2013 New Zealand Disability Survey
The 2013 New Zealand Disability Survey will collect information on people living with
and without impairments in New Zealand.
This information provides a picture of how many disabled people live in New Zealand,
the nature and cause of their impairments, the level of support they need, and how
they are faring compared with non-disabled people.
The survey also collects information about:
 help or assistance needed
 access to services
 employment and education
 housing conditions
 special equipment used.
Disability Survey data is collected through:
 a household survey of disabled and non-disabled children
and adults
 a survey of adults living in residential facilities, such as
rest homes.
The Disability Survey has been run after every census since 1996. The next survey
will run from July to October 2013.
Why this information is important
The information you provide helps government to evaluate and develop policies and
legislation on issues that affect disabled people in New Zealand. These issues
include human rights, social attitudes, education and employment, recreation and
lifestyle, public services, and support systems.
Service providers use information from the survey to monitor the effectiveness of
existing services for disabled people, and to help develop new services.
Information on the relative situation of disabled and non-disabled people is used by
disabled people’s organisations, community groups, universities, and other
organisations for research, planning, and advocacy.
Visit www.stats.govt.nz/disability for more information from previous surveys.
Some findings from the last Disability Survey
In 2006:
 An estimated 17 percent of New Zealanders (660,300 people) were identified as
disabled.
 The proportion of disabled people increased with age, from 10 percent for
children under 15 years, to 45 percent for adults aged 65 years and over.
 46 percent of disabled children had special education needs, and 39 percent had
chronic conditions or health problems.
 12 percent of adults aged 15 years and over had a physical impairment, and 8
percent had hearing or vision impairments.
 There were 96,600 disabled Mäori and 24,800 disabled Pacific people.
 Less than half (45 percent) of disabled adults were in the labour force, compared
with 77 percent of non-disabled adults.
 35 percent of disabled people had no formal qualifications, compared with 19
percent of people who were not disabled.
In 2013, the survey will have an increased focus on social outcomes and participation
barriers for disabled people.
New questions are included on participation in leisure activities, contact with family
and friends, and crime and safety issues.
What’s required
If you are selected for the survey, you are obliged to take part under the Statistics Act
1975. All information provided to Statistics New Zealand is kept confidential under the
requirements of the Act. Data from all respondents is combined and is only released
in a way that does not allow individual people and household responses to be
identified.
See www.stats.govt.nz/confidentiality for more information.
Thank you for your contribution
By taking part in this survey you are helping all New Zealanders, as they benefit from
better-informed government policy, and a better understanding of our country and our
people.
We appreciate your time and commitment to this survey.
Information Centre
PO Box 2922, Wellington 6140
Free phone 0800 333 106
Email disability@stats.govt.nz
Free phone 0508 525 525 (general) Fax: 09 920 9395
Email: info@stats.govt.nz