Disability in Aotearoa New Zealand

Disabled people in Aotearoa New Zealand are a diverse community. Some are born with impairments, others acquire them during their lives, and many people become disabled as they grow older. Disabled people come from every culture, gender, and background, and their experiences are shaped by their whānau, language, and identities. Some impairments are visible, while others are invisible or change over time.

The reo Māori term for disabled people is Tāngata Whaikaha, which means “people who are determined to do well”.

This document uses the terms “disabled people” and “non-disabled people.” This reflects the language preferred by many in Aotearoa New Zealand’s disability community, and it recognises that people are disabled by barriers in society, rather than by their impairments.

The 2023 Household Disability Survey provides the most up-to-date picture of disability in Aotearoa New Zealand.[1] It shows that:

  • 17 percent, or about one in six (851,000 people) living in households are disabled. This includes 18 percent of adults and 10 percent of children.
  • Disability rates are higher among women (18 percent), older people (35 percent), Māori (21 percent), and the Rainbow community (29 percent).
  • Nearly half of disabled people experience difficulties in more than one area of life.
  • 62 percent report at least one unmet need for support, services, or equipment.
  • Disabled people continue to experience poorer outcomes across health, housing, education, and employment compared with non-disabled people.

Earlier surveys estimated as many as one in four New Zealanders were disabled.[2] The 2023 survey used updated methods that focused on people with more severe functional difficulties, which resulted in a smaller proportion. However, the exact percentage matters less than the reality: many people in Aotearoa New Zealand continue to face significant barriers in daily life.

[1] https://www.whaikaha.govt.nz/resources/strategies-and-studies /strategies/new-zealand-disability-strategy/who-we-are-our-community

[2] https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/disability-survey-2013/