Mr Matthews said NorthAble developed NNS through eight years of investment and innovation.
"They decided on Auckland because that's where the biggest problems are in regard to accessing services and if it works there it will work anywhere," he said.
NorthAble identified that it could not provide all the services its clients needed from its existing programmes so used some discretionary funding from the Government to set up NNS.
"If our services don't match up to their needs, then we contract a navigator - who generally have their own consultancy businesses - to work with them. It could be something like speech therapy or special education and they work with them for up to four hours a week, often after hours or at weekends when the family is more likely to be together. It can be for a few weeks or a few months, however long they need them," Mr Matthews said.
"It reduces stress for the family and the client and gives them the services they need much quicker and more effectively than they would have previously. The model, designed in Northland, has proven highly effective and has been deemed to be transferable across regions and sectors."
NNS successes have included assisting clients and their families achieve outcomes and increase their capacity, resilience and quality of life.
The programme had also fostered community understanding and reduced reliance on Ministry of Health Disability Support Services funding, by identifying natural community networks.
