9 Dec 2025

Taimahi Trust welcomes the release of the New Zealand Disability Strategy 2026–2030 and supports Waikaha’s intention to create a fairer future for disabled people and their whānau.

A strong, inclusive disability strategy has the potential to drive meaningful and tangible change when grounded in recognition of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), and Enabling Good Lives.

In particular, Taimahi is encouraged by the inclusion of wording that reflects three core focus areas for our organisation – the recognition of self-determination as a core principle, the acknowledgement that young people need support through transition from education and training into work, and the broader definition of what success in work is.

The value of self-determination

We are encouraged to see the inclusion of ‘self-determination’ in the second principle title. At the heart of the Taimahi approach is a commitment to walking alongside young adults with intellectual and learning disabilities, enabling them to grow agency and self-determination. We want trainees on our programme to be met with high expectations because we know that, with the right support, incredible change can happen.

Recognising transition

Taimahi supports young adults as they transition from education into adult life. Young people with intellectual or learning disabilities often miss out on meaningful opportunities to develop both soft and practical work skills throughout their lives, at school and in transitioning into the workforce or community. This is the result of systemic barriers to accessing genuine opportunities to employment and community connection, from misconceptions about their potential, to a system that isn’t designed for applied learning, person-centred supports, tailored to individual needs.

Therefore, we are pleased to see the addition to include transition from education and training into work when defining success: "Disabled young people will have the supports and information they need to transition from education and training into work.

Broadening the definition of success

For our trainees, success in life is about more than just paid work. It’s about developing the skills needed for a more fulfilling future. This means establishing a sense of belonging, meaning and life purpose.

In alignment with this, we welcome the strategy’s acknowledgement that success in work is broad – "Success in work can mean different things, and disabled people contribute in many ways, with volunteering and part or full-time work all being meaningful pathways. Work may not be an option for some disabled people, but they contribute in other ways."

Finally, Taimahi recognises that strategies can’t change lives in isolation. Success is grounded in reality. We are committed to working with Whaikaha, whānau, educational institutions, service providers and employers to help bring the strategy to life in a way that drives meaningful change in the lives of the people that we serve.

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About Taimahi Trust

Taimahi Trust is changing lives for young adults with learning and intellectual disabilities.

Through free on-the-job training, supported by a person-centred coaching programme, we walk alongside individuals with learning and intellectual disabilities to grow life skills for a fulfilling future.

Our model is what makes us unique. With a focus on development – not deficit, our approach builds individual agency and self-determination. Taimahi Trainees benefit from a learning and development curriculum that combines real-life experience with training principles grounded in psychology. It’s a core part of efforts to tackle systemic barriers to employment, self-actualisation, overcoming stigma, and integrating into society.

Taimahi was founded in 2017 as a small coffee cart with two trainees. We’ve come a long way from our roots, but we’re not stopping here. Thanks to support from key community funders, we’re also tackling wider community issues that aren’t just impacting the disability sector, such as food insecurity.

For media enquiries, email: jo@taimahitrust.org.nz
taimahitrust.org.nz/