Anna Steven is a student at Westlake Girls High School in Auckland. The 17 year old is a leg amputee who plays netball, hockey, tennis, football, athletics, skiing and has aspirations to represent New Zealand at the Paralympic Games. Anna is a member of Canteen’s Auckland region leadership group and has completed a bronze Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award. <br/> <br/>“In my time with the Youth Council, I hope to help develop a project that is built from listening to the voices of physically disabled young kiwis. In my opinion, listening to other physically disabled young kiwis helps to identify areas that need to or can be improved either specifically within Halberg as an organisation or general gaps in the support currently available for physically disabled people.   I would then like to come up with solutions to these problems in conjunction with the other members of the council.”

Archie Buissink is a 17 year old student at Auckland Grammar School. He has a congenital abnormality and arthrogryposis on his left side and has played a range of sports from American football to mountain biking and he has even completed a triathlon. Archie currently has multiple leadership roles including being member of the Orakei Youth Board, an Amnesty Auckland Grammar Student Leader and a Model United Nations Club Coordinator. <br/> <br/>“Inclusion in my opinion is not an end but simply a means. I think the ultimate goal is universality and to achieve that step-by-step you have to look at which groups are not included and work to mitigate that and include them. Whether it is being able to play sport, achieve financial security, or getting married you have to think how can we make these universal and work to increase inclusion to achieve that.”

Tristan-Perry (TP) Moananu is a 16 year old male from Wellington. TP has a Vision Impairment and currently attends Wellington College. TP has a range of accolades under his young belt including being the Wellington College U14 Rugby Vice Captain, the Wellington College 3rd IV Vice Captain, leader of the Wellington College Poly Group, and a Youth Leader at his Church.

Jacob Phillips grew up in Hamilton and is currently studying at the University of Otago. The 20 year old has cerebral palsy and represented New Zealand in Para-Athletics at the Rio 2016 Paralympics Games in the Men’s T35 100m and 200m events. Jacob has been a Youth Ambassador for Parafed Waikato, team support member for the Waikato team at the 2016 Halberg Junior Disability Games which he has also competed in previous years. <br/> <br/>“Inclusion to me is everyone being given the same opportunities and respect despite the differences they may have. Inclusion is important especially when considering disabled individuals as quite often people make assumptions about disabled people’s abilities and can exclude them from activities based on the idea that they cannot do the activity.”

Jacquie Ruth is from Christchurch and the 20 year old is studying at the University of Otago. Jacquie has achondroplastic dwarfism and is a keen swimmer who was identified by Paralympics New Zealand and introduced into their development programmes. She has also competed at an international meet in Australia. Jacquie volunteers at her local swim club and has promoted the inclusion of para-swimmers at swimming events in Canterbury.

Kate McKelvie is a 17 year old student at Napier Girls High School in the Hawkes Bay. Kate has spina bifida and is part of the Paralympics New Zealand Para-Swimming development squad, attending swimming camps and events both in New Zealand and Australia. She captains her school canoe polo team, is a school form captain and international student buddy. <br/> <br/>“Inclusion to me means that no matter who you are or how different you are, we are all treated the same way. We all have the same opportunities as each other. It is important because as New Zealand we should want to know people who are different from ourselves because it makes life more interesting.”

Kiran Dixon is a 20 year old student at the University of Otago. Kiran has meterophic displaysia and enjoys archery, swimming, athletics and has competed at the past two Halberg Junior Disability Games. In 2015, he was given the honour of being the Games participants’ representative and read the ‘Athletes Oath’ during the opening ceremony. Kiran’s leadership experience includes being a school prefect, peer mentor and production team leader. <br/> <br/>“Inclusion is so important to improve the lives of people. Just being included in a sporting group can do wonders for someone with a disability, knowing that they are accepted and wanted improves quality of life. As well as this, it helps get people with disabilities be more active and more involved in their communities, making friends and enjoying life.”

Samuel Morgan is an 18 year old male from North Shore, Auckland. Samuel has cerebral palsy and attended Rangitoto College where he was a Prefect, and has been swimming for over 10 years. Outside of sport Samuel is quite academic achieving various academic awards and is heavily involved in singing, winning various national and international honours with choir groups.

Thomas Chin is a student at Riccarton High School in Christchurch. The 16 year old has cerebral palsy and is a skilled boccia player having competed at regional and national levels including winning the ‘Class A’ competition at the Halberg Junior Disability Games in 2016. Thomas is a kapa haka leader and would like to compete at the Paralympics for New Zealand in the future. <br/> <br/>“To me, inclusion means giving everyone equal opportunity to succeed in all aspects of life, As well as the concept of whakawhanaungatanga, establishing relationships, and relating well to others. It is important because, acceptance is a fundamental part of positive society. If we want to progress as a society and as people we must first learn the importance of inclusion.”

Victoria Baldwin is an 18 year old student at Otago Polytechnic. Victoria has cerebral palsy and is a keen track and road cyclist having attended a Paralympics New Zealand Para-Cycling development camp. Victoria finished at Southland Girls’ High School in 2016 where she was the cycling captain and school executive, she has also volunteered at the Riverton Longwood Lifestyle Care Home.