSD for eligible participants.
• Community Mental Health Services Community-based mental health services including community support, support for over 65s, Taupō Crisis Respite and Recovery, planned respite, and home-based treatment and discharge support. Following the August 2025 restructuring these services moved to Geneva Wellbeing.
• Deaf Support Services Comprehensive support services for Deaf individuals including ACC Living My Life Services, community participation, employment support, transition services, and individualised funding, delivered with culturally appropriate and NZSL-proficient support.
• Individualised Funding Disability support service providing individuals and families with more choice and flexibility over how they manage and use their disability support funding, with Explore acting as host provider for IF budgets.
• Seating To Go (Wheelchair and Seating Services) Specialised wheelchair, seating, and postural management provider offering assessments, equipment repairs, servicing, modifications, wheelchair skills training, and national training services. Preferred provider for MSD-DSS and ACC.
• BILD Positive Behaviour Support Training Workforce training programmes for disability support providers, including Active Support (half-day), PBS Practitioners (2-day), and PBS Coaches (4-day) programmes, delivered under BILD license across Aotearoa. Priced from $1,695+GST to $26,199.25+GST per cohort.
• Neurodevelopmental Assessment Services Cognitive and neurodevelopmental assessment services including Intellectual Disability Diagnostic Assessments (IDDA), autism assessments, trauma assessments, and other developmental needs identification.
• Awhi Mai Awhi Atu – Wellbeing Support in Schools School-based wellbeing support programme partnering with schools in Hawke's Bay, Horowhenua, Manawatū, Wairarapa, and Wellington to support tamariki, whānau, and school staff.
• ACC Living My Life Services ACC-funded disability support service for people with long-term disability from injury, providing support for community participation and employment goals. Delivered nationwide.
• Transition Services Fully funded support for young people aged 16-21 in their final year of school with High or Very High Needs under ORS funding, to transition from school into adulthood.
• Employment Support Services Fully funded employment support including career planning, job search assistance, interview preparation, new role support, and ongoing maintenance support for at least 12 months.
• Community Participation Services Fully funded support for people not in work who have a disability, health condition, neurodiversity, or are Deaf or hard of hearing to participate in their community.
• Very High Needs (VHN) Support Services Fully funded community participation support for individuals assessed as Very High Needs under ORS, including support for preparing for work, training, and community involvement.
• Wheeled Mobility and Postural Management (WMPM) Credentialing Training DSS-funded training workshops supporting EMS assessors in building competency in wheeled mobility and postural management, including WMPML1 and WMPML2 credentialing pathways with clinical indicators and competency frameworks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Services report improvements in quality of life of people supported
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Geneva WellbeingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 August 2025Services restructuring: Explore's wellbeing-focused services (PIVOT drug and alcohol services, Psychology & wellbeing services) moved to Geneva Wellbeing on 1 August 2025. Explore now focuses on community disability and Deaf services.
• Carers NZcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2024Partnership with Carers NZ for Know The Signs nationwide campaign to prevent disabled people from being groomed by extremist groups. Carers NZ reaches over 80,000 family carers across New Zealand with the comprehensive guide.
• Autism NZcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2024Partnership with Autism NZ for Know The Signs campaign. Autism NZ CEO Dane Dougan noted autistic people may be particularly vulnerable to online grooming tactics and targeted attempts by extremists.
• New Zealand Health GroupcoreOthers · 3 August 2023Explore is part of New Zealand Health Group - New Zealand's largest healthcare network. The group includes HealthCare NZ, Geneva Healthcare, Solora, NZCL, and other healthcare brands providing home and community care services across Aotearoa.
• British Institute of Learning Disability (BILD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 August 2023Explore Hāpainga Ora delivers BILD Positive Behaviour Support training under license from the British Institute of Learning Disability. Training programmes include Active Support, Practitioners, and Coaches programmes.
• Te Hā O Kawatiri, Wharikū Marae, and Maataa WakasecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 August 2023Joint delivery of Healing Informed Learning & Support programme - a culturally supportive trauma and healing informed care programme for caregivers in Te Tau Ihu (Top of the South Island).

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Emerge Aotearoa: NZ mental health and disability support provider offering community mental health, behaviour support, and forensic services. Overlaps with Explore on community mental health and behaviour support service lines.
• Lifewise: Auckland-based community organisation providing disability support, mental health, and housing services. Comparable in wrap-around disability and mental health delivery under government contracts.
• HealthCare NZ: Fellow NZ Health Group brand offering community health, disability, and home-based support services nationwide. Overlaps with Explore on community disability, individualised funding, and rehabilitation services.
• Access Community Health: Large NZ provider of home and community support, disability, and ACC-funded rehabilitation services. Competes for the same NASC/ACC referrals and serves similar disabled and elderly populations.
• Idea Services: IHC New Zealand's disability support arm providing residential, community, and behaviour support for people with intellectual disabilities. Comparable in PBS-style behaviour support and residential service lines.
• Spectrum Care: Auckland-based disability support provider offering residential, community participation, and behaviour support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Competes directly for VHN and community disability contracts.
• Geneva Healthcare: Sister company within New Zealand Health Group and a leading NZ provider of home and community support, disability, and mental health services. Directly comparable in service mix, government-funded delivery model, and client population.
• CCS Disability Action: NZ disability support organisation providing community participation, employment support, and individualised funding. Directly competes for Enabling Good Lives and MSD-funded clients.

Regional players

• MASH Trust: Wellington and lower North Island mental health and disability support provider. Comparable in mental health and disability services with strong regional overlap where Explore also operates.

Broad incumbents

• Wise Group: NZ social services group operating multiple mental health, disability, and wellbeing brands. Broader portfolio than Explore but directly comparable in government-funded mental health and disability service delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Explore-Pivot-116090524820856
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/explore-wellbeing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Explore Wellbeing