In year 2006, an estimated 660,300 New Zealanders reported a
disability, or 17 per cent of the total population, that had some kind of
long-lasting physical, sensory, mental or other functional impairment that
limited their ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range
considered normal.(Zealand 2007)
Disability increases with age. In 2006, the prevalence of disability
ranged from 10 percent of children (0–14 years) to 45 percent of people aged 65
years and over.
For children with disabilities, conditions or health
problems that existed at birth and disease or illness were the most common
causes. Disease or illness, accidents or injuries and ageing were the most
common causes of disability for adults.
