SNN_April 2024 Issue_v5

April 2024 

Volume 27 / Issue 1 

Te Tarahiti Manaaki Tuanui 

SNNSpinal Network News 

“I FELT LIKE CRYING I WAS SO 

HAPPY”—JAMIE ASTWOOD 

REVIEWS THE FOO FIGHTERS 

THE LAUNCH OF CHARLY 

THE CAMPERVAN 

SALLY BARKMAN ON 

TICKING OFF GOALS 

FROM HER CHAIR 

“An Incredible 

Adventure” 

George Thompson and 

Andrew Leslie—two 

tetraplegics walk the 

Abel Tasman track

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 2 

Contents 

3 

Editorial 

Don’t take life for granted 

23 

Hamish Ramsden's Column 

How to grow a lemon tree 

5 

Supporting Positive Futures 

Hans Wouters—CEO NZ Spinal Trust 

24 

Cover story—A Remarkable Achievement 

Two tetraplegics take on the Abel Tasman track 

8 

A Moment in Time 

The launch of Charly the Campervan 

27 

Maz Quinn 

Back where he belongs after life-altering accident 

10 

What Mark Did 

Arapuke Awesome fundraiser in Palmy 

30 

Accessible Road Trip 

Waikato to the Bay of Plenty—part two 

13 

Planning for the Future 

What happens with ACC and NZ Super? 

33 

Spinal Cure Research 

The current status of spinal cure research 

16 

Sally Barkman 

Taking on life with a disability 

35 

Funders and Sponsors 

20 

“Times Like These” 

Jamie Astwood reviews the Foo Fighters gig 

EDITORIAL TEAM 

Peter Thornton (Editor) 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Peter Thornton 

Dr Bernadette Cassidy 

Hamish Ramsden 

Su Marshall 

Hans Wouters 

Jamie Astwood 

Christine Gold / 

Mario McMillian 

Dr Simon O’Carroll 

Bernadette Cassidy 

THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING 

FOR IMAGES IN THIS MAGAZINE 

Hans Wouters 

Su Marshall 

Simon Watts, BW Media 

Jeremy Brick, ACC 

Maz Quinn 

Bradley SG Creative 

Cory, NZ Surf Magazine 

Shane Wenzlick, Phototek 

Jamie Astwood 

Sally Barkman 

Jack Mapobpan, 

Maverick Studio 

Patron of the New Zealand 

Spinal Trust Trevor Harrison. 

SPINAL NETWORK NEWS is 

published by the NZ Spinal Trust 

Send your contributions to: 

The Editor SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 

c/- New Zealand Spinal Trust, Private 

Bag 4708, Christchurch 8140 

Tel: (03) 383 9484 

Email: 

peter.thornton@nzspinaltrust.org.nz 

Web: 

www.nzspinaltrust.org.nz 

Copy Proofing: Bernadette Cassidy 

and Su Marshall. 

Cover Photo: Great mates—Andrew 

Leslie and George Thompson 

say laughter got them through 

completing the Great Walk. Credit 

Jeremy Brick, ACC. 

Disclaimer: The views expressed 

in SPINAL NETWORK NEWS are 

those of its contributors. They do not 

necessarily represent the opinion 

of the members of the Editorial 

Committee or the policies of the New 

Zealand Spinal Trust.

SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 3 

Don’t Take Life 

for Granted 

Peter Thornton 

Editorial 

In every corner of this 

place, you can hear it— 

the sound of happiness. 

—Peter Thornton 

They also say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. 

For the past two years we have missed camping here at 

Hahei Beach. We had a family crisis two summers ago and 

last year we refused to accept the reality that a cyclone 

was going to ruin our summer vacation. It did. 

The feeling of driving through the flooded 

campground—only a day and a half after we arrived and 

set up camp in the howling wind—was a sobering 

moment. As we left for home, with our kids forlorn, our 

gear soaked, and holiday in tatters, it was quiet in the car. 

No one had anything to say. 

But we are back. And I cannot tell you how good it is to be 

here. It’s not often that the holiday lives up to the picture 

on the postcard, but this time around our holiday was as 

advertised, perhaps even better. This place is paradise. 

HAPPY TIMES —My family at our favourite place, Hahei Beach. 

They say a picture is worth a thousand words 

and well that feels about right here. As we 

drive through the gates of the Hahei Beach 

Resort with our caravan in tow, we pull up to 

the empty campsite. 

I say to my kids. “Remember that picture guys. The 

picture of our site empty as we pack up and leave for 

another year… it will be over before you know it, so make 

the most of every day here.” 

That image is a fitting metaphor for life in a moment. All 

of the things we look forward to, plan for, dream about, 

and hang our hopes on for a better day, well they come, 

and they go. 

All that is left is the shape of our caravan and awning where 

it has killed the grass, and the special memories we carry 

with us for another year. And what a special time we had. 

I can’t describe the luminescent, turquoise of the ocean in 

a way that does it justice. The rumbling of the waves 

pounding on the beach, the joy on the kids’ faces as they 

boogie-boarded for the first time, the walk down the road 

for our daily real fruit ice cream, the first sip of an icy-cold 

pint of Hazy IPA at the campground bar, the million stars 

that completely covered the breadth of the sky at night… I 

could go on. 

There are a thousand reasons why I love this place and I 

am so happy I could cry. 

Perhaps best of all, ahead of all those thing, I walk 

through the dark maze of the campground with a 

bucket-load of dishes, and I stop for a moment. Just to 

listen. It’s magic. In every corner of this place, you can 

hear it—the sound of happiness. 

I have missed hearing that. I realise that I am not alone. 

Older folk laughing and bantering over a game of 500, 

teenagers who still have plenty to learn, trying to one-up 

each other in a haphazard drinking game, young couples 

sharing a quiet glass of wine in the golden silence of their 

kids sound asleep, and finally the waves alongside our 

campsite that just makes us feel like we are home. 

The two weeks of sun and good times we had over our 

holiday was a much-needed tonic for our mental health.


How often do we stop 

and realise just how 

good we have it? 

—Peter Thornton 

More than that, it is has given me another great reminder 

of the need to be present. 

And the break has given us a chance to recharge, reflect 

and reconnect. It has given us the space to experience all 

of those good things again. 

My kids have had the best holiday ever and I am proud to 

have given them that experience. I think about my 

parents and the many magical holidays they gave me. 

My siblings and I, we just took it all for granted. 

That is human nature—we find it so easy to take things 

for granted. 

But how often do we stop and realise just how good we 

have it? How often do we get away from all of the busyness 

and stress of life and connect with each other and just 

listen to the world around us? 

Not often enough. 

Before our holiday my wife bought me a book from a 

second-hand bookshop. It was called Stronger—Fighting 

Back After the Boston Marathon Bombing and for the 

duration of our holiday I couldn’t put it down. I love books 

like this—an uncensored account of events and the words 

stayed with me long after I turned the final page. 

PARADISE—After two summers of rough weather, 

the sun and good times were a welcomed sight. 

The autobiography—written by Jeff Bauman—takes you 

back to that horrific day in 2013 when terrorists detonated 

a bomb at the finish line which killed three people and 

seriously injured many more. 

Jeff was one of them, losing both of his legs in the blast 

and was lucky to survive. His story is a compelling and 

honest read that describes in detail the pain and 

heartbreak of the event, and his gruelling rehabilitation 

to try to walk and have a ‘normal’ life again. 

There were many moments when I was close to tears as 

you feel like you are right there in the hospital ward with 

him coming to terms with his new reality or struggling to 

take his first steps in the gym. 

Jeff never gives up. He never complains and he never 

takes what he has for granted. 

It took a life-changing event for him to get to that place, 

but with every fibre in his being he wants to live a full and 

exciting life. And the cast of hundreds in his support crew 

help him achieve that dream. 

Reading his book made me think of all the people in our 

spinal-impaired community. Whatever stage people are 

at, the courage and determination to make the most of 

their life and not take it for granted is a common and 

unifying bond. It may take some time to get to that place, 

but they will get there. 

The day we have been dreading has arrived. 

We are pulling out of the campsite and the shape of our 

caravan and awning is the final memory of an 

extraordinary time. It will go and the next people will 

come and write their chapter. 

INSPIRING—Jeff Bauman’s book: “There were many moments when I was 

close to tears as you feel like you are right there in the hospital ward with him.” 

It’s a fitting reminder and an image that stays long in the 

mind. We will be back, but life doesn’t just happen on 

holiday. Don’t take it for granted. Before you know it, 

these magical days will be gone for good.


Supporting 

Positive Futures 

Hans Wouters 

CEO’s Column 

POSITIVE—The team at the NZ Spinal Trust is determined to find the funding to support the next chapter of Peer and Whānau Support. 

