Thank you for your feedback – next steps

Thank you very much to those of you who took the time to provide us with feedback on several topics in 2025.
We’re grateful for the insights that came from the surveys we conducted, specifically on topics such as the impact of funding changes, accessible housing, and intensive therapies.
We received lots of responses and accounts of people navigating life with Cerebral Palsy – Hōkai Nukurangi in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This year, we are bringing the information you gave us into our advocacy and engagement plans.
We are preparing to engage with the government and the wider disability sector on different topics, such as equitable access to services and intervention options for people with CP.
Making a difference in this space is a slow process, but we are using the survey results to inform how we are going to add our voice to the call for change.

Your feedback has helped us as we:

• Completed the Draft Carers’ Strategy Action Plan survey earlier this month and provided our submission
  Prepare advocacy briefing documents that we want to present to politicians in the lead up to the 2026 general elections.
• The outcomes and feedback we received from these surveys will help guide the Cerebral Palsy Society’s Executive Committee in its Strategic Planning.

These are some of the practical steps the Cerebral Palsy Society is taking based on what members have said in our surveys:

General

• Building the importance of equitable and timely access into our advocacy push when meeting with government and parliamentary officials (this includes the Cerebral Palsy Society Advocacy Strategy and Action Plan).

Intensive therapy

• Expanding our e-card supplier list to include a number of specific service providers as they approach us to be on the programme
• Building up Cerebral Palsy Society’s knowledge of intensive therapy practices within Aotearoa New Zealand, and internationally, so that members can have access to contemporary research, Cerebral Palsy – Hōkai Nukurangi specific knowledge around frequency, and other common questions.

Funding access

• We are continuing to develop connections with ministerial officials such as MSD and Whaikaha, outlining our concerns and commitments as they request feedback
• Working collaboratively with other groups, such as the Carers’ Alliance, to push for government awareness and accountability around the needs of carers and the wider disability community and clarity of future communication.

We will keep you up to date on our advocacy work and how it progresses.

Thank you once again for taking the time to give us feedback – whether it be by responding to our surveys or contacting us via phone or email. We really do appreciate and value your input.

Ngā mihi,

Clare Williams
General Manager