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“Change is not merely necessary to life–it is life.” Alvin Toffler (Futurist)

My last post was in November, and I have not had any chance to reflect on my journey last month, December 2024. Now it is January 2025. You may have wondered how I manage each day over the holiday breaks. It has been no different; some days, I am okay, and some days, I am not. Currently, I am using two different eye drops to treat the pressure of the retina. Yes, it is a bloody agony when it is time for an eye drop in the morning and two eye drops in the evening. Yes, there are several side effects when a person suffers from glaucoma or a cataract or both through life, for example, tired, red eyes, eye appearance looking red or different, and difficulty focusing while watching television or typing an article.

The worst part is when a deaf person like myself, I have to stand within a metre of a family member or staff member to lip read, ensure the interpreters are aware of my eye condition and organise the layout of the room where there is no bright light even a burst of sunshine glaring the wall, signing flow pattern through conversation should be clear and not too small as a computer screen size. I struggled to read the captions on the television, and I gave up because it was no use to sit close when I blocked the viewing for my partner to watch. It’s frustrating not being able to enjoy simple activities like watching TV due to my condition.

My partner tried to help me and often suggested I wear reading glasses if I was too close to the computer or book. I explained the reading glasses are not helpful except for the Kindle device, which works well.

Important note to consider about anyone who wears a hearing aid: it is okay, and it does not help me entirely around the environment due to different people’s backgrounds and speech tones. I would struggle to hear many different sounds while listening to background noises, such as cars and television being on with my eyes closed. No one in my family or my staff has experience in tactile sign language except to touch me.

I am fine driving anywhere and at the intersection, especially in bad weather like fog or heavy rain. I wait until it is clear to drive on. If the weather is a bright sunny day while driving or riding in the ute with my partner, I wear sunglasses to prevent sun glare over my eyes. At home, when three dogs are out for their runs on the large property on a sunny day, I wear sunglasses or even do light gardening in the morning.

Many technologies work wonders when increasing the font size or display screen size, reducing the screen’s brightness, reading as it looks like a blurring or double font imprint or changing the mode, e.g., dark modes.

It is hard to describe my eye condition. I live with two Glaucomas in each eye, and one left eye has a cataract over glaucoma. I sought several images for you to look at, including a photo of me reading computer screen fonts or looking at writing fonts.

Home

Cataract

Last month, I made several announcements to the Leadership members of the EGL (Enabling Good Lives) Waikato Leadership, my work colleagues, and several small families about the outcome and the waiting list for the double eye surgeries this year. I made one comment clear: I am just me as to them, I don’t really need pity or feeling sorry to hear about my eye conditions in the EGL Waikato Leadership because there is a disabled person who is blind, and she is different to my cousin from birth – one eye cancer and myself as deaf from birth and other disabilities in the later life.

Looking beyond made me wonder what it would be like to recover from the double surgeries and live with three dogs in a large rural home. On our last visit to the Ophthalmological Department in December 2024, I had another pressure test and eye review testing. The ophthalmologist asked several questions and spoke to the head of the Department about the options to reduce the pressure, which means a daytime eye drop and eye surgeries if I am qualified to have laser eye surgeries in 2025. These options confirm that I can have eye surgeries and ongoing eye drops.
The ophthalmologist told me I could not drive for a week and wear both patches. Then he realised I would not hear anything around home, suggesting that one patch be fully covered and the other be transparent. It’s mind-boggling how I would manage to do this! The only comments I received from my mother and sister were about how I would manage when the dogs were up to mischief or running around me. My partner replied, ‘Mum is fully used to them as long as he is around. We are okay.”‘

How many more months must pass before we urgently address the pressing financial and health struggles that are currently gripping our society? The longer we delay, the more families will suffer, and the harder it will be to recover. The time for action is now.

Thousands of families, including those with children and disabled children, are losing their jobs. This crisis has even affected large businesses such as Oji’s paper recycling mill, Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ), Timberlands West Coast Ltd, and other companies and Government agencies this year. The scale of this crisis is truly unprecedented, and its impact is felt across all sectors of our society, underlining the gravity of the situation and the families who are bearing the brunt of it.https://youtu.be/uCn6CK-Hg7s?si=mHHiJBuX4nhvsrpl