Are you kidding me? 

I am sitting in a car in central Napier desperately trying to 

get good internet so I can clearly hear the news ACC 

Portfolio Manager and an ACC executive are delivering. I kill 

the video and go on audio only, however the zoom call is 

stopping, starting, buffering and doing everything but give 

me a calm place to receive the shocking news that: “ACC will 

not be funding Peer and Whānau Support beyond the pilot”. 

Come 31st October 2024, ACC will have funded over a 

three-year period, the most significant development in 

Peer Support for New Zealanders with a spinal cord 

impairment for decades. 

There have been many benefits to come from this period 

including the bringing together of NZ Spinal Trust and 

Spinal Support NZ to develop a nationwide network and a 

strengthening of our in-service Peer Support. 

That is just the benefit to our two organisations however 

when we consider the changed lives, (remember Terry 

from Palmerston North in our December issue—see photo of 

Terry and Henry on the next page), and the many, many 

others who at times of great need in their lives have found 

a strong ally, confidante, empathy from within our team 

of dedicated Peer Support coordinators, we are reminded 

how important this work is. 

—Hans Wouters, CEO NZ Spinal Trust 

We will carry on, 

of that there is no doubt. 

We will carry on, of that there is no doubt. How we do it is 

at the forefront of our minds right now and despite the 

large funding hole ACC leaves, we have discovered that 

developing our nationwide network of staff and 

contractors has created some exciting potential 

opportunities beyond the ACC funding. 

The rain started falling as I sat alone in the car in Napier 

soaking in the ACC news. My disappointment was fleeting 

as I could not help but feel incredibly grateful to ACC and 

the many staff there who have joined us to develop Peer 

Support across the entire country. 

You see it is not just the three years of funding that has 

brought us to this point, it is hundreds if not thousands of 

hours of work, from too many people to mention 

beginning with the incredible Chris Howard-Brown, the 

mastermind behind the Spinal Cord Impairment Action 

Plan 2014–2019.


MATES—Terry Fage (right) got huge support from his good mate Henry Matthews in the Peer and Whānau Support programme. It changed his life. 

Objective 6 of the action plan was very simple and clear. 

"Develop a nationally consistent framework for providing 

sustainable peer support services." We have done this, 

and ACC have played a large hand in it. 

Currently Andrew Hall in Christchurch and Brendan 

Tourelle in Auckland are holding the baton superbly and 

Peer Support continues to be effectively delivered across 

the entire nation. So we have a head start with our service 

and we intend to capitalise on that and take no backward 

steps. Our amazing team is as motivated and confident as 

ever and I look forward to updating you in the next 

edition on how we are cementing in "sustainable peer 

support services" from objective 6. 

One of the wonderful aspects of the role of CEO is being 

on the receiving end of incredible generosity and being 

the lucky person that gets to say "thank you"—that's what 

had brought me to Napier. 

—Hans Wouters, CEO NZ Spinal Trust 

The rain started falling as I 

sat alone in the car in Napier 

soaking in the ACC news. 

In 2018, Sam Kirk had a terribly serious motor vehicle 

crash and he and his family very unexpectedly turned up 

to the Burwood Spinal Unit. Three months later Sam was 

discharged, and he and the family were so grateful for our 

support during this difficult time for young Sam that in 

2020 his Dad decided to raise some money for us. 

My oh my, Wayne raised over $23,500 on his mountain 

bike as he rode 3,000km in 27 days; the entire length of 

NZ on a mountain bike—through rain, sunshine, shingle, 

wind, a dislocated shoulder and Covid lockdown… what 

an incredible effort and what an incredible result. 

With Wayne and Sam working hard in Napier it became a 

protracted exercise to shake their hands and say thank 

you but we found a way. Sam is back on track, looking and 

sounding fantastic and he and his Dad have big plans for 

their family business. It was a complete joy to see them 

both, sense their gratitude and shake their hands—it is 

never too late to say thank you. 

THANKS—Hans presenting the “Fundraiser Fun Supreme Award” 

to Wayne and Sam Kirk. 

As this first edition for 2024 drops we want to thank you 

for your support, encouragement and donations last year 

and look forward to keeping you informed on how the 

NZ Spinal Trust services that you support and perhaps 

receive are doing in the year ahead. We have a 

tremendous challenge ahead of us to secure ongoing 

funding for the nationwide Peer Support service that 

we have worked so hard to establish and we have a 

solid plan to catch the shifting breeze towards 

true sustainability.


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The Launch of Charly 

the Campervan 

A momentous occasion for New Zealand’s disabled community. 

BIG MOMENT—The cutting of the ribbon to launch Charly the Campervan. Credit: Jack Mapobpan, Maverick Studio. 

Charly the Campervan is here and ready for 

your use. We were at the launch of New 

Zealand’s first accessible caravan in Auckland 

in January this year to celebrate the occasion. 

It was a huge moment for the disabled community 

involving a huge amount of work to make it possible. 

Designed and built by ACM motorhomes with the 

assistance of wheelies, Charly makes the accessible 

adventure all about the fun and not the logistics. 

Charly—which means “free man” or “valiant”—will give 

disabled New Zealanders a holiday option they never 

had before. 

For CatWalk Founder Catriona Williams, who led the 

creation of Charly, it was a hugely proud and significant 

moment. “It is a $450,000 vehicle, and it is pretty schmick 

—I make no apologies for that,” she says proudly. 

“Because I think we're all short on holidays. When we do 

take one, we want it to be special.” 

Charly’s design and manufacture was funded by four very 

generous $100k donations. These donors were Sitipek, 

Hugo Charitable Trust, Greenstone Partner and an 

anonymous party. They are known to Charly as the 

Awesome Foursome. 

“We want Charly to be as accessible as possible,” says 

Catriona. “I really hope people treat it as their own and 

look after it so that the next person gets to enjoy it as well. 

“We want as many people as possible to enjoy Charly. 

And the reality is if they do, and it gets used, maybe we'll 

fund another one. The target to reach is 180 nights for 

the first year. And if it reaches more than that, that will 

be fantastic.”


BIG NIGHT—TVNZ’s Toni Street hosted the event that saw 

many from our community come out to mark the occasion. 

Credit: Jack Mapobpan, Maverick Studio. 

FULLY ACCESSIBLE—Sally Barkman checking out the state of 

the art design. Credit: Jack Mapobpan, Maverick Studio. 

INSIDE CHARLY—The first accessible campervan is world class. Credit: Jack Mapobpan, Maverick Studio. 

More ways to enjoy Charly 

Win One of Four Weeks 

Buy a Charly Voucher 

MANY HANDS—It took a lot of people coming together to create Charly. 

Credit: Jack Mapobpan, Maverick Studio. 

For more information on hiring Charly the Campervan visit: 

www.milnermobility.co.nz/charly-campervan-rental


What Mark Did— 

Arapuke Awesome 

A bunch of likely lads were back at it, supporting the Trust in 

Palmerston North. 

HUGE EFFORT—These lads put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into their fundraiser. 

In 2022 an awesome group of blokes—Mark, 

Brenton, Chris, Dave, Andy, and Jayden— 

decided to support the New Zealand Spinal 

Trust by riding the tracks of the Arapuke 

Mountain Bike Park for a 24-hour marathon. 

The ride included three teams of two, riding for an hour at 

a time, on rotation. They started at 10am on Saturday and 

went through until 10am Sunday. 

You have to be a special kind of ‘passionate’ to ride around 

a mountain bike track through the night—and in pouring 

rain no less. But to do it again? Bonkers! And yet this 

group took on the Arapuke Awesome 24-Hour Bike 

Marathon again over Labour Weekend in 2023. 

Their madness was rewarded this time around with 

the sun making a huge difference compared to the 

constant heavy rain that hit them for the entirety of the 

inaugural ride. 

“I do think there was a bit of sympathy for us because we 

were riding not just for 24 hours, but for 24 hours in 

torrential rain,” laughs Mark Glentworth, one of the 

—Su Marshall, NZST fundraising manager 

They may be crazy, but 

we love their enthusiasm 

and determination. 

organisers of the fundraiser. “Those dark hours, they 

dragged, but everyone enjoyed it and saw the purpose of it.” 

In 2023, they achieved their goal of raising more than 

$10,000 for the NZ Spinal Trust. 

“They may be crazy, but we love their enthusiasm and 

determination,” says Su Marshall, the NZST fundraising 

manager. “They even let Hans join them again. We can’t 

thank them enough for this support.” 

Mark says they always wanted to give back to the NZ 

Spinal Trust after the incredible support they received 

when Jayden was a patient at the Burwood Spinal Unit 

five years ago.


