Northern Advocate columnist Jonny Wilkinson is the CEO of Tiaho Trust - Disability A Matter of Perception, a Whangārei-based advocacy organisation.
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Accessible Kaipara District? yeah, nah! - Jonny Wilkinson
OPINION: 'Surely, it’s time to think about ethics and equity in servicing our community.'
Opinion: The Government are basically saying disabled people are not up for the job
OPINION: Disability support has been grossly underfunded for decades.
Jonny Wilkinson: Northland’s Paralympic athletes will carry with them the hopes of a region.
OPINION: The Paralympics is now recognised as a major sporting event.
Jonny WIlkinson: Spotlight on Troy Robertson
OPINION: Troy is a person who radiates style and charisma.
Jonny Wilkinson: Freedom of speech doesn’t mean you can insult people
OPINION: Antiquated words disrespectful to the disability community
Jonny Wilkinson: The Budget could have been much worse
OPINION: I know there are people who are very unhappy.
Jonny Wilkinson: The hunt was on for a new scooter
Opinion: Access to things that enable independence can make a huge impact on one's life.
Jonny Wilkinson: Extremist groups have decided vulnerable and disabled people are fair game
Opinion: Disabled people may be susceptible to influence from extremist groups.
Jonny Wilkinson: When you try to fix something which in turn causes another problem
OPINION: Why district health nurses are some of the unsung heroes of our health system.
Jonny Wilkinson: Come on Minister Simmonds - we need a champion of our people, not a champion of the covert hatchet
The funding cut news sent shockwaves throughout the disabled community,
Jonny Wilkinson: Attacking the most vulnerable seems both ineffectual and mean-spirited
If you're on the job seeker’s benefit - look out - the roaring taniwha is after you.
Jonny Wilkinson: Showing commitment is all part of life
OPINION: Relationships and rituals over a long duration take commitment.
Oops, I did it again - Jonny Wilkinson
Opinion: Falling over comes with the territory when you have cerebral palsy.
Opinion: Forget the back-to-work blues and be grateful for the gift of a New Year
OPINION: Minor holiday mishaps can be frustrating but here's why they are blessings.
Opinion: Reflecting on year with challenges and triumphs
Jonny Wilkinson takes a look back on how 2023 played out.
Jonny Wilkinson: The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is to be lived, celebrated, and shared
Everyone is welcome to come along and take part.
Jonny Wilkinson: Infamous examples of mistakes been made more than once
If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you always got.
Opinion: It’s Halloween, what kind of scary political line-up will be delivered?
Be afraid, be very afraid.
Jonny Wilkinson: The long and winding road to the Hokianga
OPINION: The weekend didn't turn out as planned.
Jonny Wilkinson: Candidates leave us with a lot to think about
A special visitor and candidates meeting kept us busy.
Jonny Wilkinson: Art is a great way to express yourself
Give it go- we all have something powerful to say.
Jonny Wilkinson: Where are the parties' disability policies?
OPINION: Let us know if you have any questions for candidates.
Jonny Wilkinson: Basking in the sporting glory of my whānau
Whangārei has a good collection of disabled sporting heroes.
Jonny Wilkinson: Scammers are targeting everybody, including the disabled
Columnist Jonny Wilkinson says scammers are even targeting disabled organisations.
A new sign name for Whaikaha, the Ministry of Disabled People
It is the first time a ministry has received a sign name in New Zealand.
Look at who I am, not what I'm wearing
OPINION: I took a leaf out of my mother’s book and took the positive angle.
Jonny Wilkinson: So, what's in this year’s Budget for disabled people?
The new Budget did cop some criticism from the sector.
Jonny Wilkinson: Where our NZ disability advocacy services fail us
When Jonny Wilkinson explained why to a committee, he was met with some glazed looks.
Jonny Wilkinson: An ode to Alfie, the pooch teaching valuable life lessons
Jonny Wilkinson has learned from his sweet pet that happiness can't exist without sadness.
No fooling Jonny Wilkinson when it comes to disability issues
Disabled advocate Jonny Wilkinson wakes to a brave new world - for today only
Opinion: Disabled people and whānau need to be driving Enabling Good Lives
Let me try to explain EGL.
Jonny Wilkinson: Case of 20yo intellectually disabled woman highlights need for resources
Appeals for help are often met with the blanket response that nothing is available.
Home we went, with good feelings, abounding
Home we went, with good feelings, abounding
Opinion: Expect the unexpected when organising an event
Disability advocate Jonny Wilkinson hopes next week's disabled surfing event can go ahead.
Jonny Wilkinson: Making the transition from holiday to work can be hard
As the holidays started drawing to an end, I found myself thinking positive affirmations.
A Different Light: Time to look back on all we have done this year
The good and bad of 2022.
Jonny Wilkinson: Celebrating International Day of People with Disabilities
The day doesn’t discriminate between intellectual and physical disabilities.
