Walking Alongside, Not in Front

“Real advocacy doesn’t mean speaking for someone. It means being beside them when their voice needs support to be heard.”

At Citizen Advocacy Auckland, one of our guiding principles is simple — but powerful: walk alongside, not in front.

That means we don’t take over. We don’t speak over. And we don’t make assumptions.

Instead, we commit to forming a relationship — one that’s built on trust, respect, and deep listening. Our advocates are there to stand beside the person they support through the ups, the downs, and the everyday moments in between. They might go to appointments together, help make decisions, or just be a consistent, trusted presence in someone’s life.

For people with intellectual disabilities who are often excluded, isolated, or unheard — having someone beside you can be life-changing. And for the advocate, it’s often just as powerful.

We’ve seen these relationships last years — sometimes decades — and the ripple effect they create in both lives is profound.

This is the heart of our mahi. One person. One relationship. One connection at a time.

🔗 Interested in becoming an advocate? Learn more here →