Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Wellington ‘changemaker’ wins national award

Media release

EMBARGOED until 10.30pm December 3


Wellington ‘changemaker’ wins national award

A fearless fighter for disability rights, Robyn Hunt, has won the Attitude ACC Supreme Award at the 2013 Attitude Awards on December 3 – World Disability Day.

In its sixth year, the national awards celebrate the excellence and achievements of Kiwis living with a disability. This year’s black tie gala evening was held at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre and hosted by TV One News anchor Simon Dallow.

Overcoming strong competition from more than 20 other national finalists, Robyn took out the Making a Difference category award, sponsored by the Ministry of Health. She was then selected from the winners of the seven award categories to win the overall Attitude ACC Supreme Award.

The Wellington woman’s experiences of living with vision impairment, coupled with her strong sense of social justice, has fuelled her passion for human rights and disability advocacy for more than 30 years.

Robyn attended university and entered the workforce at a time when disability support was minimal, but this didn’t stop her proving her critics wrong and becoming a journalist and policy-maker, paving the way for the inclusion of people with disabilities.

During her eight years as Human Rights Commissioner, Robyn played a major role in driving the commission to hold an inquiry into the accessibility of public transport. She also worked on New Zealand’s National Disability strategy and represented the country in New York during the negotiations of the United Nations Disabled Convention.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Robyn now runs a communications company that ensures websites, information and communications are accessible to all. She also writes a blog about human rights and disability issues called Low Visionary and travels around the country speaking about these issues.

Robyn received $2,000 of Air New Zealand travel for winning the Attitude ACC Supreme Award and as winner of the Making a Difference award she earned an Attitude Awards Trust cheque for $1,000. She also received a free night stay with pampering products at Museum Hotel.

Other Attitude Award winners are Loren Corbet (Youth Award), Maia Amai (Courage in Sport), Sophie Pascoe (Sport Performer), Alisha McLennan (Artistic Achievement), CCS Disability Action Canterbury West Coast Branch (Attitude ACC Employer Award) and Vanassa McGoldrick (Spirit of Attitude).

Alexia Pickering, a leading expert on access for people with disabilities, was inducted in the Attitude Hall of Fame.

The awards have grown out of the Attitude TV series, which tells stories about and for people living with disabilities, and screens on TV One on Sunday mornings.

Attitude Awards trustee Dan Buckingham says: “The Awards are about celebrating success. We have so many people in New Zealand doing fantastic things, many of them unsung heroes, but people with disabilities are often left in the shadows and the achievements undervalued.”

“Through the Attitude Awards we shine a bright, proud spotlight on some very deserving people,” says Mr Buckingham.

ACC as principal sponsor sees the benefit in promoting positive role models and hopes that the Awards will help break down barriers and increase opportunities for people with a disability.

ACC Chief Executive Scott Pickering says: “The Attitude Awards are important because they remind us that we all benefit when we look at what we can do, rather than what we can’t”.

“We all have a role to play in ensuring we live in an inclusive society. It’s great to share the experiences of the finalists and I hope that others can learn from and be inspired by them,” says Mr Pickering.

ACC, Lion Foundation, New Zealand on Air, Westpac, Drake Medox, Air New Zealand, Ministry of Health, Wayne Francis Charitable Trust, Invacare and the IHC Foundation sponsored the awards.

Ends.


Full list of winners and locations:

Attitude ACC Supreme Award and Making a Difference Award

Robyn Hunt Wellington


Attitude Hall of Fame Inductee

Alexia Pickering Wellington


Attitude Sports Performer Award
Sophie Pascoe Christchurch


Attitude Courage in Sport Award

Maia Amai Auckland


Attitude ACC Employer Award

CCS Disability Action Christchurch

Canterbury West Coast Branch


Attitude Youth Award

Loren Corbett Hamilton East


Attitude Artistic Achievement Award

Alisha McLennan Auckland


Spirit of Attitude Award

Vanassa McGoldrick Whangarei

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.