Huhana Hickey

The abstract provides an overview of an interview between Huhana Hickey and Kathryn Ryan recorded in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. Hickey, holding a PhD in law and a BA, master's in law with distinction, and a PD, describes a challenging journey filled with personal and professional hurdles and how these experiences have been foundational in shaping their advocacy in indigenous disabled human rights and social justice.

With a progressive neuromuscular condition that resulted in a 16-year reliance on a wheelchair, Hickey also faced other difficulties, including discovering their Māori heritage only as an adult after being adopted by a family that was unaware of their ethnicity. This revelation happened when meeting their birth parents at the age of 24, a pivotal event that led to recognition of institutional falsification of adoption records, a common practice in the early 1960s in New Zealand intended to simplify the adoption process for white babies by denying their Māori identity.

Hickey mentions the ongoing class action through the Waitangi Tribunal, seeking to redress the denial of rights under the treaty due to these falsified adoptions. They highlight the connection to their heritage and the disheartening comments on their original adoption papers, which unfairly labeled them and set low expectations for their future. Despite such challenges, Hickey persevered and achieved notable academic success and became a prominent lawyer and human rights advocate.

The interview also delves into the social prejudices and healthcare inequities faced by Māori people with disabilities based on Hickey's PhD research, which involved conversations with 44 Māori individuals living with disabilities. These discussions revealed profound social and healthcare disparities for Māori people with disabilities, including late medical diagnosis, unmet health needs, and a general lack of advocacy for their rights leading to disenfranchisement and heightened poverty.

Hickey’s commitment to social justice extends to their active involvement in various advocacy roles including housing issues and welfare reform's impact on disabled individuals. They shed light on the flawed assistance systems for disabled people, the lack of representation in policy-making, and the inadequate implementations of ratified conventions meant to safeguard disabled rights. They express a desire to continue raising awareness and advocating for the disabled community at both local and national levels.

This summary reflects the principal themes discussed by Hickey in the interview such as adoption and identity, disability advocacy, and social justice - all aligning with their consultancy on indigenous disabled human rights. Their work demonstrates unwavering dedication to highlight the voices of the marginalized and establish fairer, more inclusive policies.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Huhana Hickey

2010s, activism, aotearoa new zealand, auckland, disability, disability rights, external resource, huhana hickey, kathryn ryan, māori, radio new zealand, radio new zealand national, social justice, taranaki

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