New Zealand suffered a massive blow when its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell into recession in 1991. This wasn’t just a number on a chart, it was a crisis that affected every Kiwi. Our economy faces bleak years to come. Every business and household must watch their spending, struggle to pay bills and mortgages and face rising costs such as supermarket inflation, petrol, power, and even broadband. Our Government’s financial book is shocking, and they started cutting back funding, causing the loss of jobs, expecting taxpayers to pay more taxes, and many other issues. Our Government must take immediate and effective action to address these issues and support those in need.https://youtu.be/uCn6CK-Hg7s?si=mHHiJBuX4nhvsrpl

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/economy/gdp/massive-gdp-fall-nz-in-deep-recession-worst-since-1991/CG5ZWBO6GFGCHAT5OT6EMK3UTQ/

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/economy/gdp/tough-economy-for-another-12-months-warns-infometrics-economist/AZX2JJCISRBXDMXDPPKVKMGAPI/?ref=readmore

Our Government started to realise that New Zealand’s finances and economy were not improving and had gone backward to 1991. The unemployment rate is rising while debt servicing costs remain high, leading some households to default on their loans. Interest rates have started to fall, but the main risk is further economic weakening. This GDP result is a dire warning from the Reserve Bank NZ, a clear sign that we need immediate action to prevent further economic decline. The need for action is urgent, and the consequences of inaction are severe.

Millions of low-income families with children/disabled children are facing a financial burden of unprecedented scale, and it isn’t just about numbers; it’s about people who are struggling to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. An ever-increasing number of people are forced to live on the street, under bridges, in the doorway of businesses, in the garages, or in the derelict home/garage. The MSD (Ministry of Social Development) turned down 220 Food Grant applicants a day across New Zealand toward the end of this year. “In the nine months to the end of September, 60,579 people have declined these grants (2024), compared to 36,945 in the same period last year – a jump from 3.5 per cent declined to six per cent of total applications.

The value of food grants was $32.6 million in the September quarter, down 10.8 per cent (2024) from the September 2023 quarter.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/537067/the-government-s-turning-down-people-declined-food-grants-put-more-pressure-on-foodbanks

More families with children on low income will be lining up at the door of the Social Services-Food Banks each day. However, not many Social Service-Food Banks will be there starting next year due to the Government’s cut in funding.

What about the Disablitiy Orgainsations, the Food Bank Orgainsations, or the Charities Orgainsations? These organisations are non-profit fundings, and we seek funding through the Lottery Grants, individual donors or foundations, sponsorship from corporations and Donations. The small Disability organisations and several Food Banks across New Zealand closed down due to insufficient funding, paying high bills such as electricity, broadband, petrol/diesel costs for travelling and minimum wages. The rural area where many Disability organisations were the most brutally hit and forced to close down.

What about the senior disabled people (permanent disabilities from birth) like us and senior people with impaired disabilities in society and in the Resthomes? Several Resthomes shut down in rural areas due to a lack of funding under the Health Sector of our Government. Yes, it is a horror for them. For example – “For people on low incomes, completely reliant on NZ Super, the change in economic situation over the past two years has meant more than just tightening the belt, moving instead into day-to-day survival.”

https://retirement.govt.nz/news/latest-news/what-does-retirement-really-look-like-in-2024-new-research-highlights-the-financial-struggles-of-over-65s

We are in senior age with disabilities where I have more than three disabilities than my partner, with a mortgage, loans and bills to pay such as power (low energy), broadband-landline (fax) for a couple of Deaf seniors under my work role-mobiles, two rates through District Councils, medical prescriptions a year and many other companies. We are not living on an average-high income. I know several seniors with impaired mobility have been living on average income since they sold their homes. We do not know what our future will look like in five years as I have new medical symptoms and am waiting for double surgery in 2025. I work and advocate for many disabled people, D/deaf people and D/deaf with disabilities people in New Zealand and overseas; I know their lives are worse off than mine. Several of these people have committed suicide due to other organisations cutting back/closing down and through social media such as Meta-Facebook, where there is no human help desk and non-accessible systems and guideline rules. As for myself, I would not consider making a new Facebook-Meta community page (business) site because they are no help to resolve the issues and expect anyone to pay money to them without an invoice for the recovery cost (costly, strained or empty anyone’s bank account) until Meta-cypher companies resolve the hacked community page and reimburse anyone’s payments in full or partial payments), just a tiny amount in return or their tax revenue/exchanged dollar rates between the USA and NZ. I read plenty of businesses/charities and self-employed people who went through this nightmare, received no help resolving it, and ended up paying thousands of dollars without an invoice. I did have one community page under the business for donations, and one person decided to hack back in February -March 2024. I found the company, and Meta was not helpful for a deaf with disabilities. Let alone the end of it and moving forward by knowing they have not done an excellent service for anyone with disabilities living on a low income. Just be careful and be mindful that Meta-Facebook’s largest businesses/companies are making a lot of profits from people’s pockets and low-income people with disabilities’s pockets. You may not get full or partial reimbursement due to exchange dollar rates.