FULL CIRCLE—After being a patient of the Burwood Spinal Unit when he was 15, Jayden Glentworth is now supporting the NZST in this annual fundraiser. 

“As a family, immediately after Jayden’s accident, there 

were so many stages and emotions that we needed to 

process,” says Mark. “The Spinal Trust gently helped us 

navigate all of those areas with amazing care and 

support. This is a small way that we can give back.” 

The Arapuke Trails were a fitting location for the 

fundraiser as it was the scene of Jayden’s crash in 2019. 

And the local media got behind the event—a preview of 

the Arapuke Awesome fundraiser ran on the front page of 

the Manawatu Standard, and Jayden featured in an 

interview with More FM Manawatu. 

Hans says it was special seeing a great group of blokes roll 

up their sleeves and make the sacrifice again for the NZ 

Spinal Trust. “We are hugely grateful to the guys for their 

time and efforts,” says Hans. “The weekend in Palmy was 

full of plenty of competition, camaraderie and banter, and 

They achieved their goal of 

raising more than $10,000 

for the NZ Spinal Trust. 

behind all of the fun there was a very important cause 

that they are supporting.” 

Hans says the New Zealand Spinal Trust has three main 

functions; providing peer support for new patients from 

people with experience of spinal cord impairments; 

vocational rehabilitation for getting people back to work; 

and providing information and resources for people with 

spinal injuries. 

“It’s mentally tough for everyone when they have a spinal 

cord impairment,” says Hans. “It’s a matter of how long it 

remains difficult. That’s very much our role to support 

them through those days, especially the darkest times. 

“We’ve got many people we’ve supported who have been 

exactly where new patients are. The vast majority of 

people come out of the darkness into the light, and they 

flourish again in their life and carry on. Jayden is a good 

example of that.” 

KNACKERED—24 hours of riding was just 

a bit too much for our CEO Hans Wouters. 

The Arapuke Awesome lads are planning on doing it all 

again on Labour Weekend in 2024.


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Empowering women to live life, their way


Planning for the Future 

When you hit 65 what happens? We talk to a couple of people who have 

different expectations and experiences with NZ Super and ACC. 

BEING AWARE—Keith says: “Over the 37 years that I have been in a chair mixing with other SCI 

people several of them weren’t aware that ACC will stop income related payments when they hit 65.” 

Typically, when we hit the age of 65, we 

start to consider whether to retire or 

continue working. It’s something we tend to 

put off thinking about while we’re young, 

but with many of us aware the New Zealand 

Superannuation may not be enough to live 

on it’s important to start planning early. 

You need to prepare for 

life without ACC income 

related earnings. 

—Keith Jarvie 

For people with SCI, who are receiving weekly 

compensation from ACC, understanding what will 

happen after the age of 65 is even more important. 

ACC strongly encourages their clients who are getting 

weekly compensation and nearing the age of 65 to talk 

with them about their circumstances. For most clients, 

this means their weekly compensation will stop at 65 

and they will take up superannuation payments. 

What happens to your weekly compensation when 

you reach 65 but are still working? 

Once you reach 65, you’re no longer entitled to weekly 

compensation, even if you’re still working. 

The exception to this is if your SCI occurred at age 64, 

which then entitles you to weekly compensation for up to 

two years, whether you’re working or not.


In a situation where the person is the spouse of a 

deceased family member, they are eligible to receive 

weekly compensation for a five-year entitlement period. 

The timeframe may be longer if the spouse is caring for 

children under 18 or other dependents. 

The SNN recently chatted to Keith Jarvie about 

his experience. 

How did you prepare for when you reached 65 and 

would no longer receive ACC compensation? 

“I was fortunate as I had been an investment advisor 

before my accident and was aware of the importance of 

preparing for retirement. 

“It is very expensive living with a disability and while 

ACC covers most of the injury related expenses, it doesn’t 

cover all of them, so you need to prepare for life without 

ACC income related earnings.” 

Talk to your Case/Claims Manager 

Keith received a letter approximately three months 

before ACC stopped his income related earnings 

payment. His case manager followed up with a phone 

call to make sure he had received the letter and was 

aware of the upcoming change. 

How was the transition from weekly compensation to 

NZ Super? 

“One week I was receiving 80 percent of my pre-accident 

earnings and the next week I wasn’t. It was a significant 

drop in income.” 

People should start 

putting aside a percentage 

of their income related 

earnings into a KiwiSaver 

account straight away. 

—Keith Jarvie 

What advice would you give to other people with SCI 

who are about to turn 65? 

“Hopefully most people are aware that there will be a change 

to the weekly comp once they turn 65 and be prepared. 

However, over the 37 years that I have been in a chair 

mixing with other SCI people several of them weren’t 

aware that ACC will stop income related payments when 

they hit 65. 

We all need to be prepared for a loss or reduction in 

income and have things set up like a KiwiSaver account 

and if possible, disablement insurance.” 

Keith recommends people should start putting aside a 

percentage of their income related earnings into a 

KiwiSaver account straight away. ACC only pay 80 percent 

of your pre-accident wage and they don’t contribute to a 

KiwiSaver account. If you return to work your employer 

will then contribute to your KiwiSaver. It is up to you to be 

proactive and start saving money yourself. 

Some people will already have a KiwiSaver account and 

their employer would have been contributing to that 

account as well as the government who pay 50 cents for 

every dollar you contribute to your own KiwiSaver, up to a 

maximum of $521.43 each year. 

“KiwiSaver is a great scheme and the earlier you start 

contributing the better. You will never get a better interest 

rate. In Keith’s view, KiwiSaver should have been made 

compulsory when it was first set up. Then all of New 

Zealand would be in a better position financially.” 

What happens to your ACC rehabilitation expenses? 

It’s important to note that ACC will continue to assist with 

rehabilitation expenses, wheelchair maintenance, seating 

adjustments, transport needs, pharmaceuticals, 

consumables, and self-management of the care package 

once you turn 65. 

The other side of the coin—Mike Rowley’s experience 

Mike’s situation was more complicated—the transition to 

NZ Superannuation happened at the same time his 

marriage was ending—due to the combined stresses 

associated with having an SCI and increasing reliance of 

family having to provide unpaid care by ACC. 

SUPPORT—Mike says: “It’s important to know that after you turn 65, 

ACC continues to pay for carers, consumables and medical costs.” 

He and his wife parted company and sold the family 

home. He then had to get a mortgage to buy a house.


He now lives on a pension and has a mortgage of about 

$180,000. At the beginning his fixed rate came to an end, 

which caused a 3 percent increase for 18 months, on top of 

huge rate and insurance increases. His fixed housing 

costs are now up by more than $100 a week. 

“I was definitely aware that ACC weekly compensation 

would end when I turned 65, I did contact my case 

manager in case I was missing something, but sadly that 

was not the case,” says Mike. 

“Fortunately, I had been warned in advance that I needed 

to make an appointment with Work and Income New 

Zealand (WINZ) at least two months prior to avoid long 

payment delays and to discuss entitlements. I did some 

research beforehand and learned that there are housing 

and disability benefits available. This was important as 

the case manager I was assigned to did not disclose 

entitlements and doubled down on it when challenged so 

I requested a senior manager to sort it out. 

“WINZ have an arbitrary figure of a maximum of $8000 

in savings to be eligible for any top ups. I had just cashed 

out my Kiwi Saver of about $17000, so I paid $9000 off my 

mortgage to qualify. 

—Mike Rowley 

It is extremely important 

to begin the process at least 

two months ahead of time. 

“It is extremely important to begin the process at least 

two months ahead of time to get all your ducks in a row. 

Now that I am dealing with my new increased costs, I am 

fortunate to have accumulated possessions I can sell off 

which helps, along with very frugal living, no holidays, no 

travel, no meals out means that I am managing to get by.” 

After you turn 65, ACC continues to pay for carers, 

consumables and medical costs. In other words, 

everything but the weekly compensation continues 

unchanged. 

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Taking on Life After 

a Disability 

Sally Barkman likes to look forward and focus on what she can do, 

not what she can’t. 

EQUITY —Sally says: “One in four New Zealanders lives with a disability and we need to be recognised. We don’t want special treatment.” Credit: BW Media. 

Eight years ago Sally Barkman was paralysed 

from the chest down in a freak accident. 

But the Auckland woman refused to give up 

her active lifestyle and is living life to the 

full. She shares her story to help others on 

their journey. 

“Just because my legs don’t work, that doesn’t mean 

I can’t take part in fun things anymore.” 

Sally’s life once revolved around being active on her feet. 

