News and Events

People for Us has officially launched, marking an important step in making sure disabled people living in homes funded by Disability Support Services are living a good life, getting good support and are safe.

People for Us is delivered by three providers:

 – visiting people across Aotearoa New Zealand

 – visiting tāngata whaikaha Māori in Waikato and South Auckland

 – visiting Tagata Sa'ilimalo in Auckland.

The service is funded by Disability Support Services, which enables People for Us to visit disabled people living in community residential homes.

The official launch event was hosted by Disability Support Services at the Ministry of Social Development in Wellington on 31 August 2026.

Hon Louise Upston, Minister for Disability Issues, spoke at the event and celebrated the launch.

"To the peer workers, you are what makes this service powerful. Your lived experience and understanding build the trust that helps disabled people speak up, access support, and achieve the outcomes that matter most to them." 

— Hon Louise Upston, Minister for Disability Issues

The event brought together disabled people, whānau, community organisations, providers, government representatives and people who have supported the development of the service.

The event highlighted the impact and value of a peer visiting service and the difference that visits are making for people.

“The real power of peer workers is the natural connection that comes from being a peer. It helps us build trust and understand what matters to the people we visit.” 

— Rozlyn Gielink, People First NZ People for Us Kaiārahi (Peer worker)

“For me, People for Us is more than just a service it is about connection, belonging, and empowering people to thrive. I am proud to be part of a kaupapa that puts people first and to create positive change in our communities.” 

— Keegan Schindler, Te Ahi Kaa People for Us Kaiaarahi (Peer worker)

“Vaka Tautua makes a distinct difference as a Pacific provider because our People for Us team reflects the communities we serve. We bring lived experience, cultural knowledge, language, and strong community connections, allowing us to build trust, strengthen wellbeing, and support better outcomes for Pasifika people and their families”

 — Ray Faleafa, Vaka Tautua People for Us Peer worker

The service is already making a difference for disabled people across the country. By taking the time to listen and understand what matters to each person, People for Us works alongside people, whānau and providers to support positive, long-term change.

People for Us services will continue visiting disabled people across Aotearoa New Zealand.

People for Us is delivered by three providers across Aotearoa New Zealand. If you would like to find out more about the service or make a referral, you can contact the provider in your area.

People for Us is a peer visiting service delivered by People First New Zealand, Te Ahi Kaa and Vaka Tautua. The service visits disabled adults, tāngata whaikaha Māori and Tagata Sa'ilimalo living in homes funded by Disability Support Services.

People for Us teams are made up of trained disabled people who visit disabled adults, tāngata whaikaha Māori and Tagata Sa'ilimalo.

During visits, they spend time getting to know people, listening to their experiences and talking about their lives, support, safety, rights and choices. They use what they hear to support positive change and better outcomes for people.

People for Us | Disability Support Services


People for Us - a nationwide peer visiting service for disabled people across Aotearoa New Zealand


People for Us Launch - Press Release

People First NZ has joined with seven other national disability organisations to issue a joint media statement expressing serious concerns..

Eight national disability organisations - Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA), People First New Zealand, Carers NZ, Parents of Vision Impaired NZ, the Complex Care Group, CCS Disability Action, Home and Community Health Association (HCHA) and the New Zealand Disability Support Network (NZDSN) are calling on Parliament to halt the rushed progress of the Disability Support Services Bill and ensure meaningful engagement with the communities it affects.

Collectively, our organisations represent hundreds of thousands of disabled people, family carers, disabled people's organisations, advocacy groups, and support providers across Aotearoa.

Disabled people, families and the wider disability support sector are being denied a meaningful opportunity to have their say on decisions that directly affect them.

“While we support legislation that protects and strengthens the rights of disabled people and family carers, we are united in our concern that the process being used for this Bill fails to meaningfully involve disabled people, families, and the disability sector in its development,” says Debbie Hughes, Chief Executive of the NZDSN.

The group disputes Ministerial assurances that the Bill responds to consultation with disabled people and families.

“This Bill has been extremely reactive and has not been developed with the knowledge, involvement, or seriously needed expertise of disabled people and their representative organisations," says Kera Sherwood-O'Regan, National President of DPA.

"Only a handful of our organisations were briefed by the Minister about the Bill's existence – with our call finishing just 15 minutes before the public announcement. We directly raised serious concerns about the need for robust, accessible engagement and an extended consultation period. Instead, this process has been rushed, sloppy and inaccessible.

“We consider this a breach of the government's obligations under the United Nations Conventional on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).”

