Nikau’s Story: Finding His Way Back

Nikau is a disabled man in his 30s. One year before VisAble was contacted, he had been uplifted by Police and placed in a private hospital. It was meant to be a place of safety — but it wasn’t right for his needs. He was far from home, isolated, and the placement was on the verge of breaking down.

Nikau had survived alleged serious neglect, physical abuse, and financial abuse by extended whānau. He had been assessed as not having capacity to make decisions — and yet, planning for his future had stalled. He kept saying he wanted to leave. He wanted to go home.

When Whaikaha referred Nikau to VisAble under their duty of care, we stepped in to help agencies listen differently — and to centre his will and preferences.

We started by arranging in-person, independent advocacy. Nikau made it clear: he wanted to return to his home region and reconnect with whānau. Some agencies were deeply concerned — especially Police, given the history of harm. But our role wasn’t to shut things down. It was to open the door to a safer way forward that still upheld Nikau’s rights and choices.

VisAble brought together social services, health teams, local providers and whānau. We supported inter-agency planning under the PPPR Act, coached providers on their responsibilities, and created communication and safety plans that made sense to Nikau and the people around him.

Together, we made the move possible. Nikau now lives back in his community. He’s connected, supported, and has begun to rebuild whānau relationships. VisAble is no longer involved — but his story carries on.

Nikau’s experience reminds us: safety should never mean silencing someone. Disabled people deserve options that honour their rights, voice, and tino rangatiratanga.