Monthly Archives: Apr 2023

I have been thinking about router/modem equipment provided to us by Telecommunication Services. I was thinking about the quality of signal reception, wifi signal from one room to another, the cost of broadband and whether it delivers excellent reception to any house aged and the size of the house. 

I have several older Deaf people who strongly prefer fax to communicating than using the Internet or mobile texts. We are using an ADSL broadband line and keep the landline for the fax machine. Our home is a farmhouse with several walls plus an old fireplace, while the landline network black box is sitting on the ground more than 100 metres from here. In the past, in the previous home, we used the same service with an ADSL network and fax machine. 

Now there is new network broadband called Fibre Line to replace copper lines or keep the copper line for fax machines and medical alert alarms—the reason why Fibre Line increases broadband and meets advanced technology such as mobile and Internet. 

Let me explain over modems/routers issues and the Network Broadband/Fibre line services. 

We replaced modem/routers many times due to power cuts, the short life of modem/router equipment and the need for better broadband signal reception in the past house and current house. Overall, using ADSL is more than $88 a month (120 GB)through Sparks. Yes, we searched other broadband providers and found the cost was over $99.00 to $130.00 a month, plus the connection fee, keeping the modem/router free without breaking the 12 monthly contact fee. At the end of the result, we still receive slow broadband reception that nothing will improve faster and cheap. We used wifi signals for laptops and two iPads in the centre of the house, while two desktops used ethereal cables in two separate rooms. In our current home, there is one phone line jack in the centre while the router is in the lounge, which is close enough to send a signal around the rooms, but it failed to improve the faster movement. 

Our neighbours have the same problems too, and a couple of our neighbours have joined Starlink (SpaceX by Elon Musk). Unfortunately, I checked out the prices, and they needed to be lowered for anyone, even us, to afford to join Starlink. https://www.starlink.com

For example, the cost for the hardware is $1040.00 (the catch for sale is $199.00). High-speed, low-latency broadband internet is available for $159/mo. 

“Offer applies to select areas of rural New Zealand. 

In the rest of New Zealand, $1040 is $729 for hardware.

Requires a satellite dish on the roof; add another cost. from $138.00 upward.”

Everything you need to know about Starlink in New Zealand

Yes, that is crazy. I know that now and in the future, every household will have fast speed, router/modem, and the hours of using broadband/fibre line will impact other families who are low density and low income. It is the same with universal designs housing for all people, including people with disabilities. The question is, does modem/router equipment match every house design or not and does the ability to send out fast speed around the house or not? The answers are clear – NO. 

Perhaps a message to all technology developers, designers and telecommunication services – reduce the cost for income people/family/people with disabilities and allow them to enjoy the freedom to use the internet/broadband, to improve better and match the target trouble issues in the house in the router/modem types of equipment. 

The theme is “Together, we can make NZSL thrive.”

Ko taku reo taku ohooho, ko taku reo taku mapihi mauria

My language is my awakening, my language is the window to my soul

This proverb is closely associated with language revitalization, a fundamental struggle in maintaining culture.

Tēnā koe

Hi there, our NZSL week is coming up next month in New Zealand. As a member of the D/deaf community, we look forward to spreading awareness of our language and sharing it with more people in our daily lives. It’s crucial to continue raising awareness and preserving our language for future generations.

If learning our language is something that intrigues you, we have a website that will provide you with all the necessary information. Moreover, we have organized Taster Class events in multiple towns and cities across New Zealand, which could be a great opportunity for you to experience it firsthand in a location convenient for you. It would be wise to attend one of these events to see if it’s right for you.https://nzslweek.org.nz/

Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro nōnā te ngahere, ko te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga nōnā te ao.
The bird that consumes the miro berry owns the forest
The bird that consumes knowledge owns the world

I had the pleasure of assisting a kind-hearted elderly Deaf man with his grocery shopping in Hamilton. Throughout our trip to two different supermarkets, I experienced nothing but positivity from the check-out staff. One of the staff members even signed “Thank you” to me as we departed, which was a heartwarming moment. Additionally, I appreciated the other staff member’s curiosity about Deaf culture in New Zealand, as it demonstrated a genuine desire to learn and promote awareness. It was truly a wonderful experience to witness such kindness and openness towards the Deaf community.

Ehara toa i te toa takitahi, engari, he toa takitini

My success (or my strength) is not that of a single person but instead the strength of many.

“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.” 

― Dalai Lama XIV, The Dalai Lama: A Policy of Kindness: An Anthology of Writings By and About the Dalai Lama

Waking up in the morning to find it is my birthday today. Reflecting on my life in the past so far to the current year. Not quite a significant 6 and 0 age yet like my sister – Beth turned 60 last year.

Some days had been better than others had been annoyed or disappointed.

Today the world has gone mad, terrible with fighting over politics, bringing war between Ukraine and Russia, and the list of events happening daily in our lives. There are few happy events to celebrate anywhere in the world. It would be a pity if the world was better in the past, for example, cheap cost of products and foods in the supermarket, housing for families to buy a house or no technology such as iPad or mobile.

But there is something to understand how things changing, such as technology for people with disabilities, D/deaf people even D/deaf with disabilities today for example, communication, improving social media/televisions with using interpreters in the corner of the screen or standing behind the person who was speaking to many journalists. Nothing like this in the past as we depended on our partners, family, friends, flatmates etc.

I found technology excellent, but it is a hard habit to let go and do activities outside like gardening, chatting with my partner, and taking a break from my computer/laptop for my health issues – chronic C3-7 degenerative disc disease radiculopathy. Gardening, reading and other activities with dogs and my partner are great and separate from work. My partner and I were fortunate to have our skills from the past to today, for example, throwing food scraps into the compost as recycling, using recycling scraps from the garden or the old house into something new. With my health issues – some days are better than some, other days are worst, and the better is to learn to sit back, do light gardening, and relax my mind away from work.

The best part of my journeys was a hot air balloon ride a day before my 50th birthday nearly 10 years ago, travelling around the world and three times a staff weekend retreat break at Flaxmill Bay, Coromandel. Yes, of course, the constantly changing garden project each year and the delight of how much the garden grew from little scratch to efficiently display throughout seasons. My partner often says, “Mum, no more plants where ever we go.” But deep down inside his heart, he learned more about our beautiful plants and trees grew big and usually made the mistake of cutting a couple plants while he thought it was weeds. Our dogs gave our lives fun, enjoyment and compassion throughout our times.

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” Confucius

Where ever I travel to Hamilton and many other places, I constantly see everything changing, rebuilding new buildings, mowing down farmlands into housing estates, and yes, the world is changing too fast. It is not like our childhoods when we go farming, to beaches, and playing on the road after a flash storm flood.

But here our home is perfect for us away from the city! Nothing stopping us from doing anything and our age.

My disabilities do not prevent me from doing any activities, for I always find a way to succeed throughout my life.

“One, remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Two, never give up work. Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it. Three, if you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is there and don’t throw it away.”
― Stephen Hawking