Reimagining education: An interview with Prudence Walker, Disability Rights Commissioner for Aotearoa New Zealand

Authors

  • Prudence Walker

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54322/9h940g24

Keywords:

disability rights, human rights, justice

Abstract

Prudence Walker is the Kaihautū Tika Hauātanga Disability Rights Commissioner for Aotearoa, New Zealand. With extensive disability rights advocacy experience, Prudence is a highly regarded leader in the disability sector. In this interview with Dr Nicola Leete, Prudence shares their perspective on Aotearoa’s education system. Prudence considers the actions needed to create an inclusive education system that reflects the interests, strengths, aspirations and needs of disabled ākonga and their whānau. 

Author Biography

  • Prudence Walker

    As the Disability Rights Commissioner and rainbow/ health/ housing rights spokesperson for Te Kāhui Tika Tangata | New Zealand Human Rights Commission, Prudence Walker is deeply committed to advancing equity for all people. With over 20 years working in and around human rights, their work is driven by a strong belief in social justice.

    Prudence grew up in Wairarapa, Taranaki, North Otago, and now resides in Ōtautahi | Christchurch.

    Bringing a lived experience as a disabled and queer person, Prudence’s approach is fundamentally intersectional.

    With 25 years of advisory and governance experience, Prudence is a strategic thinker, and their work has always involved a strong people focus.

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Additional Files

Published

23-06-2026

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 1

Section

Reimagining education

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Prudence Walker

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Reimagining education: An interview with Prudence Walker, Disability Rights Commissioner for Aotearoa New Zealand. (2026). Kairaranga, 27(1), 111-116. https://doi.org/10.54322/9h940g24