A fitness fanatic, she competed in triathlons, marathons 

and long-distance swimming. But that came crashing to a 

halt in the early hours of New Year’s Day in 2016. 

Sally was biking back to a holiday home in Wanaka and 

didn’t see a culvert in the darkness. All of a sudden, she 

was lying in the water and couldn’t feel her legs. 

You have two choices— 

you can either curl up and 

think, ‘woe is me’ or just 

get on with things. 

—Sally Barkman 

“Even though it was New Year’s, I wasn’t drunk—but I 

wish I had been,” she laughs. “Then I probably would’ve 

fallen differently or wouldn’t have been riding my bike in 

the first place.” 

She was taken to hospital and the scans revealed she 

would never walk again.


I see my job as a privilege, 

people let me in at their 

darkest time. 


me’ or just get on with things. Being a mum, I didn’t have a 

choice. I had to get home to be a mum for my son Josh, who 

was just turning 13, and be there for my husband.” 

THEN AND NOW—Sally Barkman after competing in an in a 

triathlon event, and the day after her accident in hospital. 

“That took a long time to sink in,” says Sally, who’s now 

54. “It was very difficult to come to terms with the fact I 

wouldn’t be able to do some of the things I used to love 

doing. I just wasn’t made for being in a wheelchair.” 

Overcoming adversity with a positive mindset 

Sally is able to pursue her sporty lifestyle after 

adopting a relentlessly positive attitude, despite her 

challenging situation. 

“It’s not all rainbows and unicorns,” she admits. “But you 

have two choices—you can either curl up and think, ‘woe is 

The support of her husband Scott, of 33 years, and an 

“amazing” network of friends and wider whānau, has 

played a big role in helping foster that positive mindset. 

ACC has also been a key part of her recovery—offering 

crucial support, including the wheelchair, a hand cycle, 

orthotics, surgeries, housing modifications and home 

help. They also provided a Training for Independence (TI) 

service, which has helped Sally achieve her goal of 

swimming by herself. She now swims 3km in a pool twice 

a week and has just started swimming at the beach. 

The hand cycle has made her even more independent, 

and she can be seen most mornings cycling along 

Auckland’s waterfront near her Kohimarama home. 

“It’s great I can do everything by myself,” she says. 

“It’s still not any easier but, as time’s gone on, I’ve gotten 

better at living this life.” 

POSITIVE—Sally has adopted a relentlessly positive attitude. “It’s not all rainbows and unicorns,” she admits. Credit: BW Media.


DRIVEN—Most 

mornings you’ll 

see Sally cycling 

along Auckland’s 

waterfront near her 

Kohimarama home. 

Credit: BW Media. 

Achieving goals from her wheelchair 

During her moments of despair, Sally would have found it 

hard to imagine one day taking part in Round the Bays 

Fun Run. In March, Sally completed it for the second 

time, as part of the ‘Wheelie Awesome’ team of 

wheelchair users and friends and family. 

One of the country’s most iconic events, Round the Bays 

takes place every year on Auckland’s picturesque 

waterfront, the stunning course winding along the 

harbour for 8.4km. Sally completed the course in 1:04:15 

in the cool and wet conditions. 

“It’s such a cool day and being there shows that people 

like me can take part. I love how everyone is of different 

ages and abilities and they're all out there doing it” Sally 

says. “There’s a lot of stigma about people in wheelchairs 

and with disabilities. So, I think being visible and taking 

part in things like Round the Bays shows we’re all 

human—we just do things differently.” 

Helping others in their darkest time 

Aside from being an inspiration herself, Sally is using her 

experience to help others. 

Before the accident, she was a full-time mother, having 

previously worked as a chef. She now works for Spinal 

Support New Zealand, which is based at the Auckland 

Spinal Rehabilitation Unit in Ōtara. Her role is in Peer 

Support to mentor recently injured people. Sally enjoys 

helping people adjust to their new life in a wheelchair. 

“I see my job as a privilege, they let me in at their darkest 

time and I get to be part of their journey—that’s special.” 

Some of the people she’s helped joined her ‘Wheelie 

Awesome’ team for Round the Bays. 

“If people can see we’re out there doing things, especially 

young people, hopefully we can break down some of that 

stigma and show having a disability is not something to 

be scared of.” 

‘We don’t want special treatment’ 


We just want to be treated 

the same as everyone else. 

Away from her job, Sally is also a tireless advocate for 

people with disabilities, regularly campaigning for better 

access at stadiums and public events. 

“Most venues have a space for a wheelchair, but you can 

only have one person with you. But we’re a family of 

three, so we can never sit together,” she says. “That’s not 

fair, we’re no different to anybody else, so why should we 

be treated any differently? 

“One in four New Zealanders lives with a disability and 

we need to be recognised. We don’t want special 

treatment—we just want to be treated the same as 

everyone else.” 

She offers great advice for anyone who has sustained a 

spinal cord impairment and is at the start of their journey. 

“Take advantage of the people around you who can offer 

that lived experience perspective, that is really 

important,” she says. “You need to celebrate the small 

wins and focus on the positives. It is ok to have a bad day, 

but you need to keep moving forward. You only get one 

life, and you need to live it to the fullest whether that is in 

a chair or walking. Be your best and make the most out of 

life because tomorrow is not guaranteed.”

Ergonomic Radial 


Hand Control. 

By Fadiel Italiana 

Palm 

Grip 

Lever 

Grip 

+64 9 802 0897 | fadiel.co.nz | enquiries@fadiel.co.nz


“Times Like These” 

Paraplegic Jamie Astwood says attending the Foo Fighters concert 

at Mt Smart Stadium was an “incredible experience”. 

HUGE RECEPTION—The Foo Fighters are always well received in NZ. Credit: Bradley SG Creative. 

Over the years, the Foo Fighters have forged a 

reputation as one of the world’s best live bands. 

In January this year, they played three sold-out shows in 

Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Dave Grohl was 

at his charismatic best, charging through a power-packed 

set list like a man possessed. 

Going to a rock concert is a special experience and one 

that can be a lot more challenging and intimidating from 

a wheelchair. Jamie Astwood is the type of person who 

never wants to miss out. 

The paraplegic attended her first Foos concert at Mt Smart 

Stadium in Auckland with her friend Sam, and you 

couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. She described it as 

“an incredible experience”. 

With her ears still ringing from the three-hour show, the 

22-year-old talked us through what people in a wheelchair 

can expect if they are going to attend a stadium rock show 

The anticipation waiting 

for them to come on stage 

was massive. 

—Jamie Astwood 

and encouraged others to be brave and get out for an 

awesome night with their mates. 

Were you nervous about going to a stadium show? 

No, I wasn't nervous. I was with my friend so I knew she 

would be there at all times. I also find that people 

generally watch out for you and most of the time are 

willing to help or move if needed. I also knew I wasn't 

going to be in the heart of the mosh pit so that also 

stopped any nerves I may have had.


Was it your first time attending a concert like this? 

This was the first rock concert I have attended although I 

went to the Harry Styles concert last year which was at 

the exact same venue and parking etc. I was honestly 

more nervous for the Harry Styles concert because of all 

the crazy 16-year-old fangirls and their obsessed 

middle-aged mothers she laughs. 

What was it like for parking? 

To organise the accessible parking, you must call/email 

the venue a week in advance to fill out a form with your 

details, mobility permit number etc. I received a mobility 

parking pass to print out and have with me on the day of 

the concert. There was one entrance to the accessible 

parking, with the parking pass and my mobility permit on 

display I was waved right through. 

I spoke to someone who had gone through the same 

process as myself, but they never received the pass to 

display on their dashboard. Because they did not have 

this, they got turned away. The carpark is a large area 

located about 50 metres from the relevant gate entrance. 

It was all loose gravel and could be hard for some 

wheelchair users to push themselves through. 

How difficult was it getting into the concert? 

The line for the gate entrance was on a reasonably steep 

hill. I was with my friend Sam who stood behind my 

wheelchair as we waited so I didn't have to hold myself on 

the hill. I would have struggled had I been on my own. I 

was prompted to go through the shorter line for bag check 

by the security staff. The event staff took us straight to 

our seat which was a five-minute walk. Sam pushed my 

wheelchair at some points, but had she not been there, the 

event staff would have been happy to help. We got to our 

seats quickly and efficiently. 

Where in the stadium were you seated for the show? 

Is there an allocated part for wheelchair users? 

If you are looking at the stage, I was on the right side, at 

the top of the first tier of seats. There were about three or 

four allocated wheelchair user spots scattered around 

which seated around seven to 14 wheelchairs. 

