NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • Deloitte Fast 50
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Six-wheel-drive wheelchair developed by Northland artist 'non-disabling' for users

Luke Kirkness
By Luke Kirkness
Sport Planning Editor·NZ Herald·
27 Feb, 2019 06:00 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
The '6X6 Explorer' wheelchair, invented by Ahipara foot artist Kevin Griffiths, above, and his brother enables its users to take on all types of terrain, from farmland to beach rocks
The '6X6 Explorer' wheelchair, invented by Ahipara foot artist Kevin Griffiths, above, and his brother enables its users to take on all types of terrain, from farmland to beach rocks

The '6X6 Explorer' wheelchair, invented by Ahipara foot artist Kevin Griffiths, above, and his brother enables its users to take on all types of terrain, from farmland to beach rocks

Ahipara mouth artist Kevin Griffiths might not have the use of his hands but it hasn't stopped him from doing the things he loves most.

Griffiths often heads down to Ninety Mile Beach to fish but found his standard wheelchair was always getting stuck in the sand.

Frustrated by its efforts, Griffiths teamed up with his fitter and turner brother Dave to build a six-wheel-drive, all-terrain electric wheelchair.

"We wanted it to be powerful enough to plough through sand so I could go fishing", he said.

"So, we [went] for a six-wheel-drive driven by high torque electric motors."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Ahipara mouth painting artist Kevin Griffiths developed this six-wheel-drive wheelchair with his brother.
Ahipara mouth painting artist Kevin Griffiths developed this six-wheel-drive wheelchair with his brother.

Now, Griffiths can venture almost anywhere he pleases, the wheelchair tackling a variety of surfaces from sand, beach rocks, mud and farmland with ease.

Disability advocate and Tiaho Trust chief executive Jonny Wilkinson said the invention is "non-disabling" for wheelchair users.

"I think that individuals aren't disabled, they have impairments but its the environment or attitudes that disables them," he told the Northern Advocate.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"So, if you're a wheelchair user and you're in an environment that a wheelchair can't get through it's a disabling environment.

"Something like that six-wheeled wheelchair is incredibly non-disabling and allows access to the wonderful outdoors that we have around Northland."

Griffiths broke his neck during a swimming accident at 13 and has been confined to a wheelchair as a quadriplegic since.

Painting with his mouth, Griffiths creates paintings of the countryside which surrounds him and sells them worldwide.

Discover more

Lifestyle

Could you scoff a loaf-sized cream doughnut in two minutes?

27 Feb 05:00 PM

Selling for $28,000+GST, the brothers have sold 80 of their all-terrain wheelchairs in New Zealand and five in Australia, each being tailored specifically to the needs of its owner.

Named "6X6 Explorer", the wheelchair started off as an import from the United States but the Griffiths brothers felt it could be improved considerably.

A new Auto Sport seat with a four-point safety harness was installed, along with fold-up padded armrests and a low footrest area which makes for easy access.

The electric-powered wheelchair has a top speed of walking pace and has low gearing likened to a four-wheel-drive vehicle in low range.

The list of gadgets and gizmos don't stop there either, it can also be fitted with a 2500lb winch at the front and back to help conquer more difficult terrain.

But the wheelchair isn't only for those who have suffered spinal injuries, Griffiths said, as they appeal to any manner of people.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"We feel it is also very suitable for the elderly, such as those who have had a stroke, or farmers who are no longer able to ride a Quad Bike," he said.

Save
    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

'Distils the complexity': Book about Treaty of Waitangi scoops top prize

New Zealand

Police raid reveals dangerous drugs and a home-made taser at dealer's home

New Zealand

Urgent sausages recall after glass injury reported


Sponsored

Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Recommended for you

'Distils the complexity': Book about Treaty of Waitangi scoops top prize
New Zealand

'Distils the complexity': Book about Treaty of Waitangi scoops top prize

Why Morocco's souks are a shopper's paradise
Travel

Why Morocco's souks are a shopper's paradise

'Never had trouble with erections': Band dismiss AI-generated claims
Entertainment

'Never had trouble with erections': Band dismiss AI-generated claims

Police raid reveals dangerous drugs and a home-made taser at dealer's home
New Zealand

Police raid reveals dangerous drugs and a home-made taser at dealer's home

Urgent sausages recall after glass injury reported
New Zealand

Urgent sausages recall after glass injury reported

$21m Tauranga Hospital urgent care upgrade completed after four years
Bay of Plenty Times

$21m Tauranga Hospital urgent care upgrade completed after four years



Latest from New Zealand

'Distils the complexity': Book about Treaty of Waitangi scoops top prize
New Zealand

'Distils the complexity': Book about Treaty of Waitangi scoops top prize

Category winners receive $8500, except for the first book winners, who take home $2500.

13 Aug 08:45 AM
Police raid reveals dangerous drugs and a home-made taser at dealer's home
New Zealand

Police raid reveals dangerous drugs and a home-made taser at dealer's home

13 Aug 08:00 AM
Urgent sausages recall after glass injury reported
New Zealand

Urgent sausages recall after glass injury reported

13 Aug 07:43 AM


Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet
Sponsored

Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet

10 Aug 09:12 PM

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search