Jonny Wilkinson: Time for Government to put money where mouths are
The dentist is not a visit you relish, but the longer you leave it, the worse it will be.
Jonny Wilkinson: Finally we are making progress
The two-year plan identifies priorities for improving health outcomes and equity.
Comment: Does the Accessibility Bill enable or disable?
Laws aren't to punish sins but to prevent certain outcomes, says Jonny Wilkinson.
It says to New Zealand and the rest of the world that disabled people are not wanted and are a burden
The policy essentially bars disabled people from other countries from moving here.
Jonny Wilkinson: Survey asks how accessible is the Hundertwasser building?
What do you think about the accessibility of the Hundertwasser building or nearby areas?
Who will support our community best?
There are a few changes happening in the job sector at the moment.
Comment: Ableist slurs making a slow exit from pop culture
Jonny Wilkinson sheds light on how the language of pop icons affects disabled communities
Comment: If you're looking to remove barriers, car parks and toilets are low-hanging fruit
Won't it be a great day when we have a Minister of Disability Issues who has a disability.
Comment: I look forward to Old Blighty moving with the times
Throughout his stint in Number 10, Boris Johnson has been involved in countless gaffs.
Comment: Disability needs to be looked from all angles - not just medical
Jonny Wilkinson shares an a-ha moment he had about how we consider disabilities
Getting Out There is for everyone
The sign would give it a bit of quirkiness with a subtle reinforcement of the brand.
Comment: How a graze can remind you of your inner strength
Jonny Wilkinson shares a lesson learned thanks to an unfortunately placed carpet burn
Comment: Reconnecting after two years can be bittersweet
One day another meeting, another reunion, and another celebration will take place
Opinion: Disabled housing at crisis point in northern region
I didn't realise how bad things were until recently, there's real despair out there.
A Different Light: Thoughts from the disability sector
It's good practice to lean into one's vulnerabilities, says Northland disability advocate.
Jonny Wilkinson: I'm transfixed by the speed and the deftness of our Kiwi Paralympians
Have the Paralympics broken the global glass ceiling?
Jonny Wilkinson: Another protest has been going on
We felt that finally we would no longer be the poor relation of health.
Jonny Wilkinson: Northland back to red, but things could be worse, right?
Latest from Northland's disability sector.
Whangārei's Getting Out There Expo postponed due to Covid uncertainty
Covid cancel culture hits Whangārei disability sector event.
Disability issues ministry on way; good news on house upgrade too
The announcement is proof tenacious lobbying, speaking out and activism can pay off.
Halloween - what's your favourite costume?
Let's keep enjoying these festivities best we can, at whatever Covid level we might be in.
Are we at the vaccination tipping point?
We need to see some light at the end of the tunnel, says Jonny Wilkinson.
Facemask-wearing exemption card process falls short
Let's sort this to provide true equity for those who really cannot wear facemasks.
Kiwi disabled women at Tokyo Paralympics bring home gold
Our women of the pool, track and field have done all Kiwis with disabilities proud.
Spare a thought for those with disabilities during Covid
Whangārei's Blomfield School is organising a drive through vaccination event.
Cameron Leslie's Paralympics decision a no-brainer
"Some things are bigger than sports, right? It was the hardest, easiest decision."
Promoting abilities - disability magazine's theme in 2021
Includes a range of different perspectives on disability, from organisational to personal.
Moving - surprisingly in Google's top five stressful events list
I get it if moving means fleeing a war zone, leaving your country, but moving households?
Sentimental times as Jonny farewells 'the Bismarck'
Jonny Wilkinson's scooter has been around, from Opononi to Invercargill, Aussie to Europe.
The rationale is that you may get a hangover, but it's better than a migraine.
Apparently it's rare to get migraines when you are over 50.
Lots of hot and cold morsels of disability news
Disheartening to see the same issues come up time and time again, writes Jonny Wilkinson.
'Disabled lives matter' - a new chant waiting for wings to fly
A protest from the largest minority in New Zealand took place this week.
Covid-19 vaccine strategy in good hands
Overseas research has found people with disabilities more at risk than non-disabled.
Jonny Wilkinson: Be prepared to bite the hand that feeds
Health Ministry's lack of response to the He Ara Oranga Mental Health Actions is worrying.
Time government focused on real issues, not toys and ties
Government leadership vital to pull it together divided Northland health sector.
Hoping 2021 sees the end of Covid, no more falls
Late last year a simple stumble turned Jonny Wilkinson's memory of December into blur.
Boat trip chance to catch up with old mates
A ding to the forehead and sunburnt shins all part of the fun for Jonny Wilkinson.
Call me anything but 'Buddy'
Sometimes the small things can get under your skin - annoying, niggling, irritating.
Sold for a song - our 1970s retro caravan had to go
I had an epiphany while watching the caravan go off down the road, writes Jonny Wilkinson.
What happened to the disability voice in election result?
While disabled people are the largest minority group we still don't have representation.