The seating was a big concrete platform approximately 6m 

long and 2m wide. There were moveable plastic seats for 

the wheelchair companions to sit and then spaces left for 

the wheelchairs to fit in. There were no official seats and 

we picked where we sat. I could see another wheelchair 

platform on the ground which was a much bigger area 

with the same setup (moveable plastic seats). The seating 

area was easy to access, and I had a great view of the stage. 

What was it like accessing the bathrooms? 

On the same level as the wheelchair seating there were 

around four accessible bathrooms. They were extremely 

easy to get to and very spacious. On only one occasion I 

was waiting for a bathroom but did not wait very long. 

What was the feeling like when the Foos came onto 

the stage? 

The anticipation waiting for them to come on stage was 

massive. I was so excited and the adrenaline was pumping! 

I looked at my friend and we both felt like crying. 

Happy tears of-course, I think it was the excitement. 

SPECIAL MEMORIES—Jamie Astwood 

had a great night out with her friend Sam.


THE MAN—Dave Grohl is known for being one of the best 

performers in the world. Credit: Bradley SG Creative. 

GREAT VIEW—“The seating area was easy to access, 

and I had a great view of the stage,” says Jamie. 

What was the concert like? 

The concert itself was incredible. The atmosphere was 

great, and it looked as though everyone was having a 

blast. There was a huge range of different ages—my friend 

and I in our early 20s enjoyed the concert next to middle 

aged dads and everyone was really getting into it. 

Halfway through the concert, Jack Black made an 

appearance to sing an AC/DC song which had the whole 

crowd hyped up. This was the first time I had seen the Foo 

Fighters in concert, but my friend stated that this time 

was even better than when she went for the first time back 

in 2016. I can’t wait until the Foo Fighters next come as I 

will definitely be going again. By the end of the concert 

my ears were ringing… just as I had expected. 

What was the highlight of the night? 

On the drive there, my friend and I were saying which 

songs we were most wanting to hear. Hearing our 

favourite songs live was definitely the highlight. My 

favourites were Monkey Wrench, My Hero and of course, 

Everlong—good choice of song to finish on! 

What was it like getting out at the end? 

Once the concert finished, my friend and I whipped away 

to pop to the bathroom before leaving, meaning we did 

not go out with the rest of the wheelchairs. I cannot speak 

on how their experience was getting out of the stadium. 

We located the lift where we came up and there was an 

—Jamie Astwood 

I can’t wait until the Foo 

Fighters next come as I will 

definitely be going again. 

event staff member there ensuring that only people who 

were unable to use the stairs were taking the lift. This 

meant we were able to get down with ease without being 

pushed or shoved around. 

We wandered back to the car the same way we came 

which took another five minutes. On the mobility parking 

pass, it advises that there may be a 30–60 minute wait 

before we are able to leave the car park. This is because 

they must ensure all foot traffic has dispersed before they 

can get us out. This didn’t worry my friend and I as we 

just blasted music in my car and sang our hearts out in 

the line of cars until we got on the road. I am unsure of 

the exact time we waited but it was approximately one 

hour. The wait was well worth the location of the parking. 

It makes it a lot easier entering and exiting and takes away 

the worry of finding an alternative option.


How to Grow a 

Lemon Tree 

Hamish Ramsden 

Columnist 

—Hamish Ramsden 

I’m not ready to have lime 

juice squeezed over my 

fish and chips, just yet! 

They say when life gives you lemons, make 

lemonade. Hamish Ramsden, a published 

author and popular member of the NZ Spinal 

Trust team, is back with his latest column. 

I’ve always liked lemon trees, to me in a way they finish 

off a garden. There’s something about a big vibrant lemon 

tree with lots of bright lemons on it, it has a feel-good 

factor about it. I don’t know why but they just look good, 

but how the hell do you grow them? 

I had shifted into my new house and had a garden 

designed with lots of different plants that I’d never heard 

of before; there was a specific area for herbs and spices 

and a couple of lime trees and a lemon tree. Well, the 

spices didn’t last long as my flatmate and I really had no 

interest in them and so they got taken over by other 

plants. The lime trees bounded along but my lemon tree 

slowly subsided and withered away. No matter I thought, 

I’ll go and get another one. 

This time I planted it in a slightly different area and even 

with my tender love and care (fertiliser, water, lots of 

encouraging compliments) it lasted even less time than 

the last one. Trying not to be too dejected, or a defeatist, I 

thought what do I do now? Well since the limes are doing 

so well how about I take one of them out and put a lemon 

tree in its place. It may not get a lot of sun in that spot, but 

limes and lemons must be from the same citrus family, so 

all will be fine. It started to grow magnificently, new 

leaves, new flowers, but then some slimy leaf eating 

things struck. We got this breakout controlled and I 

thought that is that, things are looking good, boy am I a 

good gardener! 

It was looking magnificent when I left to go away for two 

weeks. I was confident I had cured my lemon curse, only 

to find to my dismay, upon my return that it had almost 

completely died. Right, that is it, no magnificent lemon 

tree for me. But then I was at the garden shop, buying a 

couple of other plants and I thought I would buy just one 

more and see how we go. Actually, not see how WE go, I 

absolved myself of all responsibility and said to my 

flatmate, right it is your turn. Not bounding with 

enthusiasm, he thought he would change tack and try to 

grow it in a pot, so then it can be moved around for 

maximum sun attraction. Great idea I thought but leave 

me out of it as I am cursed. 

He transferred it into a pot and everything seemed to be 

fine. It was positioned directly outside my office and 

would be in my direct line of sight, taunting me, when I 

looked out the window. Not a problem I thought, great to 

have a bountiful lemon tree to lift my spirits. I began to 

feel that his new approach was perhaps not quite up to 

scratch (I could hardly criticise him due to my own track 

record) as since he is often away with work, I started to 

take on some responsibility for the damn tree. Then, as if 

by divine intervention, one by one the leaves started to 

sag and drop off. Oh hell I thought, so I gave it some more 

water which might have been too much water, as nothing 

changed. But now I am stuck, do I keep intervening or 

not? I could keep offering “valuable” advice trying to keep 

his enthusiasm levels up. It is a quandary that I had to live 

with on a daily basis, talk about getting hung up on the 

small stuff! What to do? As I watched another leaf depart 

its mothership. I’m not ready to have lime juice squeezed 

over my fish and chips, just yet! 

Then unfortunately as time went on the tree withered and 

died, I guess in every human skill set there is one 

particular thing that will let us down and this differs from 

human to human, which is just as well as we don’t want to 

all fail at the same thing. So I backed off and he backed off 

and then we had an empty pot which we didn’t know what 

to do with, our confidence was shot. Never mind my 

daughter said, you have a birthday coming up and I know 

exactly what to give you!


Two Tetraplegics Take on 

the Abel Tasman Track 

Andrew Leslie and George Thompson complete one of New Zealand’s 

Great Walks to make a difference. 

Abel Tasman 

National Park 

Marahau Totaranui 60km 

Tetraplegics Andrew Leslie (51) and George 

Thompson (67) achieved something 

remarkable in March. The pair—who were told 

they would likely never walk again—tramped 

the Abel Tasman National Park (60km) over 

five days. We caught up with them following 

their walk to reflect on the achievement. 

As Andrew Leslie and George Thompson make their final 

descent down into Tōtaranui and onto the Wainui carpark 

in the Abel Tasman National Park, the enormity of what 

they have achieved hits them. 

GREAT MATES—When Andrew Leslie 

called George Thompson with the idea of 

walking the Abel Tasman track, he didn’t 

hesitate. Credit: Jeremy Brick, ACC. 

—Andrew Leslie 

You need to know big things 

in life are still possible. 

With pain throughout their bodies and weary legs from 

five days on the undulating terrain, tears well up in their 

eyes as they set foot on the golden sand as they reach the 

finish line at the gateway. Andrew says it’s a moment he 

will never forget. 

“We reflected on our journey together,” he says. “About 

meeting in the Burwood Spinal Unit and all of the hard 

times we’ve been through together, and how fortunate we 

were to be able to do this.“We know that it could have


—George Thompson 

Make sure you say thanks to 

the people around you. 

told to expect him to be a wheelchair for the rest of his 

life. George was told it was likely he wouldn’t walk again 

by the doctors at the Spinal Unit. 

“The fact that four years on from that moment, when they 

gave me a 20 percent chance to walk again, that I would 

be walking around the bloody Abel Tasman, is quite 

extraordinary,” says George. 

HARD TIMES—Back in 2020, Andrew and George in the Burwood Spinal Unit. 

George was given a 20 percent chance of walking again. Andrew’s family was told 

he would likely be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. 

been very different and for most people it is. It was pretty 

emotional and good to be able to share that moment with 

a great mate.” 

