A petition has now been formally presented to the New Zealand Parliament to investigate systemic harm and push for real change.
There are about 280,000 people with ADHD in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Update: Petition Submitted
The petition closed for signatures on 30 January 2026 and was formally presented to Parliament on 26 March 2026.
1,832 people added their names in support of a public inquiry into systemic harm affecting people with ADHD in Aotearoa.
The petition is now with the Petitions Committee for consideration.
About the Petition
This petition began with one voice and was supported by people across Aotearoa.
It was submitted within Parliamentary requirements and reflects a snapshot of broader systemic issues affecting people with ADHD.
The goal is to open space for a wider, evidence-based conversation, and to support meaningful, lasting change.
This is an independent, non-partisan effort focused on outcomes across health, education, justice, and employment systems.
What the Petition Asks For
The petition calls on Parliament to:
- Launch a public inquiry into systemic harm affecting people with ADHD
- Run a time-bound, trauma-informed Select Committee inquiry
- Investigate misdiagnosis, stigma, exclusion, and lack of support across systems
- Put ADHD issues on the official Parliamentary record
- Develop a National cross-sector ADHD Strategy and annual funding plan
Petition Details (as submitted)
Title: Launch a Public Inquiry into Systemic Harm to People with ADHD in Aotearoa
Request: That the House of Representatives initiate a Select Committee inquiry into ADHD-related systemic harm, including misdiagnosis, stigma, and limited access to culturally safe, neuro-affirming support in health, education and employment, and establish a National ADHD Strategy and Annual Funding Plan to address lifelong harm.
Reason: ADHD affects about 280,000 New Zealanders who face stigma, misdiagnosis, and limited access to culturally safe, neuro-affirming support in schools, healthcare, workplaces, and communities. Other countries have held inquiries into ADHD policy and investment, but New Zealand does not yet have a coordinated plan. Evidence shows systemic harm, serious health impacts, and inequities for Māori, Pasifika, women and girls. The issues of people with ADHD have been seen as a personal problem.
Why This Matters
ADHD is everywhere, but support is not.
Over 280,000 New Zealanders are estimated to have ADHD.
Many have experienced:
- Late or missed diagnoses
- Punishment instead of support in school
- Workplace barriers and burnout
- Stigma in healthcare and communities
Despite this, Aotearoa currently has:
- No coordinated national approach
- No targeted funding
- No consistent government policy
Other countries, including Australia, the UK, and Canada, have already launched formal ADHD inquiries or national reviews. A public inquiry would bring lived experience, data, and accountability together, turning advice into action with timelines, funding, and oversight.
Systemic harm to people with ADHD is a human rights issue
People with ADHD are legally protected from discrimination under New Zealand law. The government has also committed to international agreements on equitable treatment.
These include:
- NZ Bill of Rights Act
- Human Rights Act 1993
- UN Conventions (CRPD and CRC)
- Te Tiriti o Waitangi
These frameworks promise fair access to education, healthcare, employment, and justice. Right now, those promises are not being consistently met. People with ADHD face systemic barriers including misdiagnosis, stigma, and lack of culturally safe, neuro-affirming support, with disproportionate impacts on Māori, Pasifika, women and girls, and rainbow communities. A public inquiry would examine how these obligations are being upheld, or where they are falling short.
The Cost of Inaction
When systems are designed for one neurotype, they fail others.
That failure has real consequences:
- ADHDers are significantly more likely to attempt suicide
- ADHD is overrepresented in justice systems
- Late diagnosis often leads to long-term harm
- Teachers and families are left without support
These aren’t isolated issues, they are systemic. Every missed diagnosis and unsupported person carries long-term social and economic cost.
What is Systemic Harm?
ADHD isn’t the problem. The system is.
The harm comes from systems that fail to understand, include, and support people with ADHD. This can look like:
- Policies that exclude or punish instead of support
- Fragmented or inaccessible services
- Bias leading to misdiagnosis or no diagnosis
- Lack of coordinated pathways across systems
ADHD is a difference. Systemic harm happens when systems fail to adapt.
What Happens Now
- The petition is under review by the Petitions Committee
- The Committee may request further information or refer the issue for further consideration
- There is no fixed timeline for this stage
Updates will be shared as the process progresses.
In the Media
Julie Legg spoke with Sian Flynn-Coleman about the call for an ADHD inquiry and the broader concerns across health, education, and justice. You can watch their conversation here (hosted on the ADHDifference Podcast):
Ways to Stay Involved
While the petition has now closed, you can still support the work by:
- Sharing awareness of ADHD-related systemic harm
- Telling your story (Your Story Matters page)
- Contacting your MP
- Following @ADHDInquiryNZ for updates
Shared Voices
This petition began with one voice, but it reflects many.
- Frustration with broken systems
- Hope for better understanding and support
- Determination to push for real reform
If an inquiry is launched, it will be conducted by Parliament, with input from people across Aotearoa.
Hope keeps us going, but pressure makes the system move.