What would the future look like for everyone in New Zealand when the New Zealand economy is in a dire state, and NZ finances look bleak for all businesses, Health Sectors, Government Agencies, Trades, Banks, and many other companies you can think of? We know there will be more jobs cut, high electricity bills, high broadband rates, infrastructural housing and materials from overseas, and many medical technology and IT technology. This future is a cause for concern and requires long-term planning and action.

It is the Christmas season, and the coming of Jesus’s birth is in a couple of days. Everyone should be blissful to have families together, share the good news, visit the homeless people at the community meal lunch/dinner at the churches, and give something small like a basket of food, clothes, or second-hand toys. If you have spare time, visit the sick children and adults at the hospital or see someone living alone on Christmas Day. There are many ways to think about it. Large businesses should consider something to give back or reimburse abundance to the people who left their jobs, the loss of financial difficulty, or a gift of generosity.

As we approach the Christmas season, let’s not forget the financial challenges and lack of support funding that many disabled individuals in our society face. This is when our awareness and financial support can make a significant difference. Your contribution, no matter how small, can go a long way, and together, we can make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most.

As we all anticipate the joyous Christmas season, it’s crucial to remember those who may not share in our excitement. For seniors with mobility difficulties or disabilities, the season can be a time of isolation, worsened by financial struggles. Despite these challenges, their resilience shines through. Their superannuation remains slightly increasing, which does not help with the rise in inflation, making their situation even more challenging.

As we gather around the table for a meal, let’s remember that there may be a D/deaf family member or another person with disabilities among us. It’s not just a matter of remembering, but it’s our responsibility to ensure that no one feels left out, especially during the festive season. Let’s make our celebrations truly inclusive, and in doing so, we’ll experience the joy of bringing everyone into the fold.

As for myself, I have a new disability recently, and I’m learning how to adapt. I have glaucoma in both eyes, and one eye also has a cataract. Yes, it’s difficult, and I often get frustrated when I try to adapt. I’m sharing this to show that even with personal challenges, we can still strive for inclusivity and support for all. I do not have much money to invest in new equipment as the Government cut back Health and Disability Funding this year. I am a deaf with disabilities senior person, not just a deaf senior person.

Last Tuesday, I visited a senior lady with a pacemaker living alone. At the same time, her neighbour is a Deaf Somalian with disabilities lady on my last day of visiting/working before the annual leave. I took my time to collect my cut roses and lavenders as a bouquet from my large property, which had a vast garden of flowers, trees, and fruit/vegetables for this senior lady, as I knew she would have no one visiting her on Christmas Day. Carole is her name; she was delighted to see me as we have built a trusting relationship and friendship through her hard times.

Why not consider learning sign language or including people with disabilities in your celebrations? By doing so, you’ll be actively contributing to a more inclusive society. Let’s make this a genuinely inclusive Joy Season Day!

As I celebrated my 50th birthday in April 2014, I found myself in Hamilton, living with a hearing partner and our two beloved dogs. The idea of transitioning to a rural lifestyle, away from the city’s rapid growth, began to take shape in our minds during May and June. We embarked on a meticulous exploration of over eight homes in the Waikato area, weighing factors such as travel times to and from Hamilton, property size, and financial feasibility. Our family’s comfort and happiness were always the guiding principles in our discussions.

The last four homes with reasonable properties were Tahuna-Waiti, Glentui, Te Pahu-Pirongia and Eureka. In the end, we revisited Eureka three times and decided that the place with a reasonable-sized property was good for us and the dogs. The nearby towns are Morrinsvaille, Cambridge, Ngāruawāhia and under 45 minutes to Te Aroha and Matamata. We bought a home in July; our moving date was at the end of November 2014. The decision was not easy, but we were guided by our desire for a peaceful and spacious environment close to nature and away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Our new property includes a spare old house, a large barn, a double garage, a water pump hut, and a double carport. It is 3609 m2 (0.36 hectares (ha)). From the start, several fruit trees, native and evergreen trees, and a small garden surround the property.

