Kia ora tatou,
Hello to all of us,
It’s now time to say thank you with gratitude to Sarah Walters, who is leaving our team. Sarah has kept all the plates spinning in our financial reporting, our logistics, our Conference support, travel for you and the Board and for me, offered her family as volunteers on so many occasions, chased me for receipts, kept our minutes and the subsequent actions clear, been so supportive in the due process of finding a new Board Secretary alongside the Board, as well as a thousand other unexpected things.
I am glad for the friendship we have built and I express that also on behalf of the Board and all those who have been touched by her generosity of spirit. Sarah has joined the team at Blind Low Vision NZ as the new Deafblind Coordinator for Te Waipounamu / South Island. Sarah stays alongside us until the summer break as we transition in our new Board Secretary, Cheryl Bate, whom I will invite to introduce herself in next week’s update.
I talked about Hearing Assist Technology last week and neglected to remind you of the contacts, so here they are:
- Sarah Walters, South Island Deablind Coordinator for Blind Low Vision NZ: swalters@blindlowvision.org.nz
- Jacqui Iseli, North Island Deafblind Coordinator for Blind Low Vision NZ: jiseli@blindlowvision.org.nz.
You can also go direct to Your Way | Kia Rohu, a charitable trust “dedicated to helping disabled people thrive, living the life they choose in their communities”. They provide a wide range of support, including connections, funding, learning and information, hearing tests and hearing loss support, and mobility equipment.
Thanks to Sarah Walters, Deafblind Coordinator, South Island for the following information. “Looking at devices I have come across a pager that alerts you when a door or window is opened from a range of 150 metres. One of the four notification options is vibration. It is available from DeafQuip at a cost of $150. There are no online reviews.
Find out more about the portable pager with door / window transmitters (DeafQuip)
I am sure Sarah would appreciate a contact from you if you are in need of Blind Low Vision Beafblind services. Her email address is swalters@blindlowvision.org.nz.
It is heading into pantomime season and other artistic events, so please find below details of events that give meaningful access to the arts for us, and thank you to all who make these things possible for us!
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“Becoming deaf has made me feel insecure. How can I regain my confidence?”
In this week’s “Ask Annalisa Barbieri” column in The Guardian, a reader relates how they recently becamse deaf, and how it’s negatively impacted their life as someone who was already “very shy and insecure”. They ask how they can feel more confident about this new aspect of their lives, and Annalisa provides a range of suggestions. You can read her full advice at the link below.
Becoming deaf has made me feel insecure. How can I regain my confidence? (The Guardian)
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Chief Archivist apology to survivors of abuse in care – alternative formats
From the BlindDiscuss list.
The Chief Archivist Anahera Morehu, sincerely apologises on behalf of Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Archives New Zealand (previously the National Archives) for failing to effectively monitor Government recordkeeping.
You can also access this on TellMe option 5 7 4 3.
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Events
New Plymouth Audio Described Exhibition
From the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery | Len Lye Centre.
We invite you to join us for a tactile and audio-described tour of Lalaga: Le hui fono.
Please join us to explore Lalaga: Le hui fono, an exhibition and series of programs that have emerged from an ongoing commitment to deepen relationships, mutual support, and reciprocity between Pasifika artist and communities in Taranaki and across Te Monana-nui-a-kiwa.
Drawing on Lalaga practices, Lalaga: Le hui fono brings together and weaves connections through creative practice to uplift the aspirations of local communities. Meet with the weavers and spend time getting to know the practices around weaving.
These audio described events are especially for our visually impaired visitors. Carers and guide dogs are most welcome.
- Date: Monday, 9 December 2024.
- Time: 10:30am to 11:30am.
- Location: Meet in the Gallery’s foyer at 42 Queen Street, New Plymouth.
- Cost: Free.
Please RSVP to Wendy at Wendy.Lawrence@npdc.govt.nz or phone the New Plymouth District Council on 06 759 6060. Ask for Wendy Lawrence and if she is not available, leave a voice mail with your contact details.
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Auckland Audio Described Magic Show
From Audio Described Aotearoa.
New Zealand Lions 2024 Magic Show is being hosted by the Remuera Lions Club. It’s a world festival of magic put on as a community event for people of all ages.
It’s free to attend and Audio Described Aotearoa is sponsoring the audio description this year. They tried last year’s Magic Show for a small group of people and found it was huge fun and very audio describable.
- When: Sunday, 15 December, 5pm, please arrive by 4:30pm.
- Where: Barfoot Stadium, Selwyn College, 203-245 Kohimarama Road, Kohimarama, Auckland.
- Run time: about 90 minutes.
To book your seat and your headset, contact Nicola Owen on mobile number 021 0358513, or email audiodescribedaotearoa@gmail.com.
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Wellington Audio Described Performance, Sleeping Beauty, The Pantomime
From Circa Theatre.
“A family comedy where a stitch in time saves nine thousand years.”
Aurora is the people’s princess of Wellingtonia – with a curse.
