In a collaborative effort, Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People and Creative HQ have introduced the Access Activator programme, a new initiative designed to fund and support the development of solutions aimed at improving access and inclusion for disabled people. The programme seeks to foster impactful innovations that enhance the daily lives of Deaf and disabled people, Turi Māori, tāngata whaikaha Māori, and their whānau throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
Program Focus Areas
The Access Activator fund and programme are specifically focused on supporting practical solutions that can be prototyped, piloted, or scaled in the following key areas:
• Transport
• Digital and information
• The built environment
• Emergency management
• Examples of solutions may include improvements to digital experiences, enhanced communication methods, or new ways for people to engage and participate within their communities.
Funding and Support
The programme offers two distinct funding stages to support solutions at different levels of development:
• Idea Stage: Funding of up to $25,000 is available for early-stage concepts. This is intended for ideas that have a clear plan and are ready to be built into a prototype for testing with users.
• Scale Stage: Funding of up to $100,000 is available for solutions that have already been tested and have demonstrated that they work. This funding supports expanding the solution's adoption and impact to reach more people.
• Additional Support: Successful applicants will receive dedicated mentoring and project support from May to June 2026, with a progress showcase scheduled for late June.
Eligible Applicants
The programme welcomes applications from a wide range of individuals and organizations, with a strong focus on lived experience. Eligible applicants include:
• Disabled-led organisations, groups, and collectives
• Community groups and NGOs (non-government organisations)
• Māori organisations and iwi entities
• Social enterprises
• Startups, and small and medium-sized organisations
• Teams or partnerships that combine lived experience with delivery skills and knowledge
• Individuals may apply with a fundholder, which is a legal entity that holds the grant. Private companies can also apply if they are a legal entity and meet contracting requirements.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be assessed based on the following core criteria:
• Disabled Leadership and Evidence of Need: The application must demonstrate meaningful involvement from disabled people, clearly define the problem, and provide credible evidence of its significance.
• Clear, Deliverable Plan: The project must be accurately scoped for time and budget, with a feasible plan to deliver by 30 June 2026. This includes participation in mentoring, delivery support, and showcase requirements.
• Practical Impact and Equity: The proposed solution should be affordable, workable, and create measurable, positive change for disabled communities while advancing equity, including for Turi Māori and tāngata whaikaha Māori.
• Sustainability and Adoption: The application should demonstrate cost-effectiveness, outline future funding pathways, and present a clear route to uptake, integration, and sector alignment.
• Scale-Stage Specifics: Applicants for scale-stage funding must provide evidence that the solution works, demonstrate its measurable impact, outline a credible scaling pathway, and include feedback loops for continuous improvement.
Application Process and Key Dates
To apply, candidates must follow a three-step process:
• Step 1: Visit the Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People's Access Activator page.
• Step 2: Download the relevant application form for either the 'Idea stage' or 'Scale stage'. Alternate formats, including audio, Braille, and large print, are available.
• Step 3: Email the completed application form to outreach@whaikaha.govt.nz.
• Application Deadline: 11:59 pm, Sunday 29 March 2026.
• Post-Application Process: Applications will be reviewed, Applicants can expect to be contacted about the outcome by late April 2026.
• Program Timeline: Shortlisting will occur in early April, with decisions made in late April. Mentoring and delivery support will run from May to June, followed by a showcase and reporting period from late June to July 2026.
The Access Activator initiative represents a focused opportunity to advance accessibility and inclusion across New Zealand. By supporting ideas from the prototype phase through to scaling, the programme aims to cultivate a portfolio of practical and sustainable solutions. Interested parties are encouraged to review the detailed criteria and application guidelines on the official Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People website to prepare their submissions.