Our dogs have genuinely found their paradise here, running freely across the property and filling our hearts with warmth and happiness. However, our journey has also been marked by loss. Two of our beloved dogs escaped through the fences, leaving a void in our hearts. Joseph, who had been with us since 2010, is dearly missed. Today, we have three dogs, and Jazz, the oldest, has been a comforting presence since Joseph’s passing.

The stretch of our little garden has flourished significantly, a testament to our unwavering dedication and hard work. I’ve even cultivated a second large vegetable garden, not just for us, but also for the workplace and several Deaf people. It’s a source of immense pride and joy for us all. The process of building the garden was not without its challenges, but it was a labour of love. I planted more native trees and several evergreen shrubs and trees to control the windbreak; even several more fruit trees were gifted by a disabled man – Jacek, and one ex-car dealer. I named each section, such as Five Cherry Trees Field in the first section of the pointed, the Strawberries Garden, the Golden Totara Garden in the middle, the Blueberries Garden, the vegetable garden next to the barn, the opened back plum trees garden, The Oak Tree woodland garden and the old house/apricot trees garden.

From the beginning, it was clear that the old spare house was not suitable for living or working as a studio. The cost of renovating the old house was too high. So, we made the decision to dismantle it and repurpose the wood materials for various projects, from woodwork to household items like door knobs and window latches. This not only saved us the cost of buying new materials but also aligned with our commitment to sustainability. We didn’t dismantle all the pieces of the house at once; we did it gradually over five years, fitting it in around our busy work lives. What remained was the small old front concrete porch with steps.

Here is a piece of history about our current home, built around 1940-1945. The council stated that the current home was built in 1945. Before the 1980s, three houses were on one piece of the property. I am trying to determine what happened and why the third house was pulled down. One of Mama’s ancestors, Yates, married one of the Hinton’s ancestors and came from here; Joy Yates’s uncles and sons lived here as farmhand labourers. Yes, Hinton families are living here today. Thomas and Nelly Hinton bought the most significant section in Eureka in 1907, and they have twelve children. Joy’s father moved away to Ngāruawāhia. In 1949, a business called Eureka Transport Depot was formed here until 1980, and one of the houses here was an ex-army Government cottage, which, my guess, was the old house we pulled down. The third ‘mystery’ house remains a blank answer to us.

Our journey has been going through a learning curve, full of surprises such as a couple piglets in our Five Cherry Trees fields in the early hours of the morning, suspected runners from the Police stopped outside the gate, creating excitement for our dogs and myself to stay inside for approximately 3 hours, prolonged droughts, three cars accidents involved outside our property and my cousin’s property where a mother and a young child under 8 moths old killed at the intersection plus I turned myself to assistance health and safety responder at the accident site for 4 hours and life-changing experiences. We battled with feral rabbits, rats and possums, and our dogs were helpful because Joseph caught rabbits, feral cats, possums and odd creatures – Hedehogs, Judge (2nd) caught possums, Jazz and Nova caught several rabbits. In contrast, Jazz caught a couple of hedgehogs, and Ben caught three rabbits this year. Both of us had surgerys and there is one more surgery which placed me on the waiting list.

Another experience of meeting the local people here turned out to be a newfound cousin – Tracey of the Signal Family, Ace (Robert) Dance and the Middlemiss couple who were related to the three Deaf brothers I assisted and supported for many years, a couple with two children moved back here from UK for I know Rosemary a long time ago and visited them when I was on holidays and lastly, a family who related to another Deaf senior who moved back to Hamilton from Syndey as niece-uncle.

After ten years, we will continue to live here until our health declines, and if we are unable to maintain DIY around the property, we will change our lifestyle as we get older. I will turn sixty-five in five years and live on a retirement benefit like my partner. If we could pay the mortgage, loans, and other essentials such as food and power, The previous owners were over eighty and moved closer to the Waikato Hospital in a Retirement Village. We are prepared for the future and look forward to the next chapter of our lives.

Hours went by as the Protesters’ March from the Northland to Wellington, which lasted seven days, reached the Parliament, Wellington, as part of a traditional Maori “hīkoi” at the Parliament. 

A hīkoi is a walk or march in New Zealand, especially a protest march. The word comes from the Māori language and often implies a long journey taking many days or weeks. [1][2]

“It seems the only way to gain attention today is to organise a march and protest something.

