Kia ora tatou,
Hello to all of us,
This morning I am writing to you from Nelson Tasman Bay Hospice where I am with Peter. Guide Dog, Wallace, wanders around supervising everyone and, of course, is much welcomed and admired. The garden here is beautiful and has water features and a mosaic totem pole of kowhai and pohutakawa. I know we often talk about the difference between independence, learned helplessness, and interdependence. These are often fluid concepts as our needs change, sometimes daily. What many of you may not know is that this mail out is not possible before “first coffee”. At the moment I am dealing with a boiler mounted on the wall and my coffee plunger. I need both hands to do this and so, in lifting the plunger up, I can’t tell if it is level. I get someone to do that part for me knowing I manage very well at home and just now am choosing aroha as part of my problem solving. Many of us face these challenges every day one way or another. There is no need to advocate here because I don’t have to ask for anyone to change their ideas about something; it simply unfolds because whānau, staff, and friends are all present in the moment. If it needs doing we communicate and it gets done. That is my ideal for our Vision and Mission Statements and I’m experiencing it right here, right now. I have space to explore what I can do in my new normal and find my own boundaries as opposed to spending energy pushing out artificially imposed ones. All things are possible!
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Show Me Shorts on demand film festival accessibility questionnaire
The following message is from Stace Robertson (he/him), Access, Inclusion and Participation Advisor Arts Access Aotearoa.
Kia ora,
I’m sharing this on behalf of the team at Show Me Shorts Film Festival. They are working toward making their On Demand and cinema screenings more accessible and are keen to know what would be most useful to Deaf and disabled viewers so they are inviting people to complete a short survey.
Show Me Short Film Festival survey
If you have questions or would like to give feedback another way please email marketing@showmeshorts.co.nz or call Mark Prebble on 022 155 9028. Please feel welcome to pass this on to any other Deaf or disabled people who you think might be interested in completing the survey.
“Show Me Shorts Film Festival is working towards making its On Demand and cinemascreenings more accessible. We’re interested in hearing from you to hear what you think. We have the opportunity to add accessibility tools to our On Demand platform for our main festival in October, and want to find out which tools will be the most useful.
“As part of this survey, we invite you to test the On Demand platform for free by viewing complimentary screenings. These programmes are part of our Winter Season of Short Film Nights, but work in a similar way to the main festival. The first programme – NZ Queer Short Films is available for this weekend only – 3/4 June. A second programme of Indian Short Films will be available for the weekend of 24/25 June. The final programme of Italian Short Films will be available for the weekend of 15/16 July.
“Please use the code SHORTFILMS23 at the link below to access the NZ Queer Short Films this weekend.
Queer short film night bundle – 2023
“As a koha for completing the survey, we will email you a free access code to the rest of our On Demand Season.”
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Events
Blind Sport opportunities for June and July, from Jemma
Taranaki Gotcha Boccia – weekly programme
When: Wednesdays: 7 and 14 June.
Where: Paritutu Bowling Club, 445 Saint Aubyn Street, Moturoa, New Plymouth.
Register for Taranaki Gotcha Boccia
Email manuel@parafedtaranaki.
Taranaki Gotcha Boccia flyer (PDF 485 KB)
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Manawatu Gotcha Boccia – weekly programme
When: Thursdays 4pm: 8, 15 and 22 June.
Where: Massey Recreation Centre, Orchard Road, Fitzherbert, Palmerston North
Register for Manawatu Gotcha Boccia
Email djh12.hill@gmail.com or call 0210 237 6824.
Manawatu Gotcha Boccia flyer (PDF 484 KB)
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Wellington BLENNZ curriculum day
When: 16 June, 10am to 2pm.
Where:NZCIS Upper Hutt, Wellington.
Who: Ages 13 to 18 years.
What: Have a go at goalball and other games with BSNZ, Halberg, Dsport.
Contact Robin Schofield to register and for more information.
Robin.schofield@
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Auckland Bike Ride Series
When: 17 June 9.30am.
Where: Southern Path Ramp – Karaka Loop.
For all ages and abilities, whether you have never tried to ride or Tandem before and want to try / learn.
Rides start at 9.30am and will finish with the BBQ at 12pm.
Cost is FREE.
Register for the Southern Path Ramp – Karaka Loop
Contact jemma@blindsport.kiwi.
