Strong Voices

Kia ora,

IHC is 75 and there have been celebrations throughout the country looking back on a history of advocacy, coming together, vast support and incredible change for IHC and societal attitudes.

An exhibition looking at our rich history was launched in Wellington in November. You can read more about that here.

The 2024 Te Anga Pāua o Aotearoa National Kapa Haka Festival was an extraordinary celebration held in November, bringing kapa haka roopū from around the country to the centre stage in Wellington. This year’s theme, ‘Noku te ao – 75 years living culture’, celebrated IHC’s 75th anniversary of supporting New Zealanders with intellectual disabilities in the community. You can read more about that here.

2024’s AGM was a celebration event, recognising three new IHC New Zealand Life Members – Anne Gilbert, Kay Pearce and Ralph Jones – and also marking the end of Ralph Jones’s tenure as Chief Executive. It was great to sit down with him to hear his thoughts on a remarkable time of growth and change for the organisation. You can read more about Ralph’s thoughts here. Naturally he talks about the complexity of our organisation – the fact that a determination to make life better for people with intellectual disabilities has led us to expand far further than the charity could have provided through its community programmes. He talks about the need for quality services for people and a programme of constant improvement, but he acknowledges the tension between a philosophical desire for innovative and nuanced services and the current funding constraints. He is also clear that a good home is key to a good life and has developed our property services so that more people with disabilities inside and outside IDEA Services can access modified homes that work for them. Accessible Properties also represents new funding streams that have helped to strengthen the organisation and our ability to support people in the future.

Throughout Ralph’s time, IHC Programmes has continued to be a source of pride. It’s the part of the organisation that is entirely driven by donations from generous New Zealanders. COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis have affected us all, but we say that when times are tough they are toughest for the most vulnerable. Our donors have responded with continuing support, allowing us to continue to deliver community programmes that bring connection, information, joy and essential support.

Whether they relate to disability services, community programmes or housing, the questions seem to be the same – how can we make a difference for the many? Or how can we make a difference each day, one person at a time?

Gina Rogers

Editor, Strong Voices

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