CCS Disability Action

28/05/2026

Today's Budget makes disabled people's lives more restricted, harder to live in their own communities, and less visible to the rest of the country.

The Government is calling it a record investment. The numbers tell a different story – a Disability Allowance baseline in long-term decline, a one-off return of underspent money repackaged as a lift, community-based supports squeezed, and a quiet cut to the small ministry whose job is to advocate for disabled people inside Government.

26.9% of disabled children are already living in material hardship – more than double the rate for non-disabled children. The median disposable income for disabled households is $45,693, compared with $56,485 for households with no disabled people. Against that backdrop, this Budget makes ordinary community lives harder to live, not easier.

At CCS Disability Action we are sitting with whānau every week who are choosing between trips to medical appointments and trips to see family, between running essential equipment and heating the house, between food in the pantry and a school excursion for their child. These are kitchen-table decisions, made by people who are doing everything right and still falling behind.

📝 We are asking the Government for three things:
1. Lift the Disability Allowance in line with the actual cost of being disabled.
2. Rebalance Disability Support Services toward flexible, community-based supports.
3. Reverse the cut to Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People and resource it to do its job.

A country that narrows the lives of one in five of its people is a smaller country for all of us. We can choose differently.

🔗 Read the full op-ed by our Chief Executive Mel Smith (link in comments).
➡️ Share if you agree.

Image description: On a light green background is a circular photo of dollar bills. Underneath in green is the headline: Budget 2026 risks further isolating disabled people. Image has rounded corners, a white border, and the CCS Disability Action icon in the top left corner.

27/05/2026

“So often we’re told by the outside world what we can’t do. When we’re self-employed, we’re focusing on what we can do.”

A great story from the Daily Encourager highlighting the incredible achievements of disabled entrepreneurs across Aotearoa. Their stories remind us that talent, creativity and determination thrive when barriers come down.

If you haven’t yet listened to Season 3 of the My Business Stars podcast, now’s the perfect time to dive in. That Blind Woman Julie Woods speaks with business owners from all walks of life who are redefining what’s possible. It’s uplifting, practical and full of real‑world wisdom.

And if you have a business idea waiting in the wings, the next My Business Starter programme begins 14 July. This fully-funded nine‑week online course is designed specifically for disabled people who want to explore self‑employment in a supportive, empowering environment. Spaces fill fast, so follow the link and register your interest to learn more.

Explore the article: https://dailyencourager.co.nz/disabled-no-barrier-to-business/

Learn about the programme: https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/my-business-starter

Catch up on the podcast: https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/my-business-stars

4 HOPES Disabled Kiwis are successfully running businesses ranging from peanut butter manufacturing to whisky distilling. “So often we’re told by the outside world what we can’t do,” says Community Broadcaster Julie Woods of Dunedin. “When we’re self-employed, we’re focusing on what we...

26/05/2026

Among all the other announcements lately, Thursday 28 May is Budget Day. At 2pm, the Government will present their plan and estimates for the financial years ahead. As we've seen, this can have huge impacts on disabled people.

We know making sense of the Budget can seem overwhelming – that's why we've put together this guide on understanding the figures. Find it at the link in the comments.

Of course, we'll also be doing our own analysis, so stay tuned.

Image description: Closeup photo of a glass jar on its side with coins spilling out. At the bottom, in white are the words: 'Budget Day Basics, Phoebe Eden-Mann'. The image has rounded corners, a white border, and the CCS Disability Action icon in the top left corner.

25/05/2026

We're hiring! Have you always wanted a job where you can make a real difference? Learn all about what it's like to work with CCS Disability Action on our website: https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/join-our-team

Check out our newest vacancies:
• Minimum guaranteed hours Community Support Worker, Tauranga
• Full-time Systems and Data Coordinator, location by negotiation

We look forward to receiving your application!

Check out CCS Disability Action's job vacancies, employee benefits, why dedicated professionals working to support disabled people in New Zealand choose to work for CCS Disability Action.

22/05/2026

Feeling worried about the new Disability Support Services Bill? Debbie Ward, National Disability Leadership Coordinator, shares how you can make a difference.
💬 We've shared our concerns, and we want to hear yours – read the article on our website, share it with a friend, and let us know what you think.

