Robyn Hunt

Toi Pōneke Arts Centre is pleased to announce that Wellington writer and disability activist Robyn Hunt is the recipient of its 2022 d/Deaf and/or disabled artist residency.

Robyn Hunt is a writer of non-fiction and in 2016, she co-founded creative writing group Crip the Lit as a way for Deaf and disabled writers to have their unique voices, perspectives and stories included and valued in mainstream writing in New Zealand.

Robyn was a journalist for many years in print, radio and television. She writes about the disability experience in a political, personal and reflective way.

Robyn contributes regularly to a variety of news organisations and publications such as The Spinoff, Heritage magazine, blogs for Arts Access Aotearoa and her own blog LowVisionary, which is focused on digital access. She was a founding member of Inside Out NZ’s first disability television series.

Outside of her writing career, Robyn has an extensive background in disability rights, as a human rights commissioner working on disability issues and on developing the CRPD (disability rights Convention)  She is a member of Creative New Zealand’s Arts Council, .and has worked on EEO in the public service and with Workbridge, as well as volunteering with disabled people's organisations.

In 2019, Arts Access Aotearoa presented the Arts Access Accolade to Robyn Hunt, recognising her long-standing commitment to human rights and advocacy for disabled people, and unstinting support for Arts Access Aotearoa’s work.

These are just some examples of Robyn’s dedicated work, and she is constantly advising, supporting and advocating for disability rights and accessibility in New Zealand and beyond.

“My lifelong experience of living with impairment, and working and mixing in and outside the disability world has provided a particular perspective,” Robyn says. “Inspiration porn or stories of ‘overcoming’ or ‘ain’t it awful’ aren’t my thing.

“My disability commentary and other disability-focused work is for a disabled and a general audience. I write about current disability issues mostly. Along with other disabled people, I want to help create a climate for disability-led writing, discussion and mature exploration of what is important to disabled people to break new cultural ground.”

As an artist resident at Toi Pōneke, Robyn will work on a collection of personal essays with a disability focus. Her writing will take a deep dive into aspects of the disability experience, identity and culture, exploring the consequences of disability history in society and popular culture in a non-academic form.

Robyn Hunt will be in residence at Toi Pōneke Arts Centre in Wellington from 1 November to 9 December 2022.