Weekly update: 30 October 2023

Note: this message was prepared by Amanda on Rāhoro, Saturday.

Kia ora Tatou,

Hello to all of us,

With apologies this is coming to you a little late this week, however that does not mean I have not been thinking of you all!

I’m back in the “Big smoke” of Wellington and looking forward today with being with a newly forming Wellington/Lower Hutt group for deafblind. The transport, kai, and venue are all in place – too easy! The exciting bit will be the korero and where we want to go with what comes from that. Watch this space!

New Plymouth, how are you all doing over there? If you want to drop us a line, and maybe a photo, I would be really pleased to pop it into next week’s mail out. Hamilton, we know you are out there so please connect so you can get support to set up a group. Wherever we are in the motu let’s keep reaching out to each other. As it is getting warmer and we move into November now is the perfect time to ask for support to set up the group you want in the way that you want it for peer to peer support. We are all about whānau too so get your natural supports involved!

The D*List book club: Our favourite disabled authors

We’ve recently been bringing bits of the D*List to this update and provided links to their weekly newsletter, The D*List Delivered. Last week they published a list of favourite books by disabled authors as compiled by the D*List community. Following is a link to this specific page on the website. This also includes a 7:45 minute audio file of the list.

The D*List book club: Our favourite disabled authors (The D*List)

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Events

For those in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, the Parnell Festival of Roses event on Sunday 5 November has audio description available. A link to a word document with more details follows.

Audio described guided tour (DOCX 15 KB)

Bookings are essential so please contact Nicola on 0210358513 or email audiodescribedaotearoa@gmail.com for more information or to book your place.

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Links to other newsletters

Disabled Persons Assembly

No update received this week

The D*List

Following is a link to have a browse of The D*List website or sign up to receive their weekly newsletter.

The D*List website

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)

As usual, event reminders and TellMe phone numbers follow.

Ngā mihi mahana,
Warm regards,
Amanda

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Event reminders

Call for expressions of interest: Board Member of Deafblind Association of New Zealand Charitable Trust

Please send a curriculum vitae and covering letter stating what you could bring to a position on the Board on Deafblind Association of New Zealand Charitable Trust and how you would like to grow into this role, by Thursday 30 November. We can support your format for putting forward an expression of interest and ongoing participation in the Board. Details were provided in 6 October update.

6 October update

Auckland – Sunday 5 November, Parnell Festival of Roses Contact Nicola Owen audiodescribedaotearoa@gmail.com for details and bookings

Nationwide October – December Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) Audio Described Performances of Hansel and Gretel

  • Wellington – St James Theatre – Saturday 28 October, 1.30pm.
  • Napier – Municipal Theatre – Saturday 4 November, 7.30pm.
  • Palmerston North – Regent on Broadway – Friday 10 November, 7.30pm.
  • Invercargill – Civic Theatre – Wednesday 15 November, 7.30pm.
  • Dunedin – Regent Theatre – Saturday 18 November, 7.30pm.
  • Christchurch – Isaac Theatre Royal – Saturday 25 November, 1.30pm.
  • Auckland – Aotea Centre – Saturday 2 December, 1.30pm.

Link to word document with description and booking information follows.

RNZB Hansel and Gretel (DOCX 14 KB)

RNZFB Annual Meeting

Saturday 11 November in Christchurch

Mid-Term Regional General Assembly (MRGA) of the Asia Pacific Region of the World Blind Union in person and online from 27 to 29 November 2023 in Thailand

Details were provided in 20 October update.

20 October update

Wednesday 11 January at 5pm – Closing date for Oppenheim Tertiary Education Trust Fund

This financial fund is available to assist Blind Low Vision NZ clients who are enrolled in Tertiary education and in their second year or above. Students of any age and both full and partial clients can apply online via the Blind Low Vision NZ website at the following link.

Support grants (Blind Low Vision NZ)

25 to 31 May 2024, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland – International Council on English Braille 8th General Assembly

2024 Activity Deafblind International Youth Network (DbIYN)

Monday 30th September to Friday 4th October in Disneyland Paris.

Expression of Interest: Please contact simon.allison@sense.org.uk.

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’s website to subscribe to the weekly newsletter with listings and picks of the week follows.

able.co.nz

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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