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Dunedin – Have a go ISAPA
When: 25 June, 10am to 2pm.
Where: Forsyth Barr Stadium.
What: Have a go at blind football, boccia, archery, table tennis plus more.
Register: contact John@halberg.co.nz.
Have a go ISAPA flyer (PNG 920 KB)
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July
Auckland Bike Ride Series
When: 7th July 9.30am.
Where: Beachlands to Maraetai Path – Omana Park.
Whether you have never tried to ride or Tandem before and want to try / learn.
Each of the 5 rides will start at 9.30am and will finish each rides with the BBQ at 12pm.
Cost is FREE.
Register for the Beachlands to Maraetai Path – Omana Park
Contact jemma@blindsport.kiwi.
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Invercargill Iam Games
This will be a multi-sport “Festival of Fun and participation” eventfor your young people aged 5 to 21 who live with disability. All sessions on both days will be ‘have a go; with the aim to get our young people to try and experience new activities.
When: 8 and 9 July.
IAM Games 2023 – expression of interest
Contact Chris Knight, chris@activesouthland.co.nz.
Iam Games flyer (PDF 441 KB)
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Napier – Gotcha Boccia 6 week programme
When: Starting in July 2023.
Register for Napier Gotcha Boccia
Gotcha Boccia is an introductory, fun and inclusive community Boccia programme that welcomes participants with physical, vision, and intellectual impairments, of all genders, ages and abilities.
There is no cost to this 6 week programme.
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Goalball Nationals (Auckland)
When: 14 to 16 July.
Where: BLVNZ recreation centre, Manurewa.
There will be two leagues for advanced and development. Come with a team or on your own (we will find you a team) and experience the exciting sport.
Contact Troy Ramsay, troyram@yahoo.com for more information.
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NZ Blind Lawn Bowls Championships
When: 28, 29 and 30 July.
Where: New Lynn Bowling Club – New Lynn.
For more information and to register, contact Kevin, kevincsmith23@gmail.com.
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Queenstown Adaptive SnowSports Festival
When: 5 to 7 August 2023.
Any abilities, all ages.
Contact jemma@blindsport.kiwi for more information.
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Queenstown VI Swim Camp
When: 25 to 27 August.
For ages 8 to 24 years to increase swim confidence along with other activities. Must be able to swim a length minimum.
Register interest for the Queenstown VI swim camp
Cost: Free (Not including travel to and from Queenstown)
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The Haka Party Incident audio-described in Wellington Thursday 15 June
Kia Mau Festival Wellington presents: The Haka Party Incident as an audio-described performance.
The last New Zealand war took place in Auckland in 1979.
It lasted three minutes.
The Haka Party Incident resurrects the eventful day when a group of University of Auckland engineering students rehearsing their annual tradition of a mock haka are confronted by the activist group, He Taua.
The incident sent ripples through the nation and changed race relations in New Zealand forever.
Crafted by film-maker and theatre director Katie Wolfe (The Mooncake and the Kumara, Waru, He Māngai Wāhine, Artefact), The Haka Party Incident is verbatim theatre that innovatively combines documentary and kapa haka to thrilling effect.
Provocative, resonant and unforgettable, The Haka Party Incident is a not-to-be-missed theatre event.
‘Masterfully brings to life a bold act of resistance…. intensely funny, to heartbreakingly sad in a single beat’ – Theatreview
Audio-described performance 15 June.
Venue: Opera House 111-113 Manners Street Wellington
Times 6pm-6.30pm touch tour, 7.30pm audio-described performance.
Concession tickets range from $30-$50.
Audio-described performances provide a live audio commentary by passionate professionals from Audio Described Aotearoa Ltd as they describe the actions on stage. This commentary is relayed to blind and low-vision patrons via an earpiece which can be booked in advance. Touch tours are held one and a half hours before the show. Patrons can walk through the set, touch props, feel costumes and familiarise themselves with visual and sensory materials in the performance.
To book a place on the touch tour and the audio described performance, email ticketing@kiamaufestival.org providing your contact information, the number of people in your group and how many require an audio description headset.
Website information available here:
Website information about The Haka Party
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Connecting to Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Inc
Two weeks ago without reason we included a link to the draft minutes for the Board Meeting of Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Inc held on Saturday 29th April. Now with reason, this was for the excerpt copied below.
