Kia ora tatou,
Hello to all of us,
OK, so I confess to being a bit of a nut when it comes to days getting lighter and plants getting brighter but I just can’t help sharing with you my sense of wellbeing as I recover from a bout of lurgy.
The sun is streaming onto my workspace. We talk a lot about wellbeing for deafblind and how we improve the narrative at a social level that improves our lives in all sorts of ways. I think it’s also important sometimes to reflect on the things that nourish us personally and how we continue to grow ourselves from the inside out.
It’s also a moment for me to share with you my gratitude towards the people who are my natural supports – friends and my Kai Mahi / Support Person. When I was ill she made me a hot water bottle. I asked her to say things like, “There, there”, and “tut, tut”, and Dearie me”, until I laughed so much I couldn’t speak! The Panadol were great but really laughter is the best medicine! 
Onwards and upwards for the coming week…
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Disabled Artists Theatre Festival (DATFest): expressions of interest now open for performers, workshop leaders and volunteers
Sent to the blinddiscuss list.
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DATFest is a Disabled Artists’ Theatre Festival based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa (Wellington, New Zealand). DATFest is led and directed by disabled folks. We welcome the financial support and volunteership of our allies.
Venue Confirmed! Dates Confirmed! DATFest 2024 is officially on the calendar!
Our official venue is Te Auaha, 65 Dixon Street. Te Auaha is home to an incredible creative school that houses students studying Theatre, Film, Photography, and the arts and is now the home to DAT Fest 2024.
Te Auaha have been super generous. Not only are they offering their 65-seater theatre Tapere Iti for shows and workshops, they’re also giving us their entire 4th floor to “take over” for the entirety of the Festival. This means we have multiple professional spaces for workshops, classes, rehearsals, and even the space to hang out and chill.Kate Spencer (Co-Director) has already earmarked a room for a low sensory quiet zone for those who need a safe space. We can’t thank Te Auaha enough. We can now make the festival bigger and better than we’d ever hoped!
DATFest 2024 will launch on Saturday 2nd of November, with orientations, lunch and a Gala showcase, giving tasters and teasers from festival performers who shall set the tone for the rest of the fest!
DATFest will have a full 2-week programme ending on Sunday the 17th of November.
An important detail for DATFest, spearheaded by Susan Williams (Co-Director), is making sure that every person possible can enjoy this festival. Arts Access Aotearoa has topped up the funding for DATFest so we can comfortably increase accessibility to Te Auaha. There are rarely any accessible parking spaces in the CBD. With Arts Access Aotearoa’s help, we are setting up multiple shuttle services from Te Papa and the Wellington Train Station in order to be able to accommodate and facilitate easier access to the festival. We want as many people as possible to attend without worrying about the cost of transport / parking / the stress of public transport. This is so important to the festival and is core to our Kaupapa of inclusion and access.
Expressions of Interest opened earlier this month, responses have been flooding in. We will keep the form open till 14 September so everyone has had equal opportunity to access this festival in the way they wish. Whether its performance, volunteering, tech, behind the scenes, there are roles for everyone disabled and allies alike.
DATFest 2024: Expressions of Interest (Google Form)
If you would like to contribute further to the work of DAT Fest and have the financial means, we welcome donations to the DAT Fest bank account: 02-1248-0617172-032.
We acknowledge and are grateful to CNZ, Arts Access Aotearoa, and Te Auaha for their enormous support.
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Events
Auckland Art Gallery Audio Described The Walters Prize and Aotearoa Contemporary
From the Auckland Art Gallery and Audio Described Aotearoa.
The Walters Prize is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest and most prestigious contemporary art award. Established in 2002 and now in its 11th iteration, the prize showcases and promotes contemporary art, and has, since its inception, shaped emergent discussion about contemporary New Zealand art.
Aotearoa Contemporary offers a platform for new art and ideas, a showcase for what is new and current in Aotearoa New Zealand’s diverse cultural environment.
Both exhibitions sit side by side, offering a vital platform for the contemporary from Aotearoa every three years at the Gallery.
This tour will be led by the Gallery’s Curator Pacific Art, Cameron Ah Loo-Matamua, and audio described by Nicola Owen.
When: Saturday, 14 September, 2024, 10:30am to 12:00pm. Please arrive by 10:15am to collect your headset.
Where: Auckland Art Gallery, corner Kitchener Street and Wellesley Street East Auckland CBD.
Tickets are free. There are only 13 places available on the tour, including companions. Make sure to book a ticket for your sighted companion. One companion per purchase.
To book: Call Ellie Lim at Auckland Art Gallery on 09 890 2244, leave a message if there is no answer and Ellie will call you back.
Book a ticket for the audio described tour (Auckland Art Gallery)
There will be 2 volunteer companions at the tour. Contact Ellie Lim if you would like to request one of them to walk with you.
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The Wiggles’ Wiggle Groove Tour now includes a touch tour!
The Wiggles are now offering a pre-show touch tour for this show. Please ensure you are inside the Arena by 9.10am, for the touch tour which will commence at 9.15am.
When: Saturday 28 September 2024 at 10am.
Where: Spark Arena, 42/80 Mahuhu Crescent, Parnell, Auckland 1010.
Details were provided in 19 July update.
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Other newsletters
Disabled Person’s Assembly (DPA) Information Exchange: 31 August 2024
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Updates from Eye Health Aotearoa!
Eye Health Aotearoa has refreshed its newsletter and website, and shares a number of exciting updates in their latest edition, including news and resources for New Zealand’s first Children’s Eye Health Campaign and an upcoming Parliamentary Friends of Eye Health event.
Find out more on the new Eye Health Aotearoa website
Sign up for the Eye Health Aotearoa newsletter
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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 whether the Paralympics is encouraging inspiration porn, plus mobility parking fine hikes, and an unconventional way of making music.
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: Tuesday 10 September, noon-2:30pm.
- Taranaki / New Plymouth: mid-September.
- Kirikiriroa / Hamilton: mid-October.
- Te Papa-i-Oea / Palmerston North: mid-October.
- Kāpiti: mid-October.
- Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington region: mid-October
- Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland: we now have a venue – please let us know if you are interested.
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 BLIND SEA
“THE BLIND SEA is an inspirational and breathtaking documentary about Australian Matt Formston, Paralympian and 4x World Champion blind surfer.”
There are screenings happening in September in Dunedin and Auckland.
Screening details for THE BLIND SEA (Rialto Cinemas)
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Kinky Boots, the Musical
15 September 2024, Palmerston North.
Touch tour and audio described show.
Find out more about Kinky Boots the Musical, touch tour and audio described performance
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Audio described NZ Opera Rigoletto
19, 21 and 25 September 2024, Auckland.
- 19 and 25 September: Braille and low-vision accessible surtitles and description available.
- 21 September: Touch Tour, audio-described performance, Braille and low-vision Surtitles and description available.
More details in the 25 August 2024 update.
More details about Rigoletto (NZ Opera)
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Thursday 3 October Deafblind UK Online Conference 2024
Theme: “Standing out and fitting in”. The conference is free and all are welcome.
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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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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)
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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)
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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?”
Details were provided in 14 June update, 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