Strong Voices

Empowered lives

A master class in making life easier

June 2, 2023

Sometimes when life is hard, it can be good to spend time with people who make things look easy.

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No one had a bigger heart than Gwen Kirkwood

June 2, 2023

Gwen Kirkwood always gave credit to the people of Matamata – a town with a huge heart for people with intellectual disabilities. But the truth was that no one had a bigger heart than Gwen herself.

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Courtney’s fairway to the future

June 2, 2023

When Courtney Ratana is hitting golf balls on the green anything seems possible.

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Excitement builds as IHC Art Awards judges go to work

June 2, 2023

As entries close for the 2023 IHC Art Awards – the 20th year of the national competition – the attention shifts to this year’s judges who will make their call on the winners.

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Win or not, these footballers will make history

June 2, 2023

The New Zealand football team has left for the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin where, winners or not, it will make history.

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Man trapped in catch-22

June 2, 2023

A man in a supported living service, who wanted to challenge a welfare guardianship application, had his access to funds to pay for it blocked by his welfare guardian.

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Urgent action needed on adult decision-making

June 2, 2023

IHC is urging the Law Commission to protect the rights of vulnerable adults to make their own decisions.

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Families wait for arrival of Rett drug

June 2, 2023

New Zealand families are celebrating the release of the first drug to treat the severe neurological condition Rett syndrome and wondering if they will see it here.

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Member Council Chair understands what drives parents

June 2, 2023

The new Chair of the IHC Member Council, Lynne Renouf, comes with 45 years’ experience as an activist.

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Pedal power will generate cash for IHC

March 2, 2023

Warren Erickson is a beef and sheep farmer from Gore who hasn’t done a lot of bike riding since he left school. That’s about to change.

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