Natalie Johnston named first Whanganui representative on Halberg Youth Council

Natalie Johnston from Waverley has become the first Whanganui representative on the Halberg Foundation NZ Youth Council. Photo / Fin Ocheduszko Brown

Natalie Johnston hopes a seat on the Halberg Youth Council will help her raise the profile of the Halberg Games.

The Whanganui-schooled 18-year-old is the first from the region to be selected for a seat.

The council provides young people with physical disabilities a platform to share their perspectives, strengthen their leadership skills and help shape the future of inclusion through sport across New Zealand.

Johnston is one of four new councillors to join the nine-year-old council, which is part of the Halberg Foundation.

Established in 1963 by Olympian Sir Murray Halberg, the foundation is a New Zealand charitable organisation that aims to make sport accessible to everyone, regardless of physical ability.

The foundation hosts inclusive events such as the Halberg Games, which enable young athletes aged 8-21 with a physical disability or visual impairment to take part in sport in an inclusive environment.

Johnston, who is from Waverley, said she was looking forward to beginning her new role after having applied for the past two years.

“I’m really excited to be in the role and to be the first Halberg representative on the Youth Council from Whanganui,” she said.

Johnston was born with septo-optic dysplasia – also known as De Morsier syndrome.

She lost her vision completely at age 6, after an operation.

The Whanganui Girls’ College student has been involved with the Halberg community since pre-school and regularly takes part in regional events.

Johnston has competed at the Halberg Games for several years and first represented Whanganui, alongside Max Walsh, in 2024.

Johnston regularly competes at the Halberg Games.

She is a keen sportswoman, willing to dabble her toes in anything, but swimming and horse-riding lie closest to her heart.

“Swimming, especially, has done lots for me. I have been swimming since I was about 6 weeks old, so I’ve grown up in the water, and I just love being in the water,” Johnston said.

“It makes me feel safe and it’s one of my happy places.”

She said horse-riding is less accessible with her blindness because it is difficult to navigate without someone leading.

“But with swimming, I can get in the pool on my own and just go for it – as hard as I want.”

The council holds virtual meetings every month and gathers in person twice a year.

Johnston will assist events in the Manawatū-Whanganui and Taranaki regions with Halberg Foundation adviser Max Pringle.

Pringle said Johnston’s selection was well-deserved.

“She’s such a great fit, I love Natalie, she’s so positive and bubbly,” he said.

“One of the best things she ever said to me, which really spoke to my heart, was, ‘I’m actually really lucky because I have lived in both worlds’.

“I think she’s such a good asset because she’s just a character, in the best way possible. She does heaps of things out of her comfort zone.

“We’re really lucky to be in a position where we can support that stuff.”

Pringle said Johnston had an infectious attitude that people around her picked up on.

Some of Johnston’s goals while part of the council include raising more awareness about the Halberg Games, implementing a horse-riding event for disabled people and encouraging a partnership with Blind Sport New Zealand (BSNZ).

Becoming a Paralympic swimmer is her biggest goal for the future, but she would also love to become an early childhood teacher.

The Halberg Games are set for April 10-12 at King’s College, Auckland.

“You don’t have to go and compete, you can just go, have fun and try new sports,” she said.

Fin Ocheduszko Brown is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.