Author Archives: Jemdeafhistory

“Spring is when life’s alive in everything.” —Christina Rossetti, writer.

Quel plaisir de voir fleurir les jonquilles et les magnolias !

What a delight to see daffodils and magnolia blooming!

“Spring has sprung, and a new life has begun. It’s finally time for me to come out of hibernation. It’s a beautiful time of year for a new beginning. Spring is the perfect time to turn over a new leaf.”

“Life is full of transitions and changes, embracing each season with open arms is essential to personal growth.” – Anonymous

I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of Spring! The end of Winter is near, and soon, the fields surrounding our home will be ablaze with vibrant hues of flowers. The sweet melodies of birds will fill the air as they soar through the sky, savouring the nectar and seeds provided by the blossoming flowers. These feathered creatures will be busy building nests in trees, birdhouses, and beneath the bushes. And let us not forget the feral rabbits, leaping and bounding through the fields in search of sustenance for their young offspring. Spring is undoubtedly a stunning season! Winter is almost finished, and come the Spring season when many flowers bloom out in the fields of our home. Birds sing in the air, swooping down to eat seeds and nectars from flowers and making nests in the tree tops, inside the birdhouse and on low ground under the bushes. Feral rabbits jumping, running and finding food for their babies bunnies around the fields. 

“A flower blossoms for its own joy.” —Oscar Wilde, author

Our dogs enjoy chasing feral rabbits, and they try to catch one each day as wild rabbits are intelligent when they stay as model statues or try to camouflage against the backdrop in the garden. It is nice to look at or laugh at them by watching their behaviour while we are inside the house or standing in the doorway. We know that in New Zealand, wild rabbits are classified as pest animals and need to be culled because the rabbits are a nuisance to the land environment by damaging plants and land. There are many possums here, too. We can not lay traps or poison bait due to our dogs on the property. Most farmers locally have traps, poison bait and guns where no animals such as cows, pet animals, goats, Ilama and chickens are nearby farmlands. One of our neighbours who is related to my mother’s side of the family and related to one of the National MPs (not our side through the line family of our mother) does have a gun, but he does not use to shoot because they have chickens around their property. 

“I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden.” —Ruth Stout, gardener and author.

A few weeks ago, I accompanied Jacek on his social outings and grocery runs as part of my job. Jacek has four permanent disabilities – he’s deaf, speech-impaired, has cerebral palsy, and has mobility difficulties due to his age over 70 years. During one of our outings, we stumbled upon some petrol/electric Utility vehicles being showcased near the Hospital and Hamilton Lake area. Jacek expressed a keen interest in them and suggested that we (my partner and I) get one for our home to make physical labour jobs around our 0.4000 Hectares much easier. We would like to have one for our daily physical acitivies around the property, but I prefer to walk and use my partner’s ride on mower for collecting branches, tree trunks, etc. We need more money to buy these types of Utility vehicles. Yes, it is a nice gesture of thought from Jacek to me. 

“Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved.” – Winnie the Pooh

Winter season brought us different flowering times, such as Camelia trees, Hellebores, Cyclamens, daphne shrubs, violet groundcovers, Irises, crocus, protea shrubs, Prunus campanulata (Taiwan Cherry), Mānuka or kahikātoa (Leptospermum scoparium), Wattle trees (bottle brush flowers) and Lily of the Valley tree. Daily activities I did were going out to work, working from home, and then taking a break by walking around if it was not rainy or too cold.  

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” – Lao Tzu

Some individuals were expressing their discontent regarding the yellow dots, which they believed were causing injuries. They were moaning, complaining, frustrating, whining or grumbling about this issue, despite the fact that only a small number of people had experienced accidents as a result of the tactile dots. Over the past decade, approximately 45 individuals have been injured by the yellow dots, which is a relatively low number in New Zealand. Despite recent articles from the NZ Herald, social media, and news outlets claiming that the yellow dots were to blame for these injuries, I was not surprised. Something seemed off about these claims, and it appears that the issue has been blown out of proportion. Some people were suggesting that the yellow dots should be replaced or fixed throughout Auckland, but it seems unnecessary given the minimal impact they have had on public safety.

Individuals who are struggling to carry out daily tasks due to ongoing pain resulting from their injuries. Despite receiving their ACC compensation claim, they still face difficulty in managing their day-to-day activities. In this blog, I provided them with some advice on how they can improve their situation, but it is evident that they are going through a challenging time. My thoughts are with them and anyone else who may be in a similar predicament.