“Mr Billings asked for further information on the emotional support programme mentioned in the Chief Executive’s report and how it could be expanded in collaboration with the Deafblind Association.
Mr Mulka discussed the collaborative partnership with the Deafblind Association to expand programme offerings and emphasised the unique needs of dual sensory loss and working with service delivery, audiologists and others in the community. He also mentioned the shift towards a more holistic approach with other providers in the community, which he sees as a positive step forward.”
The draft minutes are available in full as a word document at the following link:
Final draft board minutes 2023 (DOCX 178 KB)
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DPA’s Information Exchange
Links to recent Information Exchanges in your browser follow, noting the 20 May edition includes an item on Disability Action Plans as an important tool to enable tertiary education organisations (TEOs) to evidence their support of disabled learners. A link to the newsletter follows.
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Opportunities
Auckland Transport Internal Advisory Group – One vacancy
The Public Transport Accessibility Group (PTAG) has an additional new application round with the unexpected departure for a current membership agency. Shortlisting and any interviews will commence immediately after the closing date of 5:00pm 9 June.
We will consider all applications, but priority will be given to experience and knowledge of cognitive disabilities and/ or the deaf community and able to use NZSL. The new Public Transport Accessibility Advisory Group convened in February 2023 and will continue for three years until December 2025.
Being able to move around easily in Auckland is important to all of us. It can be a particular challenge if you live with a disability or are a member of our senior community.
To help us provide better transport outcomes we have two advisory groups. One is the Public Transport Accessibility Group (PTAG) which focuses on the experience of public transport and this special application round will be open for a short period only.
The memberships in these groups are asked questions about projects and provide us with advice and insights into accessibility issues for public transport users and to help ensure that our facilities, such as rail stations, bus stops and ferry wharves, work for everyone.
Any questions and completed documents should be emailed to Nekel Upton Nekel.upton@at.govt.nz.
Links to documentation for 513-23-242-SD – Public Transport Accessibility Group (PTAG) – 2023-2025 as (mostly) word documents follow.
PTAG terms of reference (DOCX 329 KB)
PTAG registration of interest (PDF 1.1 MB)
Code of conduct (DOCX 26
PTAG registration of interest response template
As usual, event reminders and TellMe phone numbers follow.
Ngā mihi mahana,
Warm regards,
On behalf of Amanda and Sarah
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Event reminders
Bookings required.
Thursday 15th June 6:30 – 9:30pm Planning for Adulthood. Further details are available at the following website link.
Thursday 22ndJune 11:30 – 2pm Education Legal Issues. Further details are available at the following website link.
Saturday 17 June 2023 10.30am–12.00pm Auckland Art Gallery Free Audio Described Tour of Brent Harris: The Other Side.
26 June to 1 July Deafblind Awareness Week – anywhere or anything you want it to be.
Wednesday 28 June, New Plymouth – Backstage Touch Tour and Audio Described Performance of The Haka Party Incident by Katie Wolfe. Part of Taranaki Arts Festival.
Sunday 27 August, Braille House, Wellington – Deafblind Association NZ Annual General Meeting and gathering. Please email Sarah at boardsecretary@deafblindassociation.nz if you are interested in attending.
Friday 30 June – closing date for BANZAT call for expressions of interest in becoming a Trustee.
Election Access Fund – the Election Access Fund supports disabled people to be candidates in parliamentary general elections and by-elections, including helping candidates to complete an application. Nominations for candidates standing in this year’s General Election close at noon, Friday 15 September.
More information and resources are available at the following website links.
Information about becoming a candidate in a General Election.
Information about the Election Access Fund and how to apply, including in alternate formats.
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Ongoing – Entertainment with Able
Able is a not-for-profit organisation working towards a more inclusive Aotearoa, believing everyone should be able to access news, entertainment and culture. Funded by NZ On Air, they’re Aotearoa’s leading provider of media access services, including captioning services, subtitling and audio description.
Listings are available at the following browser links.
A link to Able website to subscribe to the weekly newsletter with listings and picks of the week follows.
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Deafblind Association New Zealand access to TellMe
See TellMe numbers for your area
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End of report and this week’s update.
Amanda Stevens
Executive Officer
Taringa Turi Kāpō Rōpū
Deafblind Association New Zealand
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