Improving New Zealand disability data outlines Stats NZ’s plans to publish new data about disabled people. The paper provides information about the way in which the new data has been produced and why it is needed. Understanding this will help to ensure that the data is interpreted correctly and used effectively.
An increasing need for information about disabled people is driven by the Government’s commitment to the New Zealand Disability Strategy 2016–2026 and to international conventions. These commitments require the monitoring of change across a range of socio-economic measures, to ensure that any disadvantage faced by disabled people is being reduced or eliminated.
Data is also needed to inform planning and funding for programmes that facilitate this goal. These include services, equipment, and environmental change required to ensure that disabled people can achieve at the same level as the rest of the population.