New Zealand

Government responses

Mainstreaming of disability inclusion, participation, and partnerships

• [15 April 2020] The New Zealand Government has published the COVID-19 Health and Disability System Response Plan in response to the outbreak of the virus.
• [June 2020] The June edition of the Disability Support Services Newsletter focuses on engaging disability communities during COVID-19 and getting back to business as usual.
• [30 August 2020] Persons with disabilities have been legally exempted from having to wear face masks on public transport, if their disabilities make face covering unsuitable.
• [1 September 2020] The Office for Disability Issues has run a weekly survey to better understand issues and risks experienced by persons with disabilities amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Continued access to goods and services

• [n.d.] Essential community health services and disabilities care services have been available under all health alert levels.
• [n.d.] Pharmacies would remain open and arrange home deliveries of medicines to some people under alert level 3.
• [n.d.] Key health and disability workers have been exempted from the New Zealand border closure.
• [n.d.] The Ministry of Education provides accessible learning resources on the Learning from Home website to ensure those with disabilities can continue their education during a lockdown. Students with disabilities have been given the option of continuing to learn from home post COVID-19 lockdown if they feel this option is safest.
• [15 April 2020] A $27 million package has been given to community groups to enhance essential services, support persons with disabilities in lockdown, and strengthen local resilience.

Accessible public information

• [n.d.] Information for persons with disabilities is available on the website of the Ministry of Health in accessible formats.
• [16 March 2020] Videos summarizing key COVID-19 information are available in New Zealand Sign Language.
• [16 May 2020] The deaf community can use the NZ Relay Service and the Video Interpreting Service to contact the COVID-19 Healthline.

Medical and quarantine policies and processes

• [June 2020] The National COVID-19 Testing Strategy mentions alternative places of testing beyond fixed primary health care facilities for persons with disabilities, such as community hubs.
• [30 March 2021] Persons with disabilities would be prioritized in Group 2 and 3 of the vaccine roll-out.

Social protection and employment support

• [15 April 2020] Core benefit payments have been increased by $25 (gross) per week for the most vulnerable.

Institutions and facilities 

• [n.d.] Disability residential care services would follow COVID-19 risk screening and infection prevention control, physical distancing measures, and PPE guidance. Persons’ details would be recorded to enable contact tracing.

Last modified: 6 May 2021