Kia ora Tatou,
Hello to all of us,
OK, so it’s only zero degrees in Nelson this morning! I checked Alexa who told me the coldest place on the globe today is minus 48C in Antarctica and plus 54C (somewhere in California I think). My gratitude for the day is that we hit the middle mark! I love my Alexa for all the things she can tell me. Mostly:
- what’s the time?
- how do I spell …?
- set a timer
- set an alarm
- what’s the weather today? (especially useful for knowing if I need to put frost-cloth over my plants or if it is worth putting washing out)
- play a song (especially useful when boogieing down in the kitchen)
- add an item to my shopping list (especially useful when I have my hands on other things in the kitchen and can’t get to my laptop or phone)
- how old is Bruce Springsteen?
- who is Haben Girma? (I had to spell that)
I love the flexibility! What’s your top use of Alexa or Google?
Thank you once again to Elizabeth who has provided some great information about bluetooth for phones to hearing aids. Please note Deafblind Association NZ do not recommend one type of phone over another as we are all individual in our preferred access and budget. 
—–
Blue Tooth Connectivity between Mobile Phones and Hearing Aids
Blue Tooth Connectivity between Mobile Phones and Hearing Aids (DOCX 16 KB)
Peer to Peer Gatherings
- Nelson meet Tuesday, 13 August.
- Auckland still in negotiation for venues.
- New Plymouth mid-September.
- Hamilton, Palmerston North, Kāpiti and Wellington/Lower Hutt mid-October
Please contact us if you are interested in attending any of these events by replying to this email or calling Amanda on 0800 450 650.
—–
Articles
These were shared by Thomas on the BlindDiscuss List.
—
Te Hiringa Mahara Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Leadership Insights Paper summary is now available in Alternate Formats
A new monitoring report from the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission shows how the use of mental health services and addiction services is changing in New Zealand. The report is called Kua Tīmata Te Haerenga – The Journey Has Begun. The report includes the number of people using different types of services since 2018. There is information about how easy it is for people to choose services and access services. The report can be read in large print, NZSL, easy read, braille, and audio. A link to the report on the website follows.
—
2 updates from the Human Rights Commission available in Alternate Formats
A guide to how the Human Rights Commission can assist with human rights questions is now available in accessible formats including audio, e-Braille (BRF), large print and NZSL. The Commission can help with questions about human rights issues, and complaints about discrimination, sexual harassment, racial harassment, conversion practices, harmful speech, and more. The service is guided by tikanga and aims to be accessible to everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Links to website below.
Making a complaint (Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission)
—
Survivor Experiences Service for people who have experienced abuse in care
The Survivor Experiences Service aims to provide a safe, supportive, confidential place where survivors of abuse in care, and their whānau, can share their experiences.
Link to website below.
Survivor Experiences Service: For people who have experience abuse in case
Link to Survivor Experiences Service Complaints Process. This is part of a suite of accessible formats for our complaints process, to ensure people understand how to lay a complaint about the Survivor Experiences Service.
Complains Process (Survivor Experiences Service)
—
Ministry of Education Let’s Get Accessible report and Let’s Get Accessible summary in Alternate Formats
Published in May 2024, Let’s Get Accessible highlights the lived experiences of disabled students and includes stories about the difficulties faced by disabled tertiary students in accessing tertiary education and services, and their experiences of social exclusion while studying.
You can access these documents in Alternate Formats at:
—
Creative NZ – NZers and the Arts – Ko Aotearoa me ōna Toi 2023 research
Reports on New Zealanders attitudes, attendance and participation in the arts, including Deaf and disabled, are available on Creative NZ’s website, linked below.
New Zealanders and the Arts – Ko Aotearoa me ōna Toi (Creative New Zealand)
—
OrCam to halt developing visual aid devices
Israeli company OrCam, which develops devices to assist those with visual and hearing impairments, is to halt development of its flagship product for visual aid. The company, which was founded by Mobileye Global Inc. (Nasdaq: MBLY) founders Amnon Shashua and Ziv Aviram, will focus on its development of devices for the hard of hearing. As part of the new focus, dozens of employees will be laid off, according to market sources. The company has 80 employees in Israel, according to IVC.
