4 April 2025
Craig Nielsen
[FYI request #29964 email] Tēnā koe Craig Nielsen
Official Information Act request
Thank you for your email of 3 February 2025 to the Ministry for Disabled People –
Whaikaha, requesting budget allocated and cost to date information relating to the
Independent Review of Disability Support Services (the Independent Review) and
the work of the Disability Support Services (DSS) Taskforce.
Your full request was as follows:
I would like to request the following information regarding the work of the
Taskforce established to investigate Disability Support Services (DSS), for
the period March 2024 - to date. It would be appreciated if the costs relevant
to Independent Review into Whaikaha kaupapa in 2024 could be included.
Broken down into internal costs (personnel and consultancy); external
providers/ contractors, inclusive of specialist consulting agency(s):
Budget allocated to the Taskforce work for the 24-25 Financial year.
Expenditure to date.
As you are aware, your request was transferred to the Ministry of Social
Development (the Ministry), as DSS functions now sit with the Ministry.
I would like to extend my apologies for the delay in responding to your request for
information.
I have considered your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
Please find my decision on your request set out below.
Please find attached
Appendix One, which contains a table setting out the
information you have requested. Please ensure that you refer to the notes provided
under the table, which provide important information for interpreting the data.
Costs related to the Independent Review were paid by the Ministry of Disabled
People - Whaikaha, which was a Departmental Agency hosted by the Ministry. This
Departmental Agency was disestablished on 1 December 2024. The Ministry is
The Aurora Centre, 56 The Terrace, PO Box 1556, Wellington
– Telephone 04-916 3300 – Facsimile 04-918 0099
therefore responding to your request as part of its responsibilities hosting the
Departmental Agency between 1 July 2022 - 1 December 2024.
The Independent Review into the sustainability of DSS was approved by Cabinet
in April 2024, to provide advice on what actions should be taken to manage
increasing cost pressures and ensure the future sustainability of DSS.
The Independent Review identified seven recommendations that included taking
immediate steps to stabilise DSS, including financial monitoring and accountability
mechanisms, and implementation of future settings to strengthen the system into
one that is transparent, fair, and consistent.
In late 2024, DSS delivery functions were moved to the Ministry. Cabinet agreed
to reprioritise funding of $15.6 million and to establish a cross-agency taskforce
(the DSS Taskforce) of senior officials from the Ministry to deliver the Review’s
recommendations for DSS. Expenditure against this appropriation is shown in the
document provided with this letter.
If you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact
[email address]. If you are not satisfied with my decision on your request, you have the right to
seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman. Information about how to
make a complaint is available a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi nui
pp.
Anna Graham
General Manager Ministerial and Executive Services