I am curious to know if the health and safety staff at ACC and the medical staff are aware of the safety measures and minimal-risk options available in the city’s surroundings, such as the yellow tactile pavements. It seems like there may be additional ways to mitigate potential safety risks in the area. I would appreciate any knowledge or recommendations they may have on the matter.

Are you wearing the proper shoes/boots with a rubber sole/non-slip sole or not? Were you using mobile and looking/reading texts or Youtube media while walking without looking at your surrounding environment? Were you talking over your mobile while walking without looking around or using the crossing in a hurry? 

Hey there! Just wanted to check in and see if you’re wearing the right shoes today. It’s highly recommended and important that you wear shoes or boots with a rubber or non-slip sole today, especially if you plan on walking around. Moreover, it’s crucial to be fully alert of your surroundings while you’re out and about. Although it may be tempting to use your phone or listen to music, your safety and awareness should take precedence. Be cautious and take good care of yourself.

Most of the time, I do shoe shopping for us and people with mobility disabilities such as walking problems. I checked every shoe and boot to see if these shoes/boots have rubber or non-slip soles. Sadly, only one-quarter of these shoes/boots have rubber soles/non-slip soles, while three-quarters of shoes/boots still need one. I recall one or two staff asked me and the person I support if we needed help finding the shoes. I asked these staff if there were any shoes with rubber soles; these staff did not understand why I asked this question. I explained about wearing shoes/boots with rubber soles for safety when walking around. These staff need to learn about this, and it is not about fashion design shoes/boots. 

Take a moment to observe the numerous yellow tactile pavements that are installed on sidewalks and at crosswalks worldwide. These pavements serve a crucial purpose in aiding people with disabilities, particularly those who are visually impaired or blind. The raised bumps on the pavement offer tactile feedback that enables these individuals to navigate their surroundings with safety and independence. It’s a significant step towards creating a more inclusive and accessible world for everyone. So, remember that the yellow tactile pavement is there to assist those who require it the most.

Tactile pavements, particularly the yellow ones, are absolutely crucial for people with low vision or children using walking canes. Without these pavements, they risk becoming lost and losing their independence, which could lead to disastrous consequences. It is imperative that we prioritise the safety and accessibility of every individual in our communities.

Stop blaming yellow tactile pavements or poorly installed/designed pavement! We are human, including people/children with disabilities, as equal humans, and we do ourselves differently in work, social outings and homes. Many people do not realise that there are 28% of humans with disabilities living in New Zealand, and they need to learn to accept it and to understand us and the need for access to anywhere we go. We pay tax and rates to the Government and the City Council for these tactile pavements as same with you. We must work together as teams, and you will have to adapt or change the way of buying a proper pair of shoes/boots, walk properly and take it easy by looking around and limiting yourself when using the mobile while walking. 

Let’s move on and learn about the history of tactile pavement. 

Many low-vision people/children and blind people/children need critical information and guidance help when walking around the city because their brains work differently from yours. 

“Provide the additional information needed to confirm an impression gained visually. Tactile learning also requires that information be gathered over time by systematically exploring an object one aspect at a time.”

One person invented tactile pavement in Japan in 1965 and wanted to make it more accessible for blind people/children and low-vision people/children in Japan. That is a brilliant example of breaking down the barriers for all people with disabilities around the world. The person was Seiichi Miyake, who invented Tenji blocks by helping his friend who was losing his eye-sights/visual impairment. Thank him for breaking down the barriers for all Blind people/children and low-vision people/children. 

https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/seiichi-miyake-google-doodle-who-is-japan-tactile-paving-a8827656.html

https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/how-japans-yellow-tenji-blocks-guide-the-visually-impaired-in-public-places-4169453.html

https://www.rnib.org.uk/get-involved/support-a-campaign/inclusive-journeys/tactile-paving/#:~:text=Tactile%20paving%20consists%20of%20a,of%20a%20train%20station%20platform.

https://www.perkins.org/resource/fast-facts-about-tactile-pavement/

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/broken-bones-concussions-yellow-tactile-dots-for-sight-impaired-a-slippery-hazard/QOH3XFF2SFFN3D5MJVUYOGVLSE/

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/man-suffers-break-in-four-places-after-slip-on-yellow-dots-at-auckland-train-station/CXYSEPTNFZABTLPOQRVYPYKMWE/

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland-woman-breaks-leg-in-three-places-after-slipping-on-auckland-transports-yellow-tactile-dots/XKA3S2YB3BBB5GPPMBJEHVSG7I/

Te Kete Aronui – The Te Haa o te Whenua o Kirikiriroa (THaWK) group collectively devised the following name and narrative for the building. 