On her first birthday an evil spell is cast: one day she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel, sending her into an unbreakable deep sleep. With the help of fairy god-daddies that watch over her and a surprise visit from two interdimensional travellers, Aurora must venture through the time-space continuum to stay conscious and reclaim her throne from evil forces. An original pantomime that takes a beloved fairytale and adds equal amounts of song, dance, and sci-fi to bubble up a perfect potion the whole whānau will love. A high-energy romp of comedy and capers – Sleeping Beauty is anything but a snoozefest. Celebrating 20 years of Circa Theatre pantomimes.
- When: Sunday, 15 December, 3:00pm touch tour, 4:00pm audio described performance.
- Where: Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki Street, Te Aro, Wellington.
- Approximate run time: 1 hour 30 minutes including a 15-minute interval.
- Tickets: Audio Described ticket $25.00 plus free for a carer / whānau member.
Bookings: Book in person at the Circa box office 1 Taranaki Street Te Aro, email circa@circa.co.nz, or phone 04 801 7992. The box office is open Monday 10am to 2pm, Tuesday to Saturday 10am – late, and Sunday 1pm to 4.30pm.
Please indicate at the time of booking if you are a member or guest of Blind Citizens New Zealand or the Blind Foundation, and if you require a headset. We have reserved the front two rows in the theatre so when you book please let Circa know if you require a front-row seat for wheelchair access or a guide dog.
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Auckland Audio Described SIX the Musical
From Auckland Live.
We are delighted to let you know there will be an Audio Described performance of the global smash-hit, SIX the Musical, on Wednesday 5 March 2025, 7:30pm.
In this high-octane 80-minute musical experience, the feisty Tudor queens boldly rewrite five hundred years of history.
Find out more about the Auckland Live performance (Auckland Live)
With a global audience of 3.5 million people per year and a staggering 600 million soundtrack streams, SIX the Musical has become a cultural sensation, amassing an incredible 3 billion TikTok views worldwide. Globally celebrated, SIX the Musical has won 35 major international awards, including two prestigious Tony Awards and a Grammy nomination. Don’t miss your chance to experience this HER-storic musical, in an unforgettable production that promises to have you losing your head!
Audio Described tickets for SIX the Musical will be available until 5pm, Tuesday 25 February 2025 or until the allocation is exhausted.
- When: Wednesday 5 March 2025, 7:30pm.
- Where: The Civic, 269-287 Queen Street, corner of Queen Street and Wellesley Street West, Auckland CBD.
- Run time: 80 minutes, with no interval.
Tickets for the audio described seats are $70 each (plus service fees) and a companion ticket is available at the same price if required. Guide dogs are welcome, but please notify staff upon booking your ticket.
There will be a free touch tour commencing at 6:15pm, which gives patrons an opportunity to become familiarised with some of the costumes and props used in the show. If you wish to attend the touch tour, please arrive in The Civic foyer at 6pm. Venue staff will be present to escort you to the touch tour location.
To book, please call the Ticketmaster Groups Booking line on 09 970 9745 or email groups@ticketmaster.co.nz. An $8 service fee per transaction will apply for all phone bookings.
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Other newsletters
Ministry of Social Development Family Violence and Sexual Violence Update: November 2024
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Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) Information Exchange: 29 November 2024
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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. This week, they ask what international disability day means to you, plus disclosing on dating apps.
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.
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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
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Event reminders
Peer-to-peer gatherings
- Whakatū / Nelson: to be confirmed.
- Taranaki / New Plymouth: to be confirmed.
- Kirikiriroa / Hamilton: early December 2024, to be confirmed.
- Te Papa-i-Oea / Palmerston North: to be confirmed.
- Kāpiti: to be confirmed.
- Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington region: 30 November 2024, 12-2pm.
- Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland: to be confirmed.
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.
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The Santa Claus Show ’24
1-22 December 2024.
“Get Ready to Sleigh with Santa’s Play.”
Ho ho ho – off we go! Join our hero Kelly on an epic adventure, dashing through the snow, and laughing all the way to the North Pole. Along the way, you’ll find yourself singing, giggling, and embarking on a magical journey as Kelly learns the true sentiment of Christmas.
More details in our 1 November 2024 update
Book your tickets for The Santa Claus Show ’24 (Tim Bray Theatre Company)
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Te Tāhū Hauora – new expressions of interest advertised
Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality & Safety Commission is advertising five new Expressions of Interest (EOIs) .
Consumer opportunities (Te Tāhū Hauroa Health Quality & Safety Commission)
Three are external opportunities and two are for vacancies on both Kōtuinga Kiritaki Consumer network and Ngā Reo Māhuri Young Voices group.
They will also be advertised in the next Consumer health forum Aotearoa newsletter at the end of the month.
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Invitation: NZDSN Auckland Council Elections Prep for the Disability Community: Online Hui 4 Dec 2024
Wednesday 4 December 2024, 4-5pm.
