The NZ Disability Strategy is the main government strategy that impacts on the lives of people with an intellectual disability.

This Strategy provides a framework for removing barriers to full participation in society by people with a disability. All government departments have annual strategy implementation plans and progress reports.
The NZ Disability Strategy is vital to the well-being of the one-in-five New Zealanders who identify that they have a long-term impairment. By implementing the Strategy, New Zealand will become a more inclusive society, eliminating the barriers that exclude the contribution of people with disabilities.

The Strategy envisages a society that values the lives and enhances full participation of disabled people. It provides a framework to ensure that government departments and agencies consider disabled people before making decisions.

In taking the lead, the Government aims to influence attitudes and behaviour. By encouraging all New Zealanders to consider issues and aspirations of people with disabilities, New Zealand can become a fully inclusive society.

The monitoring and reporting on the Strategy implementation is overseen by the Office for Disability Issues. All government departments are required to develop annual Disability Strategy implementation work plans with goals and actions.

At the end of each year covered by the work plans, departments are required to prepare a progress report. The Minister for Disability Issues is required to report annually to Parliament on progress in implementing the Strategy.

In 2001, when Cabinet approved the release of the New Zealand Disability Strategy, it also noted that a review of progress in its implementation would be conducted after five and then 10 years. The first review of progress is due in 2006 .

The review will evaluate the effectiveness of processes used to implement the Strategy, the impact of these upon the lives of disabled people over the past five years, and their potential for creating positive change in the future.

Other Government strategies impacting on the lives with people with an intellectual disability include:

• Strengthening Families and Early Intervention
• Children’s Agenda and Youth Development Strategy