“A new name that is significant and relevant to this building

in Rototuna. We are referring to Te kete aronui, a basket

of knowledge of aroha, peace and the arts and crafts which

benefit the Earth and all living things – one of the three

baskets of knowledge. This basket relates to knowledge

acquired through careful observation of the environment.

It is also the basket of ritual, of literature, philosophy and

is sometimes regarded as the basket of the humanities.

This is how we would describe and refer to this place.”

– Sonny Karena

https://hamiltonlibraries.co.nz/location-and-hours/te-kete-aronui/

The deaf blogger/author took Jacek – a deaf with speech impaired and CP (Cerebral Palsy), one Sunday morning after the new library opened in Rototuna, Hamilton. We did explore the building to see if there are friendly and accessible for all people and children with disabilities. He found it a great place to visit the library, especially an indoor cafe in Rototuna. 

The blogger/author was invited by the Hamilton City Council, the librarian manager and the Disability Advisor staff of the Hamilton City Council, and we were in a team to overlook the designed plan of the library several times back in 2019 and 2020. We discussed what to amend/adapt in the design plan and what needs to be friendly and accessible ground floor interior and exterior surroundings. 

There was one thing we noticed and does not assume in the future, such as children and teenagers coming along and leaving their scooters near the double automatic glass doors. The blogger/author thought it might be a mild risk for low vision impaired/blind people may trip over or knock over. We would require the staff to put scooter stands along with the bike stands. 

The cafe was a brilliant idea, and the staff were great. Jacek mentions that we are both deaf when ordering food and coffee. She was helpful and repeated what we called and paid the cost of the meals and drinks. 

Inside the library, there are many services and meeting rooms for everyone.

• The library features are: – A range of small and large meeting rooms and flexible spaces are available to book.
• Council services such as rates payments and dog registrations. 
• Hamilton’s third Changing Places bathroom facility. 
• An on-site café called Chapter One. 
• An Auaha Makerspace, purpose-built for creative technologies. 
• Free wi-fi, with computer, printing and scanning services available. 
• Kids and young adults’ zones, community lounge and a study/work area. 
• Borrow from self-checkouts, collect holds, and return items 24/7. 
• A skate space integrated with the outdoor areas. 
• A play space designed for junior to intermediate use (opening October). 

The public toilet facilities include the changing places bathroom, which is excellent for anyone with disabilities and any support workers/parents of the disabled person/child to use this. One large room – designed for the changing place, requires a tag to identify anyone belonging to the Changing Place as a member. Check out this link for more information here. https://www.changingplaces.org.nz/

https://hamilton.govt.nz/your-council/news/growing-hamilton/new-library-brings-community-space-to-rototuna

“Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed.” Walt Whitman.

We looked through photos of our gardens and property over many years as we moved here in October-November 2014. My goodness, how much we have changed and made several new garden plots surrounding our property. Our neighbours walked along our shared road off the State Highway road daily; even the parents of their children come home from school/going to school. They noticed our daily changing of landscape, new plants and trees in our property when their children saw and heard many native birds such as fantail birds, kingfishers, ducks, finches, swallows and many more. Through the Winter season, we do not do much gardening, and we do a lot of tidying up, chopping wood, trees down for firewood, and storing in a large barn.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched — they must be felt with the heart.” -Helen Keller.

Do you realise there is excellent therapy in the garden when you feel down, grieving, dismaying or taking a timeout from work? If you hate walking, running, and weightlifting, why not exercise in the garden?

I have enjoyed this throughout my life since I came home from travelling overseas for many years and taking a break from work in the city of Hamilton and Waikato. I must remind myself to take it easy when doing physical work in the garden because I have a disc spine degeneration radiculopathy, and on my right side has an early set of arthritis and partial nerve damage from the shoulder to hand.

“You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated.” -Maya Angelou.

