ABSTRACT
New Zealand’s universal no-fault accident compensation scheme (ACC) is unique. Actions for compensation for personal injury are barred from New Zealand’s courts. While almost eliminating litigation over the work/nonwork boundary, this creates a new distinction between disability covered by ACC and congenital or illness-related disability. This disparity is regarded as discriminatory. Also, the NZ system does not fully compensate for permanent partial disability, leading to occupational and economic disadvantage. The evidence shows that ACC works well but could be improved if it aimed for complete rehabilitation and covered all forms of incapacity for work, including sickness.
