For almost six years Gary Williams and Eugene Ryder were a part of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State Care. The inquiry investigated the horrific abuse suffered by an estimated 200,000 children in the care of the state. Both Gary and Eugene experienced horrific abuse while in state care.

For their advocacy for survivors - they were part of a group of 12 survivors honoured with the King's Service Order medal at Government House in Wellington. They were honoured with a ceremony led by the Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro.

At the start of 2024, disabled people and their whānau were filled with hope for better futures.

Years of advocacy had paved the way for greater control and choice in their lives. New approaches were being developed and implemented across the country. Decision-makers were finally listening.

But just a few months into 2024, the Government shattered that optimism with a series of changes that halted progress and dashed hopes.

The dark and hidden history of disability care services in Aotearoa came to light during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. Gary Williams, who has cerebral palsy, was a patient at Pukeora Hospital from the age of thirteen, one of four psychopaedic "training hospitals" run by the Mental Health Division of the Department of Health.

Patients at these hospitals were called “mentally subnormal”. With the Government receiving the inquiry’s recommendations and findings - Gary speaks to The Hui about his challenge to the government when it comes to redress and to ensuring the voice of disabled survivors isn’t forgotten.

The Oranga Tamariki Ministerial Advisory Board has been re-established, with the support of five members.

The appointed board members include those of the previous board; Dame Naida Glavish, Shannon Pakura, Alfred (Alf) Filipaina and Ruth Jones, and new member Christopher (Chris) Graveson.

The board will report directly to the Minister for Children Karen Chhour, who said the experts would provide independent advice on the performance of Oranga Tamariki.

Two damning reports by the Human Rights Commission describe the level of harm tangata whaikaha / disabled people face is at ‘epidemic’ proportions. Ruth speaks to Te Ao Māori News

In early June, Gary took the opportunity to attend the 7th International Conference on Social Role Valorisation (SRV) in Canada. Find out more about this set of ideas and how it relates to us here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Our key purpose is to provide a voice for the disabled community of Ōtautahi Christchurch. One major initiative that we’ve taken a leadership role in over the past few years is the transformation of the Disability Support System in Aotearoa New Zealand.

In late 2011, the team at Kanohi ki te Kanohi set up the Earthquake Disability Leadership Group to ensure that our future city would be one that welcomed disabled people, with a focus on planning for accessibility and the inclusion of disabled people in the rebuild.

In 2016 we launched Hei Whakapiki Mauri, a Whānau Ora initiative that brings together Māori with disabilities and their whānau. We could see a need for a Māori-first approach to disability that was centred on whanaungatanga and whānau supporting one another.

Hei Whakapiki Mauri's first Western Christchurch hui in Halswell brought together disabled Māori, whānau and support people to korero about what was important to them.