Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People

What Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People does

Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People is a New Zealand government ministry established in 2022 to provide system-level leadership and cross-government coordination on disability policy. It serves approximately 1 million disabled New Zealanders (1 in 6 of the population), including tāngata whaikaha Māori and their whānau, and works across government agencies, businesses, and communities rather than delivering direct support. Core products include the New Zealand Disability Strategy 2026-2030 (a framework spanning education, employment, health, housing, and justice), the Alternate Formats Service (Easy Read, NZSL, Braille, audio, large print, plain text), Accessible Information Training, the Disability Toolkit for Policy, Disability Data and Insights resources, and Community Capability Development Grants.

Whaikaha does not sell products or services commercially and holds no proprietary technology products; its focus is policy leadership, system stewardship, and accessibility guidance. Distribution is structured through intermediary channels — Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination (NASC) services, approximately 500 contracted disability support providers, and Enabling Good Lives (EGL) sites with 13 funded connector roles — plus partnerships with the Disabled People's Organisations Coalition, Deaf Aotearoa, Blind Citizens NZ, People First NZ, the Government Digital Delivery Agency, and Metlink.

The ministry is funded through New Zealand government appropriations rather than commercial revenue. Budget 2023 allocated NZD $21.1M for establishment and NZD $863.6M for service cost pressures, Budget 2024 allocated NZD $1.1B over the forecast period for critical disability support services, and Budget 2026 added just over NZD $84M over 4 years for system leadership and community capability-building grants. Total administered disability support funding exceeds NZD $2.2 billion per annum, with direct ministry operating budget at approximately NZD $21 million per year. Leadership includes Chief Executive Paula Tesoriero MNZM PLY, with approximately 60% of staff identifying as having a disability.

Name

Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People

Legal name

Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People

Website

https://whaikaha.govt.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Whaikaha is New Zealand's Ministry of Disabled People, established in 2022 to coordinate cross-government disability policy and accessibility. It serves approximately 1 million disabled New Zealanders through strategic leadership, grants, and partnerships, funded by government appropriations rather than commercial revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector Disability Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

State/Provincial Human Services & Benefits Administration (Welfare, Disability, Child & Family) (BPAIABAI), Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD)

Keywords

• Disability policy leadership
• Government accessibility services
• Disability support coordination
• Accessibility training programs
• Disability strategy framework

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People provides system-level leadership, strategic policy advice, and cross-government coordination to improve outcomes for disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori, and their families and whānau in New Zealand. The Ministry does not deliver direct disability support services; instead it contracts with nearly 500 providers and works through Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination (NASC) services and Enabling Good Lives (EGL) sites. Core deliverables include the New Zealand Disability Strategy, Alternate Formats translations, accessibility guidance, data resources, and community capability development grants.

Product overview

Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People is a New Zealand government ministry that does not provide a commercial product suite. Its services consist of government programs, information resources, and support mechanisms for disabled people, including the New Zealand Disability Strategy 2026-2030, alternate formats services (providing Easy Read, NZSL, Braille, audio, large print, and plain text translations), accessibility guidance and training, disability data and insights resources, community grants, and employment support programs. The ministry operates as a policy and coordination body rather than a product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• New Zealand Disability Strategy 2026-2030 A strategic framework that provides direction to government agencies on issues disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori, and whānau identify as important. It structures government action across five priority outcome areas: education, employment, health, housing, and justice.
• Alternate Formats Service Translation of government information into accessible formats including Easy Read, New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), Braille, audio, large print, and plain text to ensure disabled people can access information. Provided for government agencies and the public.
• Accessible Information Training Monthly training program run jointly with the Government Digital Delivery Agency, Association of Blind Citizens New Zealand, Deaf Aotearoa, and People First New Zealand, teaching participants to create accessible information and alternate formats.
• Disability Data and Insights Resources Resources on collecting and using disability data including updates from across New Zealand, the Washington Group Short Set of Questions on Functioning, and advisory group meeting summaries.
• Disability Toolkit for Policy A seven-step toolkit to help policy makers incorporate disability considerations throughout the policy process, from engagement to monitoring and evaluation.
• Community Capability Development Grants Grants to support disability leadership, governance and engagement, distributed across 2025/26 totaling $1.7 million, with continued Budget 2026 allocation of $1.696 million per year for community capability-building.

