What is EGL?
Enabling Good Lives (EGL) vision
Disabled children and adults and their families will have greater choice and control over their supports and lives, and make more use of natural and universally available supports.
Enabling Good Lives (EGL) is a vision and principles-based approach developed in 2011 by disabled people and families who wanted a system that respected their autonomy and aspirations.
EGL is not a single service. It is a way of designing and delivering support so disabled people can build the lives they want, using both funded and natural supports.
Principles of EGL:
Self-determination
Disabled people are in control of their lives.
Beginning early
Invest early in families and whānau to support them; to be aspirational for their disabled child; to build community and natural supports; and to support disabled children to become independent, rather than waiting for a crisis before support is available.
Person-centred
Disabled people have supports that are tailored to their individual needs and goals, and that take a whole life approach rather than being split across programmes.
Ordinary life outcomes
Disabled people are supported to live an everyday life in everyday places; and are regarded as citizens with opportunities for learning, employment, having a home and family, and social participation – like others at similar stages of life.
Mainstream first
Disabled people are supported to access mainstream services before specialist disability services.
Mana enhancing
The abilities and contributions of disabled people and their families are recognised and respected.
Easy to use
Disabled people have supports that are simple to use and flexible.
Relationship building
Supports build and strengthen relationships between disabled people, their whānau and community.
The EGL Approach
The EGL approach is a foundation and framework to guide positive change for disabled people, families, communities and governance structures. The vision and eight principles are based on respect towards disabled people and their families culminating in trusting disabled people and their families to be decision-makers in their own lives.
The EGL approach encourages developing independent pan-disabled leadership forums who become regional champions of the EGL approach. The EGL National Leadership Group (NEGL), as the kaitiaki of the EGL approach, includes leaders who offer a Māori, Pasefika, disabled peoples and family view.
The EGL approach holds the importance of the:
- EGL principles as a way to guide relationship building in the community and across government
- Recognition and actioning of Te Tiriti in all processes and developments
- Provision of an independent ally being available to assist disabled people and families with choice and control
- Honoring of disabled people and families with control over Personal Budgets
- Trusting disabled people and families to flexibly manage their lives and funds
- Use of the EGL principles as a foundation for all policy, processes, practices and decision-making
- Development of regional and national leadership by disabled people and families that is recognised and resourced
- Investment in disabled people, families and communities to enable positive change
- Inclusion of disabled people as rights-holders in their communities
Brief history of EGL & System Transformation
Between 2013-2018 the Government funded 3 regions to pilot EGL and test the approach. These regions were:
- Christchurch (2013)
- Waikato (2015)
- Mana Whaikaha (2018)
In 2021, the Government committed to a full transformation of the Disability System. The Ministry of Disabled People (Whaikaha) was established and it was announced that a national rollout of the EGL system would begin.
In July 2023, the Government announced a pause on further rollout of the EGL‑based transformation.
- This pause affected:
- the expansion of Mana Whaikaha (Manawatu Region)
- the establishment of new EGL regions
- the broader national transformation programme
- The pause was described as temporary while the Government reviewed:
- cost pressures
- sustainability of flexible funding
- governance and accountability settings
In 2026, we are still in a pause phase of System Transformation.
Features of an EGL‑aligned system
A transformed system based on EGL includes:
- Multiple welcoming entry points into support
- Connectors who walk alongside disabled people and whānau
- Simple, accessible information
- Cross‑government coordination to reduce barriers
- Individualised, portable funding that follows the person (this is what is known as a Personal Budget)
Enabling Good Lives Approach in Auckland
Auckland is not an EGL Pilot area, however, disabled people and their whanau and family can use the EGL approach and principles when working with organisations, schools, their NASC, hosts and other supports.
The Ministry of Disabled People has a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Enabling Good Lives group.