The New Zealand Disability Support Network (NZDSN) Auckland is hosting a session for their network members and the disability community about Auckland’s local elections in 2025. If you have any questions, you can contact them at ‘Auckland Providers’, aucklandproviders@nzdsn.org.nz.
Register for the Hui by 2 December 2024 (NZDSN)
A Zoom link will be sent to registrants after they register on the NZDSN website. If you require a NZSL Interpreter, please register by Tuesday 26 November 2024.”
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International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024 – Regional Celebration
Wednesday 4 December 2024.
Theme: “Amplifying the Leadership of Persons with Disabilities for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future”
You can find the Concept Note and Tentative Programme below, and final documents will be sent in due course. Should you wish to join, kindly refer to the link provided above.
IDPD Regional Celebration 2024 – Concept Note (DOC 113 KB)
IDPD Regional Celebration 2024 – Tentative Programme (DOC 278 KB)
For Fiji OPDs kindly RSVP with Nancy Queen on Nancy.Queen@pacificdisability.org by 5pm Wednesday 27 November, 2024.
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Blind Health Expo 2024
Friday 6 December 2024 (virtual).
10 am to 4 pm Eastern Time.
Join us for the 3rd annual Blind Health Expo! The Blind Health Expo is the world’s largest virtual expo of healthcare information, products, and services for individuals, organizations, and companies in the health, blindness, and disability communities.
Free to attend and / or exhibit.
More information about the Blind Health Expo 2024
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Innovation in Retina Research 2025
Retina NZ’s summer symposium will be taking place in Auckland on 21 and 22 February 2025.
Confirmed speakers thus far:
- Professor Robyn Guymer: What’s new in AMD if that suits and will talk on the new treatments for wet AMD and Dry AMD and what is in the pipeline.
- Associate Professor Lauren Ayton: Updates on inherited retinal diseases, including gene therapy clinical trials.
- Dr. Odunayo (Lola) Mugisho: Advances in Diabetic Retinopathy.
Stay tuned for more details and speakers to follow!
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DbI Asian Regional Conference Pokhara Nepal
1st to 3rd March 2025.
Deafblind International Notice of Asian Conference 2025
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Pac Rim 2025: disability-related conference opportunity
15-16 April 2025.
The conference is hosted in Hawaii and it’s their 40 year anniversary.
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Save the Date – WBU General Assembly & World Blindness Summit 2025 in São Paulo, Brazil
Date: 2-5 September 2025, with committee meetings and special forums on 1 September.
Find out more in our 20 September 2024 update
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Reminders about role / funding opportunities
The DbI (Deafblind International) Youth Network is looking for an assistant network coordinator.
Email network coordinator Simon Allison simon.allison@sense.org.uk to find out more about this exciting volunteer role.
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See the Person, Support Their Potential: The Oppenheim Tertiary Education Trust Fund 2025 applications are now open.
Applications close on 8 January 2025, so spread the word, and share the link below!
Full details, including the applicant guide (Blind Low Vision NZ)
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Nominations for the Ministry of Health Health and Disability Ethics Committees (HDECs).
Any nominations or pātai(questions) can be forwarded to the Ministry’s appointments team at appointments@health.govt.nz. Applications close on 12 January 2024.
Please let Pauline Melham, Pauline.Melham001@whaikaha.govt.nz, or Siobhan Lynch, Siobhan.Lynch009@whaikaha.govt.nz at Whaikaha know if you’re applying for a position, or get shortlisted. They are also happy to let the Ministry of about any applications coming in, if you’re part of Whaikaha’s database.
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Reminder about Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program (PLMSP) Open Vacancies
The Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program (PLMSP) is actively recruiting a range of roles across Australia, the Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste. They strongly encourage people with disability to apply. If you would like further information or assistance with this, please contact PLMSP.HR@thepalladiumgroup.com.
Search PLMSP roles on Palladium’s career page
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Feedback requested reminders
Review of the Courts (Remote Participation) Act 2010 – public consultation
The Ministry of Justice is undertaking a review of the Courts (Remote Participation) Act 2010, and are now seeking public feedback on options for change set out in a discussion document. Submissions close on 6 December.
The Government decided to review the Act in December 2023 as part of its 100-Day-Plan commitment to enable more virtual participation in court proceedings. The review is part of a wider work programme to improve the performance of the courts system.
Review of Courts (Remote Participation) Act 2010 (Ministry of Justice)
If you would like to provide a submission or feedback, you can do so:
- online through the Ministry’s consultation hub – Citizen Space
- by emailing courtspolicy@justice.govt.nz
- in writing to:
- Courts System Policy
- Ministry of Justice – National Office
- DX SX10088
- Wellington.
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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 in our 24 May 2024 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)
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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?”
See our 14 June 2024 update for details, or email Tom.
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Ongoing events
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.
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Living Blindfully
Weekly show hosted by Jonathan Mosen
Living Blindfully audio episodes (Living Blindfully)
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Blind Spot, Radio Southland
Monthly show hosted by Carolyn Weston
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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.
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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