Each day, the staff of our workplace help out with food parcels, referrals to Budget Advice agencies, Mental Health and Addiction agencies, and so on. The people I support are people with disabilities, D/deaf people, D/deaf people with disabilities and Deaf seniors; I help them with home visits, literacy lessons, referrals to job brokers, posting newsletters, and so on. I am a deaf advocate and deaf historian/linguist/researcher. The main issues are poverty, financial problems, failing the assessment over equipment, no jobs available for them and, of course, our human right to access and equality in everyday lives. I found many families with children and people with disabilities (including D/deaf and D/deaf with disabilities people) struggling to buy food due to high prices in the supermarkets.

Whenever I asked them if they knew how to grow vegetables or fruits in their garden or the pots, their answers were a big NO. Mm, their replies were the landlord said no, there was no idea of growing in the containers or the garden, no time to do growing, sore back or knee and so on. Most People with disabilities are unable to reach the ground, their physical can be challenging to maintain the body to stand balance while weeding or planting, and many barriers are preventing them from doing gardening.

“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” -Winston Churchill.

Today there are many options of ideas and making accessible by improving the heights, making it easy to reach for something, finding the right garden tools, using the seeds from ‘shop bought’ vegetables and fruits, throwing out waste foods by digging a trench for food scraps into compost/fresh soil and so on.

I enjoy visiting our gardens daily by walking around, pulling out weeds, or removing dead-headed flowers. We do have a greenhouse to grow brassica vegetables and potatoes there. We are tidying up the strawberries garden by putting fresh topsoil with blood and bone fertiliser and coffee grind from the local coffee shop.

‘Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.’ -Harriet Tubman.

“Imagine a culture in which everything is geared toward helping all individuals become the best human beings they can be; in which individuals are driven to devoting their lives to becoming enlightened by the natural flood of compassion for others that arises from their wisdom.” ~ Robert Thurman

As I woke up this morning on Friday, June 23rd, 2023, I noticed a lake had formed in our neighbour’s farm field due to the heavy rain overnight. While enjoying a warm breakfast, I took a moment to browse our local Facebook private page. I stumbled upon photos and comments from neighbours about unexpected flooding in Eureka-Tauwhare. One significant road, State Highway 26 from the Eureka garage to Friedlander Road (before the Tauwhare Road Intersection), is currently closed due to flooding. Our property was okay and survived without flooding.

During my recent visit to Hamilton, I had the pleasure of attending a New Zealand Sign Language class at the Hamilton Central Library. Along the way, I was captivated by several large lakes and ponds surrounded by picturesque farmlands. One particular lake caught my attention as it was home to many ducks and their darling ducklings, making for an adorable sight. As I watched the ducks swimming, I also spotted pūkeko birds searching for food in the area. The drive to Hamilton was serene and enjoyable, and I cherished the scenic beauty surrounding me.

Just got back from Hamilton and managed to finish three tasks on the way home. Needed to get some petrol for my car, so stopped by Eureka Garage to see Colin. As we were driving down the main road towards Morrinsville, we noticed several houses on the right side of the road. Unfortunately, a massive swamp flooded past many rows of houses. Colin and I were both shocked to see the flooding in that area. Colin even mentioned that one of the houses he knew was in a terrible state because of how much water passed the house at the back. Seeing such a devastating natural disaster affecting people’s homes like this is regrettable.

I knew one of the houses where the families lived; this family is related to a Deaf man from Hamilton. I thought of taking videos and photos for this blog and sent one video to the Deaf man.

Hello there! There is a chance of more rain in the forecast for the coming days, starting tonight, June 24th. As locals, I’m sure we are no strangers to rainy weather, but it’s always wise to be ready for any potential damage or power outages. However, on a positive note, the flood has reduced since we were travelling back from Cambridge on the back road today. Overall, things are starting to look up!

I recently discovered some fascinating details about Eureka, our local rural area. In the Waikato District and Waikato Regional, Eureka is surrounded by dairy farmlands on a flat plain. What’s intriguing is that it once stood on the former Piako Swamp, which was known to be quite deep back in 1876. If you’re keen on uncovering more about the area’s rural history, click this helpful link. A bit of the history of our region,
http://heritagewaikato.org/node/5

“Mother Nature may be forgiving this year or next year, but eventually, she’s going to come around and whack you. You’ve got to be prepared.”
Geraldo Rivers

On Sunday, 11th of June, 2023, it had been a long day for me as a deaf community support worker/co-ordinator for the Christian Deaf Fellowship in Hamilton. The season here is mid-Wintertime, and we are preparing for the long winter around our home. Oh, what a delight to see the sunset over the vast farmland surrounding our house!

