Young and gifted

With his bubbly nature and outgoing personality, it would be hard not to miss Haz Crawford (Ngāi Tahu) in any large crowd. The 22-year-old local artist expresses himself by creating unique pieces of art, influenced by his own experiences of growing up with Autism.

With the support of his good friend and mentor, The Good The Bad Gallery Director Gary Silipa, Haz was inspired to create an exhibition at the Glen Innes studio to showcase the talents of other creatives on the Autism spectrum.

The Good The Bad Gallery is a community arts initiative that works in conjunction with Tāmaki Regeneration Company (TRC) to highlight local Tāmaki artists.

Haz was diagnosed with Autism at 17 months old, and later with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) at 15 years of age. In the years to follow he also experienced episodes of depression and anxiety. Despite these obstacles, Haz is proud to be different and chooses to use his experiences to encourage others who may need support.

“I used to struggle alot, but being involved with art and taking up other hobbies has helped me to get through some challenging times. Now, I use my differences to my advantage - especially with my Māori heritage and as a proud member of the LGQBT community. I want to continue to be a voice for everyone on the spectrum, and to inspire people who are still struggling with their own mental health.”

Belinda Johnston is proud of her son's achievements and has been his number one supporter since day one. “Haz's father and I are super proud of his passion to give back to others and to support other neuro-diverse people to express themselves through the arts. He loves living in Glen Innes so it was very important for Haz that the exhibition be at a venue in the heart of his community,” she says.

The event aligned with the World Autism Awareness Day and each piece of work on display shared a small glimpse into the world of the artists living with Autism.

The exhibition had its very own special opening and featured several performances and guest speakers which included the Minister for Disability Issues, Hon Priyanca Radhakrishna, and Tamara Grant from the Xabilities organisation.

Haz also enjoys playing golf and is currently a member of the New Zealand Mini Golf Federation (NZMGF). He has competed in tournaments at a national level and is currently taking professional PGA Lessons with the hopes of representing NZ at the Special Olympics New Zealand (SONZ) with plans to follow the pathway into a professional career. Be sure to watch this space!