NZ First plans law to make disability accessibility standards legally recognised

New Zealand First has announced a plan to introduce legislation that would make accessibility standards legally recognised, with the aim of easing barriers faced by disabled people. The party announced the policy on Wednesday, ahead of a visit to the Disability Expo 2026 in Manukau.

NZ First leader Winston Peters said the proposed Accessibility Standards Legislation would set up a framework for accessibility standards. It would also be backed by a complaints mechanism, which he said would improve compliance and accountability. Source

Under the proposal, ministers would be able to direct the development of sector-specific accessibility standards. These would cover services, facilities, infrastructure and public-facing organisations.

Before any standard was developed, the legislation would require consultation with disability organisations, service providers, the Disability Rights Commissioner and the Human Rights Commission.

The proposal would create a formal complaints process through the Human Rights Commission for alleged non-compliance with accessibility standards.

Peters said closing the disability employment gap would add more than half a billion dollars to gross domestic product (GDP), the total value of goods and services an economy produces.

NZ First cited the 2023 Household Disability Survey, which found that 17 percent of people in New Zealand households were disabled. That is about 851,000 people, including 98,000 children.