Video description: Debbie talking to the camera, greenscreened onto a CCS Disability Action branded background.

22/05/2026

We're looking forward to our National Karanga Maha hui in Wellington this weekend. Whānau hauā / tāngata whaikaha Māori from all over the motu are coming together to share and connect through kaupapa Māori. These moments of connection remind us that even in challenging times, our unity, aroha, and shared purpose carry us forward.

“He aha te mea nui o tēnei ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.”
“What is the most important thing in this world? It is people, it is people, it is people.”​

📷 Photos from previous Karanga Maha hui.

Image descriptions:
1. Two people share a hongi. They are outside in front of a fountain.
2. Two friends embrace, smiling. They are in a marae.
3. Line of people entering a marae on a sunny day.

21/05/2026

The Disability Support Services Bill was introduced to Parliament on Monday and has its first reading today.

It is being framed as a step toward "clarity and stability" for the disability support system. But there are real concerns about what it could mean for disabled people, whānau and family carers in the years ahead.

In this carousel, we cover what the Bill does, three of our key concerns, and how you can have your say through the select committee process. We will be making an official submission and we want to hear from you.

🔗 Read the full article linked in the comments.
🗨️ Comment below with your thoughts, or message us privately if you would prefer to stay anonymous.

Image descriptions in the comments.

19/05/2026

CCS Disability Action is concerned about the Disability Support Services (DSS) Bill announced suddenly last night. While it promises to "stabilise DSS", there are worrying implications for disabled people, whānau and carers. A fact sheet about the Bill is available here: https://www.disabilitysupport.govt.nz/improving-dss/dss-bill/factsheet

In her announcement, Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston said this Bill "makes clear that families and whānau have responsibility for the wellbeing of their members in the first instance and where appropriate". We believe natural supports cannot and should not replace paid care, which the Government is obligated to provide.

We know that many family members of disabled people have to leave paid employment to provide full-time care, often without training or support. The Supreme Court decision last December was a win – it recognised that parents who care full time for their disabled children should be considered employees entitled to the minimum wage and other employment rights. This new legislation sidesteps that ruling to avoid Government responsibility.

We want to reassure you that right now, there are no changes to current supports, funding, or eligibility. It's also positive that the Bill has NOT been entered under urgency, and will go through the standard Select Committee process. This means we have an opportunity to give our feedback.

CCS Disability Action will make an official submission on the Bill. If you have any feedback you'd like us to consider, please comment below, or message us if you prefer to stay anonymous. We'll keep you updated in the meantime.

The Bill builds on what disabled people, families, whānau, and carers have told us, and work already done to stabilise DSS.

18/05/2026

We're hiring! Have you always wanted a job where you can make a real difference? Learn all about what it's like to work with CCS Disability Action on our website: https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/join-our-team

Check out our newest vacancy:
• Full-time Systems and Data Coordinator, location by negotiation

We look forward to receiving your application!

Check out CCS Disability Action's job vacancies, employee benefits, why dedicated professionals working to support disabled people in New Zealand choose to work for CCS Disability Action.

15/05/2026

We recently celebrated the launch of Pou Hono Manawa in Waikato at Kirikiriroa Marae.

A big Ngā mihi to everyone who joined us in supporting this kaupapa and to those who paved the way to help get us to this point!

Full article link in comments.

Video description: Slideshow of images from the Pou Hono Manawa Waikato launch event, set to a guitar-only version of Karanga Maha waiata. Includes outside of the marae and people lining up to enter, people embracing, people standing together smiling for the camera, waiata inside the marae, speech addressing the crowd. Ends with the CCS Disability Action logo on a white background.

15/05/2026

Our hearts are full after the recent launch of Pou Hono Manawa – our free, kaupapa Māori-led disability support service – in Waikato.

Ngā mihi to everyone who joined us at Kirikiriroa Marae for a day of aroha, manaakitanga and pure joy.

We recognise the leaders and community partners who attended, and thank those who walked before us for paving the way.

Read more about the event at the link in the comments.

Image description: Group performs waiata inside the marae. There is a CCS Disability Action branded poster with the word 'Manawa' visible in the background.