Mr Paul Gibson, of Wellington, QSO for services to disabled people
Paul Gibson, who is vision impaired with the genetic condition Stargardt’s disease, has spent his career pursuing disability rights. As President of the Victoria University Students’ Association, he founded Can Do, a disabled students’ group. He later served as President of the Disabled Persons Assembly, contributing to the landmark 2001 New Zealand Disability Strategy. He was the first dedicated Disability Rights Commissioner in the Human Rights Commission. He has been involved in several reviews and worked with disabled refugee communities on better access to the Needs Assessment and Service Coordination system. He advocated on behalf of New Zealanders at the United Nations, and was Chair of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institution’s Disability Caucus. Mr Gibson is a Commissioner in the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care.