Article: OrCam to halt developing visual aid devices (Globes)
—–
Events
New Plymouth – Audio described tours, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and Len Lye Centre
From Wendy Lawrence at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth.
We are hosting a free audio described tour of the new exhibition, Without Centre, without limits.
Date: Monday 12 August.
Time: 10:30-11:30.
This exhibition by four artists from South and East Taiwan was conceived in 2022 as part of a process to enact connections and encourage future exchanges between Taiwan and Aotearoa, a space of shared migration and enduring whakapapa ties. Insights into the contemporary life and concerns of the artists— Lafin Sawmah, Eleng Luluan, Akac Orat and Malay Makakazuwan—are offered through new works created for the Govett-Brewster after reflecting on time spent together during a two-week residency in Aotearoa. Each artist draws on their personal experience and distinct tribal backgrounds to invigorate their indigenous material cultures, narratives, and knowledge. The resulting works are grounded in the shared beliefs of collective responsibility, community spirit, an inseparable connection to land and sea, and the unbreakable bond between past, present and future—all ideas from the edge of
These tours run bi-monthly on the second Monday so future tours will be on 14 October and 9 December.
Wendy Lawrence is the Customer Service Officer and Accessibility Assistant, phone 06 759 6060.
—
Auckland audio described Scenes from the Climate Era
If you missed this from the Audio Described Booklet early this year, here it a reminder about the next Auckland Theatre Company show.
Scenes from the Climate Era
By David Finnigan.
Scenes from the Climate Era isn’t just a conversation about climate change, it’s a dizzying stream of conversations, snapping from absurd comedy to blistering rage to deep vulnerability. Set in the past, the present and a possible future, they’re personal snapshots of the biggest story in human history.
This is a collaboration between Auckland Theatre Company and Silo Theatre.
When: Sunday, 18 August: 2:30pm, touch tour; 4:00pm, audio described performance.
Where: Rangatira, Q Theatre, 305 Queen Street, Auckland.
Run time: 1 hour 20 minutes, no interval.
Tickets: access tickets are $20, plus a companion seat for $20.
To book tickets:
- email boxoffice@atc.co.nz
- or phone or use NZ Relay Services to call ATC Box Office 0800 282 849.
—
The Wiggles are coming to Auckland! Audio Described!
From Audio Described Aotearoa.
Get ready to sing, dance & GROOVE with The Wiggles’ Wiggle Groove Tour!
Embark on a musical adventure like no other with the world’s most popular children’s entertainment sensation, The Wiggles! With over three decades of wiggly hits, The Wiggles are taking the Big Red Car on the road again to bring their high energy, catchy tunes, and signature dance moves to Auckland. The Wiggle Groove Tour promises to be an extravaganza of music, laughter, and learning, featuring all the beloved Wiggles including Anthony, Tsehay, Lachy, Simon, John, Lucia, Caterina & Evie. Of course it wouldn’t be a Wiggles show with our wiggly friends, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus & Captain Feathersword!
When: Saturday 28 September 2024 at 10am.
Where: Spark Arena, 42/80 Mahuhu Crescent, Parnell, Auckland 1010.
Bookings open 9am, Tuesday 13 August 2024 and close 5pm, Friday 20 September 2024.
Tickets: $38.90 + booking fees per ticket. Free companion tickets are available.
To book: Call Ticketmaster on 09 970 9700 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm) or email the address below.
groups.newzealand@ticketmaster.co.nz.
When booking, provide the code “ADA Wiggles” and notify them of any additional access requirements your party has, how many headsets you need and if you are bringing a guide dog.
Ticket holders will receive details regarding the meeting point and headset collection information via a Ticketmaster email ahead of the show.
Unfortunately, there will be no touch tour available for this show.
—
Whanganui – Audio Described Oliver
From Amanda Gough, Resource Teacher Vision, BLENNZ.
This October, the historic Royal Whanganui Opera House will be buzzing with excitement as Amdram Theatre celebrates its 150th anniversary with a production of the beloved musical Oliver! which promises to be both inclusive and unforgettable.
