Tēna koutou katoa

Tū mai rā maunga Hikurangi

E rere atu rā ki te awa o Waiapu

Nei rā a Porou e mihi atu nei

Kanohi ki te Kanohi collaborates with people and organisations that are seeking to create their own change.

Who we are

Ruth Jones (QSM)

Ōtautahi-born and grounded in her community, Ruth is a registered social worker and disabled Māori woman whose leadership spans grassroots practice and strategic governance across social work, disability advocacy, and kaupapa Māori development.

She has held key governance roles including:

Board Member, Social Workers Registration Board (from Jan 2025)
Member, Oranga Tamariki Ministerial Advisory Board (since Dec 2021)
Co-Chair, High-Level Design Group for Redress for Survivors of Abuse in Care (2023 – completed)
Trustee, Te Tauraki – Ngāi Tahu Iwi Māori Partnership Board (2022–June 2025)
Board Member, Te Ao Mārama Aotearoa Trust (TAMA) (from 2024 – current)

Ruth co-founded the Earthquake Disability Leadership Group, now Disability Leadership Canterbury, and leads Hei Whakapiki Mauri, a Whānau Ora initiative uplifting tangata and whānau whaikaha.

Through Kanohi ki te Kanohi, Ruth offers a relational and kaupapa-driven approach to consultancy, working alongside whānau, communities, and organisations to support meaningful change. Her mahi is grounded in equity, integrity, and whanaungatanga, and was recognised with a Queen’s Service Medal for services to disabled people.

Gary Williams (KSO, MNZM, PLY)

Gary continues to be influential in driving change for tangata whaikaha, both in Aotearoa and globally.

Alongside his mahi for tangata whaikaha Māori, Gary works to modernise systems, accessibility, and attitudes towards tangata whaikaha generally. He was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2012 and a Companion of the King's Service Order in 2025 for his work.

Gary has more than 45 years of experience in management and governance roles, including a decade as the Disabled Persons Assembly CEO. Gary is a Trustee of VisAble, Your Way Kia Roha, and Ngā Hau e Whā National Marae.

As a global leader, Gary was influential in the development of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Pacific Disability Forum.

Other examples of Gary’s influence include the NZ Disability Strategy, Enabling Good Lives, the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, and He Puapua.

His mātauranga is in the Kanohi ki te Kanohi Consultancy kete.

Catherine de Bruin - Personal Assistant

As Personal Assistant to Kaiwhakahaere Ruth, Catherine plays a vital role in supporting our Hei Whakapiki Mauri whānau. She manages event planning, rōpū emails, meeting minutes, travel and hui logistics—and of course, coffee and kai duty!

As a mother of three and part of a large family, Catherine values whānau connections. Through Hei Whakapiki Mauri, she’s embraced a kaupapa centered on support, growth, and community. “I love working with Ruth, Gary, and the wider whānau. It’s one big family—why would you have it any other way?” she says.

Born and raised in Ōtautahi, Catherine is passionate about exposing her family to te ao Māori and bridging worlds with adaptability and purpose. Her role has deepened her understanding of the challenges Māori with disabilities face, and she treasures hearing whānau stories and contributing to meaningful work.

Catherine met Ruth through Marralomeda, a Christian community advocating for people with intellectual disabilities. Believing in God’s timing, she saw joining Hei Whakapiki Mauri as an opportunity not to miss.

Outside mahi, Catherine leads her daughter’s Cub group, is active in her church, and enjoys thrifting, journaling, family walks, and the occasional Netflix binge.

Support Work Opportunity - Flexible, Real-life work with immediate start

We’re looking for dependable female support workers to join our personal care team—people who are practical, confident, and ready to contribute. This role is about offering real-world support at home, in the community, and sometimes at work-related events and hui. We’ve advertised before, and we’re advertising again for a good reason: our needs are growing and our kaupapa continues to evolve.

To learn more and apply - click here

WHAT we do

Ā Mātou Ratonga – What We Offer

At Kanohi ki te Kanohi, we provide tailored support and strategic insight to make a real difference every day. Our services include:

Mentoring & Supervision – Culturally grounded guidance for individuals and teams

Management & Service Quality Evaluation – To ensure quality

Strategic Planning & Consultation – Future-focused planning that reflects community aspirations

Governance Expertise – Strengthening leadership through effective, inclusive governance

Ā Mātou Mahi Ngātahi – How We Work With You

Our approach is solutions-focused, innovative, and grounded in lived experience. We work at the intersections of community, disability, and Te Ao Māori—bringing fresh thinking and deep understanding to complex challenges.

We maintain strong relationships with organisations such as Disability Leadership Canterbury (DLC) and Standards and Monitoring Service (SAMS), and contribute to governance across national and regional boards in the disability and social sectors.