The pair had trained for months to be ready for the Great 

Walk. “It was definitely the biggest challenge I have taken 

on so far. Physically, it pushed us to the absolute limit,” 

says Andrew. “And mentally—a big part of what we were 

doing was going into the unknown. We didn’t know if we 

were going to be able to complete it. It was a huge feeling 

of accomplishment.” 

George added: “When Andrew called to say: ‘Do you want 

to walk the Abel Tasman track?’ I didn’t hesitate, but man 

it was bloody tough. I am proud that I proved a lot of 

people wrong who said I couldn’t do it.” 

Since his injury in 2020, Andrew has made a habit of 

setting personal challenges. In 2021 he walked back to 

Mākara Peak to the scene of his accident. In 2022, he ran 

5km around Karori Park and last year he completed an 

Outward Bound course. 

Four years ago, their lives changed forever. In Levin, 

George broke his neck in a farming accident when he 

crashed his quad bike into a drain in February 2020. 

Around a month later, Andrew broke his neck in a 

mountain-biking accident at Mākara Peak in Wellington. 

They were both lucky to survive. 

George was flown to Christchurch Hospital where he was 

admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and was fighting for 

his life. He would go onto spend six months in the 

Burwood Spinal Unit. 

The pair was proud to complete three personal bests in 

terms of walking distance since their accidents on day 

one (12.4km), day three (13.5km), and day four (17km). 

“Day three was the hardest,” says Andrew. “There were 

sections of the track that had been wiped out by the slips 

and that made it quite tricky to negotiate and physically 

demanding on the legs. But we got through it, and we 

made great progress on day four.” They paid tribute to 

their incredible support crew who kept them going. 

“When we woke up on the final day, George was buzzing. 

He was pretty buoyant that we were on the cusp of 

completing this huge challenge.” 

Andrew says they took on the walk for two reasons. 

“Firstly, it was about not only showing to ourselves that 

we can do it, but to others living with impairments as 

well. And we want to use this walk as a platform to 

champion better accessibility in the outdoors. It’s a 

complex problem to solve, but sometimes resolving 

relatively small issues can make a big difference. 

“Wouldn’t it be amazing if New Zealand had an accessible 

Great Walk?” 

Completing a Great Walk is a long way from where they 

have been. When Andrew was in the ICU, his family were 

DREAMING BIG—Andrew says “We are using this walk as a 

platform to champion better accessibility in the outdoors.”


While he was coming to terms with his new reality, 

Andrew had his mountain bike crash. Andrew followed 

the same stressful journey through ICU and the pair met 

in the Burwood courtyard. “We hit it off straight away and 

have been laughing ever since.” 

ACC has played a leading role in both men’s rehabilitation. 

“The ongoing support from ACC has been a real plank in my 

recovery,” says Andrew. “I simply wouldn’t have achieved 

what I have without their constant support and help.” 

George said New Zealanders don’t know how lucky we are 

to have a scheme like ACC. “For people like us it has given 

us the chance to have a second crack at life.” 

They never accepted the prospect that they might not 

walk again.“We really pushed each other,” says George. 

“We both set the goal of walking out of the Burwood 

Spinal Unit and to achieve that feat was both incredible 

and surreal really.” 

The constant through their time in Burwood, and 

completing the Abel Tasman track, has been banter. 

“It's a really challenging place to be as you're coming to 

terms with a new reality,” says Andrew. “When things got 

hard, we were laughing together. We are proud of what 

we have achieved. It was an incredible adventure.” 

THE FINISH LINE—Left to right: Ed Shuttleworth, Dave Parkinson (both support 

crew), George Thompson, Andrew Leslie and Fiona de Young (support crew). 

What you do is your history. 

What you set in motion is your legacy. 

A spinal cord impairment—whether it happens through injury or 

illness—can be a sudden life changing event. It can feel as though your 

life has stopped. It can be challenging, confronting, daunting, scary. 

It can also be the start of a new, positive, unexpected and fulfilling 

life journey. 

A decision to include a gift in your Will for the work of the NZ Spinal 

Trust supports people across Aotearoa NZ as they learn to embrace 

a positive future with spinal cord impairment. 

If you are considering writing or amending your Will and would like 

an information brochure on how to include NZST, please email 

Su Marshall (su.marshall@nzspinaltrust.org.nz). 

If you would like to chat about who we are and who a bequest 

would support, please contact Hans Wouters, CEO 

(hans.wouters@nzspinaltrust.org.nz) or phone 03 383 6881 

www.nzspinaltrust.org.nz 

Te Tarahiti Manaaki Tuanui 

“Having the Trust there to help navigate those first 

few weeks or even the first few months was just 

incredible, because it’s extremely overwhelming.”


Back in His Happy Place 

After a Broken Back 

Kiwi surfing legend Maz Quinn broke his back in an accident last 

year—after five months of recovery he is back in the waves. 

HOME—Maz Quinn, back where he belongs, in the waves. 

New Zealand surfing legend Maz Quinn is 

back where he belongs. The former pro surfer 

has recovered from a broken back to get back 

to doing what he loves. 

Maz Quinn is sitting on his board out amongst the waves, 

and you can’t wipe the smile off his face. The four-time NZ 

Surfing Champion, who learned to surf on his home beach 

of Wainui, is back in the ocean for the first time since a 

life-changing accident. It’s a moment of huge relief. 

“I was so stoked and relieved,” says the 47-year-old from 

his home in Gisborne in his typical laidback manner. “It 

was only small waves but to be able to surf pretty much 

pain free, it was an incredible feeling. It meant that I 

knew I could do it again.” 

I knew I was in trouble 

straight away. 

—Maz Quinn 

Maz has surfed at the highest level. In 2001, he became 

the first New Zealander to qualify for the World 

Championship Tour, in doing so becoming one of the 

world's top 44 ranked male surfers. 

He says it’s hard to imagine his life without surfing. 

“Every time you go for a surf it makes your day better. It’s 

good for your mind and body... I love it so much that it was 

hard to accept that it had been taken away from me.”


—Maz Quinn 

When I was lying in hospital 

it did go through my mind 

a few times am I going to be 

able to surf well again? 

He had been surfing for a couple of hours when he didn’t 

quite make the drop and instead was plunged to the 

bottom and hit his torso and back on the rocks. 

“The first whack was pretty violent,” he says. “I knew I 

was in trouble straight away. It was a big bang and it got 

worse and worse every minute that passed.” 

Maz was washed into the beach by the surf but was unable 

to walk, forced to make a painful 20-minute crawl up the 

beach until he was noticed. He was eventually spotted by 

another person who notified his wife Ngahuia. They then 

came across an off-duty paramedic who was able to get 

paramedics from St John Māhia down to the beach 

within minutes. 

SUPPORT—Lying in the Gisborne Hospital, Maz was overwhelmed 

by the support of the international surfing community. 

It had been just under five months since an accident on 

Māhia Beach which could have paralysed or even killed 

the NZ surfing legend. 

Maz says it didn’t help that for the first month of his 

recovery that the surf “absolutely pumped”. “It was so 

hard to sit on the beach and watch it roll in. I was like 

‘This is the best July for surf I have ever seen’,” he laughs. 

But Maz was also in a world of pain and needed to be 

patient. “When I was lying in hospital it did go through 

my mind a few times am I going to be able surf well 

again,” he says. “I definitely have a new perspective now, 

and I will never take being able to surf for granted.” 

“It was pretty violent” 

Maz has clear memories of June 28, 2001 at Māhia Beach. 

Maz was so stoked to be heading to Māhia for the day to 

surf his favourite wave. He was in his happy place. 

“There were only four or five guys out there and it was a 

beautiful sunny day. The waves were cooking. I literally 

couldn’t get out there fast enough. It was a perfect day, 

and the surf was so good.” 

Maz says over the years Māhia has forged a reputation—if 

you get it wrong, it has consequences. “It’s a break that has 

taken a few people down over the years,” he laughs. “It’s a 

special wave—it’s the sort of wave you’d pay $1000 overseas 

to go and surf and we have it right here in our backyard.” 

It was Ngahuia’s first time watching Maz surf the Māhia 

break. “She saw someone walking up the beach with my 

board but I wasn’t with it, so she started freaking out,” he 

says. “By that stage I couldn’t yell out to them because it 

was way too sore to talk. There was long grass up in the 

dunes so no one could see me lying on the beach in pain.” 

Maz was airlifted by the Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust 

to Gisborne Hospital. He fractured four transverse 

processors—the bones at the bottom of the spine, broke 

four ribs and tore his rotator cuff. 

“I was in a huge amount of pain, but I was lucky,” he says. 