Quantifiable outcome

• Budget 2026: $84 million allocated over 4 years for Ministry operations and disability leadership
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Government Digital Delivery AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026Co-hosted the Government Digital Accessibility Forum 2026 on Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Partnership on digital accessibility standards development, Centralised Web Accessibility Checker (CWAC), and the Digital Accessibility Community of Practice.
• Disabled People's Organisations (DPO) CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DPO Coalition is a key partnership for Whaikaha. The Coalition represents disabled people's organisations and provides leadership on disability issues. Whaikaha works with the DPO Coalition on the Accessibility Charter refresh and co-design initiatives.
• National Enabling Good LivescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhaikaha has a Memorandum of Understanding with National Enabling Good Lives. The partnership supports the implementation of the Enabling Good Lives approach to transform the disability support system, with 13 connector roles established in EGL sites.
• Deaf AotearoacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides NZSL interpretation and translation services for government agencies. Partnership on alternate formats services, accessibility training, and implementing the NZSL Strategy 2026-2036 priority area for public sector.
• Blind Citizens New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on accessibility initiatives including advocating for and co-designing onboard announcement systems for public transport. Co-delivers accessible information training with Whaikaha.
• People First New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-delivers accessible information training alongside Whaikaha, Deaf Aotearoa, Blind Citizens NZ, and the Government Digital Delivery Agency. Partnership on resources for people with learning/intellectual disabilities.
• Association of Blind Citizens New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-delivers accessible information training. Partnership on providing advice to government agencies about creating accessible information in Braille, audio, and other formats.
• Metlink, Greater Wellington Regional CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on accessibility improvements for Wellington's public transport network. Metlink's accessibility charter was developed with disability community input and shares co-design practices at the Government Digital Accessibility Forum.
• Accessibility Standards CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership sharing knowledge on digital accessibility standards. Dino Zuppa, CEO of Accessibility Standards Canada, participated in the Government Digital Accessibility Forum 2026.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Enabling Good Lives (National EGL): Strategic partner organization implementing the Enabling Good Lives approach in New Zealand. Comparable as a delivery mechanism for transformed disability support, with MOU relationship to Whaikaha.
• Administration for Community Living (US HHS): US federal agency advancing policies and programs for older adults and people with disabilities. Comparable as a cross-government coordinator of disability policy and community-based support services.
• UK Department for Work and Pensions — Disability: UK government department administering disability benefits, employment support, and accessibility policy. Comparable as a national coordinator of disability-related government programs and policy leadership.
• Accessibility Standards Canada: Canadian federal organization developing accessibility standards and supporting the Accessible Canada Act. Directly cited by Whaikaha as a peer in the Government Digital Accessibility Forum; comparable scope in standards development and policy advice.
• Australian Department of Social Services — Disability and Carers: Australia's federal agency responsible for disability policy, employment support, and funding administration under the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Directly comparable as a national government body coordinating disability outcomes across jurisdictions.

Emerging players

• National Disability Authority (Ireland): Ireland's independent state agency providing evidence-based advice on disability policy and promoting universal design. Comparable as a smaller advisory body focused on disability strategy, though narrower remit than Whaikaha.
• Disabled People's Organisations Coalition (NZ): Coalition of disabled people's organisations in New Zealand and Whaikaha's core community partner. Comparable as a disability advocacy and policy engagement organization with overlapping stakeholder ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Office for Disability Issues (New Zealand): Predecessor New Zealand government unit for disability issues (functions partly absorbed by Whaikaha). Comparable as a domestic disability policy body, though now smaller in scope than the Ministry.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Whaikaha
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcpShDCWICteXnheXsk6Qog
• Facebookfacebook.com/whaikaha.govt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whaikaha-ministry-of-disabled-people

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People