Strong Voices

Hope Johnstone is one of only a few people in the world with Down syndrome who is a certified Zumba instructor.

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Cath Jeffares believes everyone deserves good food on their plate. Food that is healthy, affordable and easy to cook. But when Cath read the findings in the 2025 IHC Data to Dignity report, she was deeply troubled.

The IHC Library has announced the winners of its very first bookmark competition held over the Easter school holidays. With over 100 incredible entries, the judges had a tough job selecting just four winners.

Hamish Taverner has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to people with learning disabilities in the King’s Birthday Honours 2026.

In April, IHC National Self Advocacy Advisor David Corner was presented with a New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for his dedication to advocating for the rights and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.

IHC has more than 20 Associations across New Zealand made up of IHC members. While each Association is different, at the heart of all of them is the kaupapa to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and their whānau.

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Sara Hillier-Jones is a long-serving IHC Volunteer. Sara first became involved with IHC in 2011 when she joined the IHC Friendship Programme and, before long, she became involved in the Skills-Based Programme as well. Since then, volunteering has remained a constant and meaningful part of her life.

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Meredith Jones from Blenheim recently earned a Student Volunteer Army Service Award. She tells us what volunteering means to her.

A friend is one of the best things you can be, and the greatest things you can have

Winnie the Pooh

In December 2025, IHC signed a landmark agreement at Parliament that marks a huge step forward for disabled students and their whānau. This would not have been achieved without the remarkable dedication and resilience of IHC’s members, supporters, staff and Board.