The D*List – Growing Disability Culture in Aotearoa New Zealand
Throughout 2021, Te Kāhui Tika Tangata - NZ Human Rights Commission and creative agency, Curative, undertook an in-depth co-design process (Project Mobilise) exploring the attitudes that currently exist towards disability across Aotearoa New Zealand. Hui, talanoa, and workshops were held with over 200 people to gather thoughts, ideas and perspectives to move us beyond the status quo.
From that emerged The D*List, an independent and disability-led social change movement which seeks to reclaim disabled people’s space and narratives through authentic storytelling and community events that build relationships and solidarity.
Established just over twelve months ago, The D*List has an ambitious goal of growing disability culture in Aotearoa New Zealand. We asked one of the founding members and Executive Director of The D*List, Red Nicholson, what the team is most proud of so far and he had this to say:
“Since launching our online magazine in July last year, our all-disabled team are thrilled to have supported over 50 disabled people from across our communities to share their perspectives, stories, and aspirations with audiences across New Zealand. These personal journeys and insights reflect the breadth of disabled people’s experiences, from tales of marginalisation and exclusion, through to expressions of sensuality, laughter and joy.”
D*List kaimahi Red Nicholson and Olivia Shivas gather with community at Terenga Paraoa marae, Whangārei
“Over the past 12 months we’ve also had the privilege of working with a diverse range of disabled writers, photographers and video production crews, while contributing over $60,000 to makers and creatives across our communities.
We partnered with Auckland Pride in February this year to collaborate on Deepen*, a kaupapa led by Pelenakeke Brown and Beth Awatere, centred around intimate explorations of queer disabled experiences in Aotearoa. This partnership included the production of powerful visual poems, intergenerational conversations, and private community dinners.
For Matariki this year, Tania Bissett and Elinor Niha ran a wānanga for whānau hauā in Northland, where 40 disabled people and whānau from across Aotearoa gathered in Whangārei to share connection, reflections and aspirations for the year ahead.”
Meaningful mahi is never without some road bumps and it’s no different for The D*List. When you’re embarking on something new and navigating a path forward, figuring out how to respond to detrimental policies affecting the community, and striving to authentically reflect the full spectrum of diverse and intersectional lives of disabled people, the challenges are dynamic and varied. Red is confident that with the right attitude and approach, these challenges can be met and overcome:
“We’ve led with our values, and hugged our vision tightly, putting community at the heart of everything we do. We’re learning – constantly, always asking how we can better serve our community. We’ve gathered good people, who are driven by the same mission of celebrating disabled storytelling, creativity and community. And we’ve continued to get on and do the mahi, knowing that while we won’t always get everything right, we continue to show up – for the kaupapa, for our te pae tawhiti, and for our community.”
A still from Definition, a visual poem created by Etta Bollinger for Deepen* 2024, a D*List partnership with Auckland Pride. Image credit Julie Zhu, curator Pelenakeke Brown.
The impact of this mahi is already noticeable and the team is energised for what’s to come. There are exciting plans ahead including the ongoing development of a hub where people can gather, and disability culture can be showcased.
“While online spaces are super accessible, we also know that there’s real magic that happens when we connect as community kanohi ki te kanohi. So with that in mind, we have recently leased an old café space in Kingsland and are in the middle of transforming it into a physical hub for disability culture in the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau. Not only will that space host our kaimahi day-to-day, but it will be available to use for community-led activations and events: from film screenings and open-mic nights to photography exhibitions and creative writing workshops.”
“We’re really excited by the potential of in-person gatherings as a way to grow a greater sense of confidence, connection and belonging among our communities. Because our theory of change is clear: we believe that if we invite disabled people and whānau hauā to participate unapologetically in shared experiences, so that we build a greater sense of collective belonging and pride in who we are, then we can interrupt and challenge how everyone thinks about disability, ultimately contributing to improved outcomes for disabled people in Aotearoa,” says Red.