“The doctor told me if the impact had been a few inches 

either side, it would have damaged my spinal cord and 

then it would have been a very different story.” 

The long road to recovery 

Around a week later, Maz hobbled out of Gisborne 

Hospital with the support of a Zimmer Frame. He was 

scared about what the future might hold. The progress 

was slow at first and hard going as he learned how to walk. 

His wife was not only looking after their 10-week-old son 

Freddy, but also had to be Maz’s full-time carer. “It was 

like Ngahuia had two babies because I couldn’t do 

anything. I was just hobbling from the beach to the couch 

and then to the toilet. It had a big impact on my life and 

was hectic for her.” 

But over time things improved. Through constant work 

with his medical team and physiotherapists, Maz worked 

towards his goal of getting back on the board. 

“ACC has been there for every step of my recovery which 

has been epic. Even now I am going to physio once a week 

and they are supporting that,” he says. “It’s times like you 

this, when you are injured, you realise that you are pretty 

lucky to live in New Zealand and have that support of ACC.”


The high rate of surfing related injuries 

ACC claims data shows that surfing is the leading cause of 

water-related injuries in Aotearoa. 

Surfing New Zealand is encouraging New Zealanders to 

give the sport a go. But they need to make sure they surf at 

their skill level. “As surfers we have to respect the ocean 

and acknowledge that our sport is an adventure sport and 

does have its dangers,” says Lee Ryan, the Development 

Manager at Surfing New Zealand. “It’s just knowing how 

to minimise the risks and that comes with experience.” 

Maz agrees. “If you have any doubt, then don’t go out,” 

he says. “I know it’s hard sometimes when the surf is really 

good and that is how you get better, by pushing yourself but 

you need to make sure you are building gradually. Weigh up 

the skill level you have with the waves you are about to surf. 

It is ok to say no if you don’t feel comfortable.” 

BATTLE—Maz had to learn how to walk again during his rehabilitation. 

A revolution in 

mobility has arrived. 

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Heading on the 

Road Again 

Waikato to Bay of Plenty—part two 

Did you read part one of our accessible 

summer road trip? Here’s part two, offering 

some advice and inspiration to get you in the 

mood for your own accessible adventure— 

brought to you by Freedom Mobility. 

Having touched on some of the myriad things to see and 

do in Rotorua, this part of the story covers 

accommodation options, walks and trails, plus a few neat 

day trips you can enjoy using the town as your base. 

Remember, as well as the accommodation listed here you 

can check out the Accessible Travel Forum for NZ 

Facebook group for more tips on accessible holiday homes. 

Days 1–3: Rotorua 

As well as being a great place to visit, Rotorua is a handy 

base for exploring the wider region. It also has some 

amazing walks and trails, and many are surprisingly 

accessible. You can even rent a Trail Rider at Redwoods 

Forest Park and, with the help of two others, take on 

almost any trail in the Rotorua region. To book, email 

forest.Recmanagement@rotorualc.nz 

Stay in Rotorua 

All Seasons Holiday Park 

This family favourite is a short drive from both the 

town centre and the airport. Units are available with an 

accessible bathroom, handles for toilet and shower and 

a fold-down seat in the shower. Doorways are 800mm 

wide. You may have a problem with the gravel in the car 

park, while steps make the office inaccessible. 

Lounge to Lawn to Lake 

This is a great accessible holiday home built with a 

paraplegic's needs in mind. Entryways are ramped 

and it has an accessible bathroom. The kitchen isn’t 

wheelchair accessible but it’s still a good option with a 

travelling companion. Sleeps five. 

Paradise Valley Lodge 

Set in beautiful gardens, the lodge has a cottage that 

sleeps two or three with accessible entry and 

bathroom. If you use a wheelchair the kitchen isn’t 

accessible but it’s perfect if you’re travelling with 

someone who doesn’t. 

Redwoods 

Just five minutes drive 

out of Roturua, Redwoods 

has two wheelchairaccessible 

walks: the 

30-minute Memorial 

Grove track and the 

hour-long Waitawa walk. 

Rotorua Lake Front 

With beautiful views of 

Lake Rotorua, the 

boardwalk has several 

wide pathways and 

stretches into the lake. 

Kuirau Park 

This walkway covers a 

1.4km loop through mud 

pools and boiling lakes 

right in the heart 

of Rotorua. 

Museum Gardens 

Wheelchair-friendly 

pathways wind through 

the Government Gardens 

around Rotorua Museum. 

You can also join the 

daily 11am–12.30pm 

guided tours. 

Walks/Trails in Rotorua 

Hannah’s Bay 

Just 12 minutes out of 

town you’ll find this 

delightful beach 

surrounded by kahikatea 

forest. The wetlands 

boardwalk track is 

accessible for 2km to 

Silver Beach and has 

accessible toilets. 

King Hill Reserve 

Just 20 minutes from 

Rotorua, and 20 minutes 

long, this flat well-defined 

track heads through rimu 

and tawa forest, amid 

remnants of the area’s 

mining past. Will be 

muddy after heavy rain. 

H Tree Track 

The H Tree Track in 

Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne 

Conservation Park is an 

easy loop through grand 

podocarp forest, and 

home to a number of 

native birds 

including kaka.


Day 4: Matamata 

Or should that be Hobbiton? Just an hour’s drive 

northwest from Rotorua lies Matamata, home to the 

Hobbiton Movie Set experience. The attraction offers 

accessible options that include travel via a golf cart or a 

shorter, discounted wheelchair route. Advance booking 

on 07 888 1505 is essential. 

ICONIC—The 

well-known Huka 

Falls in Taupo. 

LEFT PAGE—Redwoods Forest in 

Rotorua has two wheelchair-accessible 

walks. ABOVE—The Hobbiton Movie Set 

experience. RIGHT—Take your photo 

opportunity with the #LOVETAUPO sign. 

ACCESS—Experience the only 

wheelchair-accessible cave in the 

southern hemisphere at Ruakuro Cave. 

Day 5: Taupo 

Another one-hour drive from Rotorua, Taupo offers its 

own lakeside experience. If you’re up to it there are some 

great adventures to be had, while other attractions are 

universally accessible. 

Fancy an adrenaline rush? Then Huka Falls Jet gets you 

up close to the famous waterfall. Accessible via a riverside 

ramp with the help of the crew, it needs hand and arm 

function to hold on or a friend to assist, and weight 

restrictions apply. Talk it all through when booking. 

Just as thrilling is taking a scenic flight in Taupo’s float 

plane and the views are breathtaking. Accessed via a 

floating jetty, the lip of the plane can be a bit tricky. So 

bring a friend to assist and the pilot, Neil, will help. 

For something a bit more chilled, try the Lava Glass 

Gallery and Sculpture Gardens or the readily accessible 

Craters of the Moon geothermal walk. 

Walks/Trails in Taupo 

Day 6: Waitomo 

A two-hour drive will get you to the Ruakuri Cave at 

Waitomo, the only wheelchair-accessible cave in the 

southern hemisphere. Call in advance, though, to see if it 

will work for you. Some paths are steep (and dark), and 

they recommend wheelchairs aren’t wider than 65cm. A 

great 1.5-hour experience with plenty of glowworms. 

Next time around we’re on the road again. And what a 

drive it is, to the beautiful Bay of Plenty with heaps to 

enjoy and explore. Catch you then. 

Transportation 

Haven’t got your own modified vehicle, or need to fly 

in? Then renting from Freedom Mobility will get you 

mobile. Our fleet of vehicles ranges from 

hand-controlled cars to wheelchair vans, with 

delivery available throughout New Zealand, including 

to your home or the airport. Our friendly team will 

help you find the best solution, including roadside 

assistance 24/7. Just be sure to book in advance as 

demand is high, especially over holiday season. 

Huka Falls walkway 

There are mobility parks 

in the car park, then it’s a 

short 167m to the lookout. 

The 3km/1.5-hour 

Spa Park track is also 

reasonably accessible. 

Great Lake Taupo 

Walkway 

Wheelchair accessible 

to Wharekawa point, 

here’s your opportunity 

for a photo by the 

#LOVETAUPO sign. 

Resources 

• Play-and-Stay Directory: freedommobility.co.nz 

• Accessible database: firstport.co.nz 

• Visit: grabyourwheels.nz 

• Info at: havewheelchairwilltravel.net 

• Toilets and other info: Campermate App (IOS/Android)


New to Milner Mobility 

Van Raam 

Wheelchair 

Bikes 

Wanting to transport someone who has a wheelchair, by E-bike? The world leading manufacturer Van Raam 

has two models of wheelchair bikes: VeloPlus wheelchair bike and OPair wheelchair bike. 

