Written Submission to the Petitions Committee
This submission was provided to the Petitions Committee in support of the petition calling for a public inquiry into systemic harm experienced by people with ADHD in Aotearoa New Zealand.
It draws on findings from 36 Official Information Act (OIA) requests submitted across government agencies, alongside publicly available research and system analysis.
Purpose of the submission
The purpose of the submission is to examine how ADHD is currently recognised, governed, and monitored across public systems, including health, education, employment, disability, and justice.
It does not assess individual agencies. Instead, it looks at how the system operates as a whole, and where coordination, visibility, and accountability may be limited.
Key finding
The findings point to a consistent pattern across agencies: ADHD is recognised across systems, but no clear cross-government stewardship, monitoring framework, or coordinated strategy was identified.
Evidence and OIA requests
To support this submission, 36 Official Information Act (OIA) requests were submitted to a range of government agencies across health, education, justice, employment, and disability systems.
These requests explored areas such as:
- how ADHD is recognised and defined
- whether outcomes are monitored
- availability of services and supports
- workforce capability and training
- system-level coordination and oversight
Responses were received from agencies across multiple sectors. A structured summary of these requests and responses is included in Appendix C of the submission.
Read the full submission
Written Submission – ADHD Public Inquiry Petition (PDF)
Appendix B Cross-Agency Pattern Tables (PDF)
Appendix F1 – Letter from Hon Matt Doocey – Minister for Mental Health (PDF)
Appendix F2 – Letter from Whaīkaha – Ministry of Disabled People (PDF)