With old dog – Joseph, passed away several weeks ago, and our remaining dogs wait for me to get home while my partner rest or prepares the fire-heating and warm meals.

Pondering our lives here in the rural for nearly ten years to November this year. Reflecting on the past, we have updated and improved the house and the forever-growing gardens, and our dogs run around the large property. We are grateful to live here than in the urban city of Hamilton as the city of Hamilton keeps growing.

May your heart be warm and happy. With the lilt of Irish laughter
Every day in every way. And forever and ever after.

The local people here are a mix of Doctors, farmers, Lab Technian people, architects, pharmacists, mechanics, MPs (Members of the Parliament) person, councillors, orchardists, teachers, health workers and community support workers. Also, horse trainers/owners, stall marketers, gardeners, IT technicians and retired people. In 2014, I met several newfound cousins of my late great uncle’s wife, Joy, and Joy’s sizeable extended family lived here for one hundred forty-six years. Then a few years ago, another newfound cousin of my mother’s father’s side family up the road from us. It is a small wonder of discovery to know local people are related to me.

May the blessings of Light be upon you, Light without and Light within. And in all your comings and goings, May you ever have a kindly greeting From them you meet along the road.

Sitting in front of the fire heating in the lounge while the dogs sleep and snore away on the sofa gives us warmth and peace through the night. The temperature dropped to 0c, and we know the morning will be a frosty start. Sigh! I better pull out the frost blankets to protect several young fruit trees and plants in the morning.

It is all about lives in the rural here. Sunrise, sunset, the changing of the seasons all year round.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and …

Joseph’s life is nearing its end as his heart still beats away each day. Joseph knew the season was changing from hot to cold days as it was a sign of winter approaching. Update – Joseph passed away 19th of May, 2023. He was buried in the rose garden where his previous two other girl dogs were buried in the same section.

Joseph was thirteen years old, and he will be fourteen in October. He continued to sleep on the bed while I slept, and my partner was away for his work, but his age slowed him down; he slept beside the bed on the floor. His life has been much more lively, with laughter to surprise us, for example, following the police dogs and armed police squad down the road, howling out loud when the sirens go past. In our rural home, he loves chasing and catching wild rabbits, possums, hedgehogs, birds, mice and rats.

Joseph was loyal to his deaf mum and dad throughout the years, from the start to the end. But he preferred closer to deaf mum than dad as she trusted Joseph wherever she was at home and in the garden.

Here is the movie of Joseph’s life journey to end.

Hey everyone, I just wanted to share some exciting news about the Deaf community in New Zealand! It’s so important to support and uplift the Deaf community, and I hope this week will help raise awareness and appreciation for NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language). They are currently running an NZSL Week, and the theme is “Together can make NZSL thrive.” Incredibly, they are promoting and celebrating New Zealand Sign Language in such a positive way.

Learning sign language for everyone is critical, such as in Rest Homes, a cafe, the public hospital and the council. Every day many D/deaf people need help communicating with ordinary people such as family members, staff, nurses, and council staff without using NZSL.

It is natural for individuals who are deaf to develop cognitive and communication skills using sign language, which serves as their mother language. From a young age, they begin to learn and use sign language, which helps them enhance their early communication abilities. Sign language is an essential part of their culture and identity, enabling them to participate fully in their community and express themselves naturally and comfortably. It’s fascinating to note that babies and children aren’t able to hear the voices of their mothers, fathers, and family members. However, Deaf babies and children have found ways to connect with their loved ones by relying on their visual contact and sight as cues for communication. Their ability to adapt to their surroundings and form relationships is genuinely remarkable.

When inquiring about other sign languages, such as baby signs or Makton, people frequently presume that they are identical to New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). Nonetheless, it is crucial to acknowledge that sign language is not universal and differs from nation to nation. Therefore, although there may be resemblances between distinct sign languages, they are not all the same.

The recognition of NZSL as an official language in New Zealand was hard-won by many determined Deaf individuals. Their dedication and persistence were rewarded on April 6, 2006, when the government passed the bill recognizing NZSL as an official language alongside Te Reo Māori. This historic moment was a significant step forward in promoting inclusivity and acknowledging the language and culture of the Deaf community in New Zealand.

Ka pai
Ko taku reo taku ohooho, ko taku reo taku mapihi mauria – My language is my awakening, my language is the window to my soul ~ Māori proverb

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.”

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.