Generations of Change

Tewai Skipwith-Halatau on specialised and mainstream education, the power of sport, and strengthening Pacific advocacy

Tewai Skipwith-Halatau (Ngāti  Tuhourangi, Te Arawa) works tirelessly alongside Māori and Pacific communities so they can advocate for their individual and collective needs. She is the manager of Vision Pacific Charitable Trust, the founding co-chair of the pacific Disability forum and a Paralympic medalist. Skipwith-Halatau is blind. She talks to Áine about growing up with a mix of specialised and mainstream schooling, working out how to fight the employment biases blind women faced in the 70s, the power of sport, and strengthening disability advocacy throughout the Pacific Islands. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16CK0DVPPq_lpwmtpc_oieM-GHeQtEuPQIvSgvD04bDs/edit?usp=sharing

Robyn Hunt ONZM on coming to terms with disability, employment discrimination and disability representations in the media

Robyn Hunt (ONZM) is a journalist at heart, and she's also been a Human Rights Commissioner, a TV show presenter and a fierce advocate for disability rights in Government and on Twitter. She has low vision. In this conversation spanning half a century, she talks to Áine about trying to fit in and what it means to be disabled, employment discrimination, how the media represents disability and more. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14FCP7UhtpftYh9lEAv1nyfvfTAJS7a087CtKK6dvbK8/edit?usp=sharing

Rachel Noble MNZM on Sign Language stigma, being a Deaf teacher, and disability pride

Rachel Noble (MNZM) has worked in food technology, education, deaf and disability community advocacy and now as General Manager: Disability for Capital & Coast DHB. Noble, who is Deaf, advocates for inclusive education, currently co-chairs the Wellington City Council Accessibility Advisory Panel and spearheads community empowerment initiatives for Deaf people. She talks to Aine about the stigma that used to surround Sign Language, becoming a teacher, operating in the Deaf and hearing worlds and why she's excited about Disability Pride. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yacH9uZ_W-iPKvz1hK8UODi6oPUxk783U9TqQIQvbNQ/edit?usp=sharing

Duane Kale ONZM on coming to terms with disability, flexible workplaces and the power of sport

Duane Kale (ONZM) is a six-time Paralympic medalist, New Zealand Chef de Mission for the Beijing and London Paralympic Games and Vice President of the International Paralympic committee. Kale, who is paraplegic, heads up a large ANZ contact centre. He chats to Áine about coming to terms with disability, opening up sporting opportunities for disabled people to thrive and creating accessible and flexible workplaces. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16pxyFEQNgmIk3U9bI6hXWEgbOlfqXVsiqpg3y1q-vWs/edit?usp=sharing

Pati Umaga QSM on coming to terms with disability, Pasefika inclusion and the power of music

Pati Umaga (QSM) is a musician who cares deeply about enabling participation and inclusion for disabled people and Pacific communities through music. Umaga, who is paraplegic, is a trustee of the Pacific Music Awards and a past president of Disabled Persons Assembly. He chats to Áine about the power of music, coming to terms with disability and what led him to advocate for the full inclusion of Pacific People with disabilities in Aotearoa. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UgvMF93HFgeN_dixfYRv6mzKFuDp-dwSztfbQx48eWs/edit?usp=sharing