This milestone performance will feature sign language interpretation and audio description, ensuring that audiences of all abilities can partake in the celebration.
Amdram Theatre, part of the Whanganui community, has a rich history of bringing high-quality performances to the stage. As the theatre commemorates a century and a half of theatrical endeavours, it is embracing modern inclusivity standards to make the arts accessible to everyone in the community.
The anniversary season runs from Friday, October 11 to Sunday, October 20. The closing matinee on Sunday, October 20 is both sign language interpreted through Platform Interpreting NZ and audio described by Rebekah Dack, an audio describer currently working for Abel TV in Auckland.
When: Sunday, 20 October 2024, 2:00pm, audio described show.
Where: Royal Whanganui Opera House, 69 Saint Hill Street, Whanganui.
To book tickets email the Box Office at RoyalOperaHouse@whanganui.govt.nz or phone 06 349 0511.
—–
Other newsletters
Carers New Zealand
This issue includes links to a wellbeing resource and the State of Caring survey.
The D*List
The D*List website is an online culture magazine that creates space for disabled people to tell their own stories through features, columns and news reporting.
Link to weekly update below.
The D*List Delivered (Substack)
Following is a link to have a browse of The D*List website or sign up to receive their weekly newsletter.
Be Seen be Heard be Connected Weekly Update
Please note, access to our weekly be Seen Be Heard Be Connected emails is also available on our website via our events page, at the following link.
News and events (Deafblind Association New Zealand)
Ngā mihi mahana,
Warm regards,
Amanda
—–
Event reminders
EGL – SAMS and Tama hui
28 August 10:00am – 2:00pm (venue in West Auckland to be advised).
Hui for for community-led disability leadership informed by the Enabling Good Lives approach. A smaller online hui, for the deaf community is proposed for 27 August 2024 6:00 -7:30pm. Register for either by emailing egl@sams.org.nz.
Thursday 3 October Deafblind UK Online Conference 2024
Theme: “Standing out and fitting in”. The conference is free and all are welcome.
DbI Asian Regional Conference Pokhara Nepal
1st to 3rd March 2025.
Deafblind International Notice of Asian Conference 2025
—–
Feedback requested reminders
National Housing Survey
The Urban Advisory longitudinal study so there is no foreseeable closing date. The survey asks how people make their housing choices and what they want to see happen with housing in the future, with the intention of helping New Zealand better respond to housing needs and demand.
Completed surveys are eligible for entry into a quarterly prize draw to win a $200 Prezzy Card. It is an online survey through Qualtrics and is expected to take less than 30 minutes to complete. Details were provided in 24 May update.
The website link below includes Frequently Asked Questions, an info pack and a contact email address.
New Zealand’s Housing Survey (The Urban Advisory)
—
Public library use and accessibility
Blind Low Vision NZ Client Training and Engagement Senior Advisor Tom Smith asks: “Is there anybody willing to be interviewed about their use of public library services and accessibility?”
Details were provided in 14 June update, or email Tom.
—–
Ongoing events
2024 Audio Described Nationwide Events Booklet
The events list with booklet page numbers was provided in the 23 February update.
The full calendar is available as a word document via the following link.
2024 Events Information (DOCX 60 KB)
—
No Labels on Wellington Access Radio
You can listen to this edition of the show on Wellington Access Radio on Tuesday just after 1:00pm, or the following Tuesday at the same time.
If you miss the scheduled show, you can check it out later online at the link below.
No Labels (Wellington Access Radio)
Or you can subscribe to the show via your preferred podcast player to check out this episode or previous episodes of the show.
—
Living Blindfully
Weekly show hosted by Jonathan Mosen
Living Blindfully audio episodes (Living Blindfully)
—
Blind Spot, Radio Southland
Monthly show hosted by Carolyn Weston
—
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’s website to subscribe to the weekly newsletter with listings and picks of the week follows.
—–
Deafblind Association New Zealand access to TellMe
See TellMe numbers for your area
—–
End of report and this week’s update.
Amanda Stevens
Executive Officer
Taringa Turi Kāpō Rōpū
Deafblind Association New Zealand