Partnering with us means working alongside people who are well-connected, trusted, and active across both community and system levels.

Our mahi is shaped by:

Te Tiriti o Waitangi
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Effective Governance
System Knowledge & Disability Rights

Whānau Ora Kaitūwhana Services

Our Whānau Ora Kaitūwhana (formerly known as Navigators) work kanohi ki te kanohi with whānau in Waitaha who have a Māori family member with a disability.

When Ngāi Tahu tīpuna faced rivers in flood across Te Waipounamu, they created tūwhana – poles crafted to enable safe crossings. The kaitūwhana were those who crafted, positioned, and used these essential tools, working collectively to ensure everyone reached safe ground.
Kaitūwhana work alongside whānau, helping them navigate the flood conditions of contemporary challenges. They provide the tools, support, and collective strength that enable whānau to navigate their own crossing.

How do Kaitūwhana support Whānau?

A Kaitūwhana’s role is to help whānau find pathways to achieve their goals and aspirations. Kaitūwhana services are also about supporting whānau to find their voice and advocate for themselves.

Our Whānau Ora Kaitūwhana can work with your whānau to:

Help you meet immediate needs with practical support
Give you the confidence, knowledge and support to be Māori first
Ensure that you have the up-to-date information you need to navigate disability and support systems
Connect you with other whānau who know what it’s like.

We currently offer Kaitūwhana services in Ōtautahi.

Our Mahi: Updates and News

Updates

Ngā Mōrehu abuse in state care survivors honoured with King's Service Order medal I The Hui 2025

For almost six years Gary Williams and Eugene Ryder were a part of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State Care. The inquiry investigated the horrific abuse suffered by an estimated 200,000 children in the care of the state. Both Gary and Eugene experienced horrific abuse while in state care.

For their advocacy for survivors - they were part of a group of 12 survivors honoured with the King's Service Order medal at Government House in Wellington. They were honoured with a ceremony led by the Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro.

The hidden toll of government cuts on the disability community I The Press 2025

At the start of 2024, disabled people and their whānau were filled with hope for better futures.

Years of advocacy had paved the way for greater control and choice in their lives. New approaches were being developed and implemented across the country. Decision-makers were finally listening.

But just a few months into 2024, the Government shattered that optimism with a series of changes that halted progress and dashed hopes.

Disability Survivor on Hidden Horrors of State Care | The Hui 2024

The dark and hidden history of disability care services in Aotearoa came to light during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. Gary Williams, who has cerebral palsy, was a patient at Pukeora Hospital from the age of thirteen, one of four psychopaedic "training hospitals" run by the Mental Health Division of the Department of Health.

Patients at these hospitals were called “mentally subnormal”. With the Government receiving the inquiry’s recommendations and findings - Gary speaks to The Hui about his challenge to the government when it comes to redress and to ensuring the voice of disabled survivors isn’t forgotten.

Sir Mark Solomon heads Oranga Tamariki Ministerial Advisory Board

The Oranga Tamariki Ministerial Advisory Board has been re-established, with the support of five members.

The appointed board members include those of the previous board; Dame Naida Glavish, Shannon Pakura, Alfred (Alf) Filipaina and Ruth Jones, and new member Christopher (Chris) Graveson.

The board will report directly to the Minister for Children Karen Chhour, who said the experts would provide independent advice on the performance of Oranga Tamariki.

Māori disabled "fall through the gaps"

Two damning reports by the Human Rights Commission describe the level of harm tangata whaikaha / disabled people face is at ‘epidemic’ proportions. Ruth speaks to Te Ao Māori News

Reporting back on the International Conference on Social Role Valorisation

In early June, Gary took the opportunity to attend the 7th International Conference on Social Role Valorisation (SRV) in Canada. Find out more about this set of ideas and how it relates to us here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Disability support system transformation

Our key purpose is to provide a voice for the disabled community of Ōtautahi Christchurch. One major initiative that we’ve taken a leadership role in over the past few years is the transformation of the Disability Support System in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Earthquake Disability Leadership Group: Creating an inclusive and accessible Christchurch

In late 2011, the team at Kanohi ki te Kanohi set up the Earthquake Disability Leadership Group to ensure that our future city would be one that welcomed disabled people, with a focus on planning for accessibility and the inclusion of disabled people in the rebuild.

Hei Whakapiki Mauri: Raising the mauri of disabled Māori and whānau

In 2016 we launched Hei Whakapiki Mauri, a Whānau Ora initiative that brings together Māori with disabilities and their whānau. We could see a need for a Māori-first approach to disability that was centred on whanaungatanga and whānau supporting one another.

Disabled Māori set direction at first Hei Whakapiki Mauri hui

Hei Whakapiki Mauri's first Western Christchurch hui in Halswell brought together disabled Māori, whānau and support people to korero about what was important to them.