Tewai Skipwith-Halatau #38

Date of Birth | 11 April 1956 |
Ethnicity | Māori |
Resides | Auckland |
Iwi | Te Arawa |
Occupation | Manager in disability development |
Impairment (Disability) | Visually impaired |
Tewai’s journey started as a child attending South Auckland’s Homai College which provided specialist education for blind students. Enjoying sport thanks to a passionate PE teacher she started competing in Blind Sports. In her early 20s, she was selected to the New Zealand Paralympic Team to compete at Arnhem 1980 where she won a bronze medal in the discus. Coming back from the Netherlands, Tewai focused on her studies and started a social work diploma. It helped her pursue her passion for disability development in the Pacific region. In 2003, with Latoa they established Vision Pacific, a charitable trust that helps disabled people live an independent life.
A feature story on Tewai can be found here.
Tewai officially received her ‘numbered’ Paralympic pin as part of The Celebration Project in Auckland in February 2020.
Paralympic results
1980 | Arnhem 1980 Paralympic Games | Bronze Women's Discus A |