Updated funding rules have been released by Whaikaha the Ministry of Disabled People after out-of-the-blue changes in March caused outrage and confusion.
In mid-March, the Ministry announced sweeping changes to funding rules which blindsided up to 50,000 disabled New Zealanders and their carers.
It included new limits on what disabled people can buy with their funding and impacted the purchasing rules for equipment, respite care and out-of-town accommodation.
For example, accommodation for support workers accompanying a disabled person on holiday, and even a few hours in a motel for burnt-out caregivers were cut. It also saw restrictions to funding for sensory toys or devices like tablets which aid non-verbal people, and gym memberships and massages for those often required to carry someone heavier than their own body weight being cut.
The moves raised concerns over a lack of consultation and the impacts on already burnt-out carers.
Now the Ministry has released updated purchasing rules. In the release the Ministry acknowledged "the changes have been distressing and caused confusion for the community, and for the service providers who support disabled people".
"We are committed to our partnership approach and the transformation of the disability support system," the release said.
The clarifications include details about when items for respite such as tablet devices, noise-cancelling headphones, sensory items (such as fidget spinners), and weighted blankets can be funded.
They also include allowing funding for rideshare services in certain circumstances and the continuation of certain household support arrangements that are already in place.
The Ministry faced intense backlash over how it handled the original changes with CEO Paula Tesoriero being forced to apologise.
"We know that the way we went about announcing these changes caused stress and anxiety. And for that I am sorry," Tesoriero said at the time.
"Here's my pledge to you now. We are doing all we can to help clarify these changes."
Minister for Disabled People Penny Simmonds also apologised for the way the changes were communicated.
"Neither Whaikaha nor I are happy with the way this has occurred and so we are very clear that we will have to do much better in the future," Simmonds said.
The restrictions were introduced over concerns Whaikaha was about to run out of money.
But a Newshub investigation in April found Whaikaha had spent nearly $10 million on contractors and consultants in one year.
Whaikaha said it was a new agency that marked its first year in July. As it was building the organisation, it had one-off expenditure and used contractors for roles that needed to be backfilled, the ministry added.
The Ministry is currently required to have any funding decisions signed off by Cabinet.
The new funding rules can be found here.