OPair Wheelchair Bike 

The passenger sits in the front of the bike. The 

standard seat is adjustable in many different ways. 

If you want, you can fit your own seat. Optionally, 

the wheelchair section can be disconnected from the 

bike and used independently as a wheelchair. The 

OPair wheelchair bike has a modern design and is 

very accessible. 

VeloPlus Wheelchair Bike 

The passenger can stay in their own wheelchair. 

Almost any hand-powered wheelchair can be easily 

and quickly ridden and locked into place onto the 

tilting platform of the wheelchair bike by a single 

person. Without heavy exertion and without a 

transfer, the personal wheelchair can be placed on 

the bike. 

Scan the QR code to 

find out more or contact 

info@milnermobility.co.nz 

9 Pacific Rise, Mt Wellington, Auckland 

www.milnermobility.co.nz


Spinal Cure Research 

Where did the world get up to with spinal cure research in 2023? 

GOOD MINDS—L–R Dr Simon O’Carroll, Nikki Kaye, Zara Tindall MBE, 

Catriona Williams MNZM—CatWalk Founder, Dr Jonathan Coleman. 

In association with CatWalk Spinal Cord 

Injury Research Trust, we review the current 

status of spinal cure research. 

For 19 years our good friends at CatWalk have funded 

research in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at 

the University of Auckland (UA). 

UA Senior Lecturer Dr Simon O’Carroll has been a part of 

this research for 18 years. He lives and breathes spinal 

cord injury research and keeps up to date with all the 

significant work in this area from around the globe. 

In this new feature Dr O’Carroll will inform our SNN 

readers on the latest in spinal cure research both 

nationally and internationally. 

Spinal cord injuries have long-lasting effects on 

individuals, families, and society as a whole. As a result, 

a lot of effort has been invested in finding treatments to 

enhance the lives of those affected. Simon O'Carroll 

highlights the current state of clinical trials, ongoing 

research, and potential future directions. 

Spinal cord injuries have 

long-lasting effects on 

individuals, families, 

and society as a whole. 

Stem Cells 

An area of research in development to improve function 

in spinal cord injury is the use of stem cells or other cells 

to promote recovery. These can be derived from several 

different sources, such as brain tissue, bone marrow, fat 

tissue, the nasal cavity and the umbilical cord. These 

cells can help prevent death of nerve cells, reduce 

inflammation, and promote the regrowth of damaged or 

new brain cells. Several clinical trials have shown 

promise in improving functions such as motor skills and


The ongoing efforts hold the 

potential to revolutionise 

spinal cord injury treatment 

and improve outcomes. 

bladder control. However, evidence is still inconclusive, 

with trials being relatively small and short-term. Side 

effects like neuropathic pain and rare instances of 

tumour development have also been reported. New 

technologies such as scaffolds that are implanted in the 

spinal cord to provide structural support and facilitate 

spinal cord repair have shown some promise. It has been 

proposed that these scaffolds could be used to protect 

stem cells, promote cell growth and survival and these 

are currently being tested and are showing success. We 

should see these approaches being translated into clinical 

trials in the not-too-distant future. 

Spinal Cord Stimulation 

Another exciting avenue is spinal cord stimulation, where 

electrical currents are used to activate specific areas of 

the spinal cord. This can be done using either 

transcutaneous stimulation (tSCS), where the current is 

applied to the skin over the region of the cord or epidural 

stimulation (eSCS), where the current is applied directly 

onto the spinal cord. These approaches have shown 

promise in restoring movement in individuals with 

complete spinal cord injuries. 

Trials so far have shown stimulation of the spinal cord 

can activate pathways controlling muscles below the site 

of injury such as the legs, creating a rhythmic walking 

motion. This approach completely bypasses the injury 

and can promote leg movement in individuals with a 

complete spinal cord injury as well as those with an 

incomplete injury. Clinical trials to date have been very 

promising, with between 65%–85% of individuals in 

eSCS and tSCS clinical trials showing improvement in 

sensation and meaningful motor function. Using eSCS, 

some individuals with complete motor paralysis can walk 

overground following training. 

However, these approaches can require many months of 

intense training to see meaningful improvement and 

require the assistance of multiple physical therapists in a 

research setting. Also, the settings required need to be 

fine-tuned to each individual person. 

Regeneration 

Regeneration is where the spinal cord tissue is able to 

regrow and allow recovery of function. A number of trials 

are underway testing scaffolds implanted into the spinal 

cord, to promote regrowth of spinal cord tissue. A recent 

clinical trial showed that 44% of patients with a complete 

paraplegic injury, regained some function. However, 

other trials have not shown positive results and so more 

EARLY DAYS—While clinical trials for spinal cord injury treatment show 

promise, none have yet reached the threshold for widespread use. 

trials are needed to determine the best approach that will 

work for everyone. Other approaches such as using 

electrical stimulation to promote nerve cell regrowth and 

removing the scar tissue in the cord are currently being 

developed and have all shown exciting results in animal 

studies but are yet to be translated into clinical trials. We 

can expect to see these underway in the coming years. 

Neuroprotection 

Several clinical trials have investigated drugs for acute 

spinal cord injury, but none have proven effective enough 

for widespread use. Ongoing trials are exploring new drug 

candidates, such as Riluzole, which protects nerve cells 

from dying in other diseases and has shown some 

improvements in preliminary trials. 

Larger trials are needed to determine if this drug will be a 

useful treatment. 

Conclusions 

While clinical trials for spinal cord injury treatment show 

promise, none have yet reached the threshold for 

widespread use. One issue with SCI trials is that while 

some improvement is seen for some individuals, others see 

no improvement and finding a treatment that will work for 

everyone affected by spinal cord injury is the ultimate 

goal. Combining different approaches and identifying 

biomarkers, which are specific signals in the spinal cord or 

blood that will show who may respond best to a particular 

treatment are areas of active research. Despite obstacles, 

the ongoing efforts hold the potential to revolutionise 

spinal cord injury treatment and improve outcomes for 

countless individuals. Work in this field will make a major 

difference in developing effective treatments. 

Simon O’Carroll can be contacted by email: 

s.ocarroll@auckland.ac.nz 

At the time of going to press the SNN learned of a new 

study by the Mayo Clinic using stem cells from belly fat 

to help people with SCI walk again. 

To find out more contact Bernadette Cassidy: 

bernadette.cassidy@nzspinaltrust.org.nz


Thank You to Our 

Funders & Sponsors 

The New Zealand Spinal Trust appreciates the generous support of the following 

funders. Without their kind support, the Trust would not be able to deliver the 

variety of services to assist clients to live independent lives right now. 

Permobil is a global leader with over 50 years experience in providing advanced 

medical technology and state-of-the-art healthcare solutions. Today, those 

solutions include the sale and rental of power wheel chairs, manual wheelchairs, 

power assist and seating & positioning products. 

Access Community Health has been at the forefront of keeping people healthy 

and safe in their homes since 1927. Today our nationwide team of skilled nurses 

and 3,000 support workers make over three million visits per year, ensuring 

people can remain active and independent in their own homes and community. 

Able Axcess are the leading suppliers of aluminium mobility ramps for 

residential and commercial disability access. We also manufacture rubber 

threshold ramps and level shower inserts, at our factory in Feilding. 

Milner Mobility is a family owned and operated business. Our vision is to give 

people independence and assist as many families as possible into mobility 

vehicles. With expert knowledge and support, we can assist you in your 

adaption, service, sales or rental requirements. 

Avonhead 

Rotary 

The members of our Back Bone Crew who make donations on a regular basis. 

Deluxe Box 

Freedom Mobility 

Crusaders 

The Palms Shopping Centre 

Cube Design 

The Elizabeth Ball 

Charitable Trust 

A F W and J M Jones 

Foundation 

Rehabilitation 

Welfare Trust 

Hyman Marks 

Charitable Trust 

Burwood 

Volunteers Trust 

Melrose Kiwi Concept Chairs 

JBS Dudding Trust 

Are you a subscriber? 

It’s easy to subscribe to the NZST and it only costs $30 a year. Your subscription 

helps with the printing of the Spinal Network News magazine and helps us 

support the positive futures of people with spinal cord impairment. 

Go to our website and click 

on the red ‘Donate’ button 

www.nzst.org.nz

TiLite CR1 

The new exceptionally light 

carbon-fibre manual wheelchair 

from TiLite, with an integrated 

fold-down backrest and dual-angled 

front end for increased access. 

True innovation is here. 

Permobil New Zealand Limited 

0800 115 222 

sales.nz@permobil.com 

www.permobil.com/en-nz

SNN_April 2024 Issue_v5

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