The parliamentary process has compounded these failures. The Select Committee has scheduled only three and a half days of hearings, all in Wellington, with just a few hours available each day for public participation – and no hearings anywhere else in the country.

“To make things worse, organisations representing thousands of New Zealanders have been allocated as little as five minutes to present, including time for questions from Committee members. Five minutes is simply not enough time to convey the concerns, experiences, expertise and aspirations of the communities we represent,” says Mel Smith, Chief Executive of CCS Disability Action.

The Disability Support Services Bill may not technically be proceeding under urgency, but from the perspective of disabled people and their families it has that effect.

“New Zealand has obligations under the UNCRPD to closely consult with and actively involve disabled people, through their representative organisations, in decisions that affect them,” explains Desrae Turvey, National Chairperson of People First New Zealand Ngā Tāngata Tuatahi.

“Meaningful participation cannot occur when people are given almost no time to understand proposals, engage with their communities, organise accessible responses, prepare submissions, and present their views.”

“For disabled people and their families, participation requires accessible formats, time to understand and discuss proposals, support to formulate responses, and opportunities to engage in ways that accommodate different communication needs."

Disabled people and their families deserve better.

“Parliament should not be making decisions about disabled people and families without disabled people and families having the opportunity to have input,” says Laurie Hilsgen, CEO of Carers NZ.

“A Bill that potentially has such major impacts for New Zealanders in caring situations should not be progressed without fair input from disabled people and family carers” says Lisa Martin, Director Complex Care Group.

“New Zealand deserves legislation that has been developed with the community it affects.”

About the Disability Support Services (DSS) Bill



The Disability Support Services Bill was introduced to Parliament by Minister for Disability Issues Hon. Louise Upston on 17 May 2026. It passed its first reading on 21 May 2026 and was immediately referred to the Social Services and Community Select Committee.

The Bill proposes to create the first foundational legislative framework for disability support services in Aotearoa New Zealand, covering eligibility, funding principles, the role of family and whānau, and the legal relationship between the Crown and family carers. It directly affects the approximately 55,000 disabled people currently receiving community and residential care, and around 26,000 disabled children accessing Child Development Services annually.



Legislation in New Zealand typically takes around six months to pass, but the Disability Support Services (DSS) Bill is being processed on an accelerated timeline.

From introduction to submission close was just 25 days:

Bill introduced to Parliament | 17 May 2026

Referred to Social Services and Community Select Committee | 21 May 2026

Alternative formats on DSS Bill published | 2 June 2026

Select Committee hearings | 23, 24, 25 and 30 June 2026

Select Committee report due back to Parliament | 12–13 August 2026



New Zealand is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Article 4.3 requires governments to closely consult with and actively involve disabled people, through their representative organisations, in developing legislation that affects them. The Government's own disclosure documents on this Bill acknowledge that this obligation has not been fully met.

Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) - Kera Sherwood-O'Regan, National President: president@dpa.org.nz

People First New Zealand - Jordan Jacques, Communications Lead: jordan@peoplefirst.org.nz

Carers NZ – Laurie Hilsgen CEO, 021 702922

Parents of Vision Impaired (NZ) Inc - Rebekah Graham, 022 6215740

CCS Disability Action – Lucy Green, 027 4349256

Complex Care Group - Lisa Martin, Director, 027 2667690

Disabled People, Families, Carers and Providers Unite; Parliament Denying Disabled People and Their Families a Fair Say on Laws That Shape Their Lives

Joint Media Statement - Disability Support Services Bill Process

Our new peer visiting service that visits disabled adults living in homes funded by DSS.

There has not been enough support or checks on disabled people in their homes. This has made it easier for abuse to happen.

People for Us is set up to listen to disabled people who might be most at risk.

Our team is made up of disabled people who are trained to visit disabled people.

We spend time getting to know each person, listening to what matters to them, and work alongside disabled people, families, whānau, and services to support positive change and better outcomes.

We will work with the disabled person and others to assist them to feel safe and heard.



PFU2_About_Design.png

If you would like us to visit someone you know, or a family member, you can make a referral:

For more information you can visit our website. 

People for Us has a Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy to support the safety and wellbeing of the people we visit.

People for Us is a peer visiting service that visits disabled adults and tāngata whaikaha Māori who live in homes funded by Disability Support Services to find out if they are:



People for Us

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News and Events

People for Us Launch - Press Release

Joint Media Statement - Disability Support Services Bill Process

People for Us

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