ACC has removed thousands of Kiwis off their long-term injury books. Another 11,000 Kiwis who will be removed by Matariki June 2026 from the ACC scheme, have equally little to celebrate.

ACC has been instructed by its elected Board, via the ACC Minister Scott Simpson, to clear the books, get clients back to work and lessen the “drag” of the costs of long-term claims.

ACC Futures Coalition believes many clients are being exited from the scheme without full rehabilitation or access to consistent best practice specialised medical advice regarding their ability to return to work (RTW).

Law firms and community law advisors have consistently supported those ACC clients who often have complex injuries, difficulty navigating ACC reviews and struggle to fully access affordable options for treatment and rehabilitation.

ACC as a social insurer is seemingly blurring the lines of its social contract with the Kiwi public and levy payers.

ACC’s Boardroom has a large ornate plaque at its entrance stating its purpose of Prevention, Care and Recovery.

But as reported in The Post, ACC’s Chief Executive Megan Main is also deprioritising its efforts away from Injury Prevention and Equity Work, to focus on “other things”.

Labour ACC spokesperson Camilla Belich said this move was disappointing and short-sighted.

ACC Minister Scott Simpson said earlier this year that “one of the best ways to both enhance the health and wellbeing of Kiwis and keep costs down is to prevent injuries from happening in the first place”.

This has also upset groups who have seen funding diminished, such as for Sexual and Family Harm Programmes within ACC’s Te Aorerekura strategy. These passionate community leaders need to work in a well-resourced space that relies on creating strong relationships and deep trust.

Retiring Women’s Refuge CEO, Dr Ang Jury, emphasised that prevention was paramount and began with children and communities. She reflected that embedding empathy and compassion in the school curriculum should be a priority to help reduce the annual multi billion-dollar costs of harm to society.

ACC Futures Coalition, as an advocacy group of lawyers, clinicians, unions, academics, individuals, and sector groups, urges ACC to rethink their cost-cutting strategy and return to fully upholding ACC’s 50-year-old founding Woodhouse Principles, which are: 

1. community responsibility

2. comprehensive entitlement

3. complete rehabilitation

4. real compensation

5. administrative efficiency

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