In December 1950 a conference on cerebral palsy was held at Ardmore Teachers Training College. At this conference a small group formed the Spastic Fellowship with representatives from throughout the country. In 1964 the Fellowship became an Incorporated Society and in 1973 changed its name to the Spastic Society of NZ. In 1984 it changed its name to the Cerebral Palsy Society of New Zealand.'

In 1992 the Society began the first Conductive Education (CE) programme in New Zealand. In the same period the Society aided the Ministry of Health in moving people with cerebral palsy from institutions into community housing and was contracted to provide ongoing supports.

In 1996 the Society created Focus 2000 Ltd to run this growing business. In October 2009 Focus 2000 Ltd rebranded to their current name of Iris Ltd. The Society also contractsIris to run the Conductive Education programme. Today, Iris is a service provider in the physical disability sector, mainly in Auckland area.

The Society is the sole shareholder of Iris Ltd. Surplus income from Iris allows the Society to provide programmes for members with cerebral palsy.

In 2006 the management of the Society and Iris Ltd were separated. A new management team for the Society was established in Royal Oak. This separation was created so that the Society could concentrate on its main purpose, namely, “to enhance the lives of people with cerebral palsy in NZ”.