Charity linked to advocate banned by Labour breached clients' rights, health watchdog finds
Wednesday, 16 April 2025
The New Zealand Disability Advisory Trust was found to have breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights.
The trust was co-founded by Nick Stoneman, who made headlines last week after a disabled woman claimed he had mistreated her after contacting the trust for its services.
The Health and Disability Commission has since confirmed it had previously received three complaints about NZDAT.
A charity with links to an advocate banned by Labour was found to have breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights twice, Stuff can reveal.
The NZ Disability Advisory Trust (NZDAT) is a registered charity co-founded by former Labour Party Kirk Disability Sector chairperson, Nick Stoneman.
Stoneman made headlines last week when Christchurch woman Chelsea Taylor alleged he had mistreated her after she contacted the trust in January, requesting assistance with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD).
Labour has since severed ties with Stoneman after also receiving reports from Taylor alleging he threatened her.
The Health and Disability Commission has since confirmed it had previously received three complaints about NZDAT.
“Two were investigated and the NZDAT was found to have breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights. HDC is currently assessing a further complaint received about the NZDAT,” a spokesperson said.
“To protect the privacy of individuals involved and ensure a fair process is followed, we will not be commenting further.”
Stoneman declined to comment when Stuff contacted him.
According to the charities register, the trust’s purpose was to, “support those in New Zealand living with ASD, ADHD, Anxiety, Support and advocate for those in New Zealand living on a mainstream benefit issued by [MSD].”
Stuff previously reported that Taylor, who has autism, ADHD, and reactive attachment disorder, had signed a Letter of Engagement with NZDAT which outlined the registered charitable trust’s fees, but because of her intellectual disability, said she didn't fully understand she would be charged.
She had befriended Stoneman on Facebook two years earlier, knowing of him as an advocate for autistic and neurodiverse people.
She said she trusted him to help her navigate Work and Income benefits but she was charged $2616 for his services over 13 days.
Taylor also lived with Stoneman for a short period of time.
Stoneman said all his clients were aware of the trust’s fees and he was still awaiting payment. He denied being Taylor’s disability navigator and said the duties were carried out by other trust staff.
“We have professional standards, and I would immediately object to doing any work for anyone who is living under my roof,” Stoneman said.
Stoneman, who is also on the spectrum, went on to call Taylor a “narcissistic autistic”.
After the story was published, Taylor received a voicemail understood to be from Stoneman telling her she knew “who this is”.
“If you ever, ever come anywhere near me ever again, I will not hold back on you and I will go to town on you. You are a liar,” the voicemail said.
Stoneman said he had no comment on the matter as it would be going before the courts.
Asked whether the voicemail he left Taylor was appropriate, he said: “Absolutely it's justified. As I said, this matter is before the court.”
He said Stuff and Taylor had collectively “destroyed” his business and political career, “all for the sake of a few lousy dollars”.
“All I have done is tried to maintain my dignity, my respect, my privacy, and I've had everything breached. Nobody seems interested in taking Chelsea down and someone will succeed in that,” he said.