Justice Working Group members

Community Rep and Chair: Paul Gibson QSO

Paul has lived experience of disability, is the partner of a disabled person, and parent of two adult daughters, one of whom is disabled.

Paul has been a strong and skilled advocate for disabled people and their rights. He was the Disability Rights Commissioner at Human Rights Commission for more than five years and was a Commissioner for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith Based Institutions. Paul has policy analysis skills and a history of involvement in the disability community, including being on the first New Zealand Disability Strategy reference group.

Paul is the Chief Executive of VisAble a disabled person-led organisation working to strengthen national capabilities across agencies and sectors to prevent and respond to the violence, abuse and neglect affecting disabled people and their whānau.

Community Rep: Tarewa Cowan (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou and Tahitian/Cook Island descent)

Tarewa has worked in the disability sector for almost five years. Based in Auckland, Tarewa grew up around her kaumatua and kuia who were kāpō (blind) and had other disabilities, and her partner is kāpo.

Tarewa’s work as the co-ordinator/leader of a youth/rangatahi tāngata whaikaha group, as the board secretary of Te Kahui Tumuaki (Kāpō Māori Aotearoa), and in her day-to-day working with rangatahi, pakeke, takatapuhi, and kaumatua in the community, enable her to give voice to the experience of tāngata whaikaha Māori.

Sector Rep: Dr Huhana Hickey (Ngāti Tāhinga, Waikato and Whakatōhea Ngāti Ira) MNZM

Huhana is an academic, disability rights lawyer and disability advocate. She has multiple sclerosis and was the first openly disabled Housing New Zealand board member and is an unflinching advocate for whānau hauā and all disabled people. Huhana is a member of the New Zealand Human Rights Review Tribunal and became a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2015 for services to people with disabilities.

Community Rep: Ruth Jones (Ngati Porou, Rongowhakāta) QSM

Ruth has been part of the disability sector for more than 30 years. She is a registered social worker with lived experience of disability.

Ruth has held a variety of national governance positions, including chair of the Workbridge Board, member of the Disability Coalition Against Violence, and co-chair of the design group for the redress for Survivors of Abuse in State and Faith-based Care. She is currently a member of the Ministerial Advisory Board for Oranga Tamariki; TAMA the Iwi Māori Partnership Board for the Ngāi Tahu takiwā, Te Tauraki; and is Chair of Disability Leadership Canterbury.

Sector Rep: Professor Ian Lambie ONZM

Ian has more than 30 years’ experience as a psychologist for children and adolescents. As both a clinical psychologist and academic, he has worked with government departments including the New Zealand Fire Service, Police, Department of Corrections and Oranga Tamariki, as well as community groups.

Ian is Chief Science Advisor for the justice sector, which spans the Ministry of Justice, Police and Department of Corrections, and advises government on ways to improve the justice system.

The group will also include representatives from the Ministry of Justice and Police New Zealand.