Billy Graham“

Note the original significant history of the famous hīkoi – Māori land march led by Dame Whina Cooper from Te Hāpua, Northland, to Wellington at the age of seventy-five in 1975. The march aimed to protest the loss of Māori rights and land through Pākehā (Europeans) actions. Over the 1,100 kilometres (680 mi) course of the march, it grew from 50 to approximately 5,000 people. [1][2]  I was eleven years old, and I remember watching Dame Cooper walking with her people on television and saw a bit in the article in the newspaper. I was unsure what it was all about until I learnt Te Tiriti o Waitangi (known in English as the Treaty of Waitangi) at the WINTEC and University of Waikato, where I took papers for my BA in Arts. “Te Tiriti o Waitangi (known in English as the Treaty of Waitangi), is an agreement made in 1840 between representatives of the British Crown and (ultimately) more than 500 rangatira Māori. It resulted in the declaration of British sovereignty over New Zealand by Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson in May 1840. Most Māori signed the te reo tiriti.” from https://teara.govt.nz/en/te-tiriti-o-waitangi-the-treaty-of-waitangi/print

“March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns or the sharp stones on life’s path.

Khalil Gibran“

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/watch-kill-the-bill-the-35000-strong-hikoi-and-the-reaction-from-nz-political-leaders/ZJIQHAJD2QLOQC235HUE27CC3M/

https://www.waitangi.org.nz/about/history

https://www.archives.govt.nz/discover-our-stories/the-treaty-of-waitangi/the-sheets-and-signatures-of-te-tiriti-o-waitangi

https://tikatangata.org.nz/human-rights-in-aotearoa/human-rights-and-te-tiriti-o-waitangi

The hīkoi was organized in response to a significant political development. David Seymour, an MP from the Act political party, proposed the Treaty Principles Bill. This bill aims to reinterpret and legally define the principles of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, a document that holds immense importance in New Zealand’s race relations. The hīkoi was a powerful demonstration of the Māori community’s concern and engagement with this proposed legislation.

See the copy of the principles here

“The principles set out in the bill as introduced are:

• Principle 1: The Executive Government of New Zealand has full power to govern, and the Parliament of New Zealand has full power to make laws (a) in the best interests of everyone; and (b) in accordance with the rule of law and the maintenance of a free and democratic society.
• Principle 2: (1) The Crown recognises, and will respect and protect, the rights that hapū and iwi Māori had under the Treaty of Waitangi/te Tiriti o Waitangi at the time they signed it. (2) However, if those rights differ from the rights of everyone, subclause (1) applies only if those rights are agreed in the settlement of a historical treaty claim under the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975
• Principle 3: (1) Everyone is equal before the law. (2) Everyone is entitled, without discrimination, to (a) the equal protection and equal benefit of the law; and (b) the equal enjoyment of the same fundamental human rights.

The bill also states that principles of the Treaty “other than those set out” by the Treaty Principles Bill “must not be used to interpret an enactment”, and clarifies that the Treaty Principles Bill does not apply to the interpretation of a Treaty settlement Act or the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 in relation to historical treaty claims.” https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/533115/the-treaty-principles-bill-has-been-released-here-s-what-s-in-it

It’s important to note that not everyone fully understood the Te Tiriti o Waitangi here, and Māori History was not taught in education from Primary to High School until recently. However, recent initiatives, such as the Deaf Aotearoa’s workshop called Te Tiriti o Waitangi, funded by Adult Continuing Education, are changing this. These efforts are crucial in ensuring that everyone is aware of the history and structure of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi and how important it is to Māori and their human rights.

https://pharmac.govt.nz/te-tiriti-o-waitangi/te-tiriti-o-waitangi-policy

https://e-tangata.co.nz/history/waitangi-an-oral-covenant/

“November’s beauty lies in the quiet moments of reflection and gratitude.” — Unknown.

How has my health been faring since May by visiting the Eye Clinic, Waikato Hospital and other issues? Some days have been worse than good, but it’s been a fascinating learning process to adapt to the health challenges around work, driving, reading, typing, seeing someone a bit far away, watching captioning on the television, and so on. I couldn’t have done it without your support.

For instance, I’ve found that wearing sunglasses while driving helps to reduce the sensitivity in my eyes caused by bright sunlight. In meetings, I strategically position myself away from bright lights and windows to make it easier to watch interpreters. These are just a few of the strategies I’ve developed to cope with my changing vision.

I have special glasses for reading but only for short-sighted readers, such as a Kindle device or a small print newspaper. The computer screen glare makes it more difficult for me to see what I am typing or reading. I can not wear short-sighted glasses because they do not help and give me double-vision of reading, like double lines or blurring. I can increase font size and screen size, but it is not always perfect due to the bright screen in the white background.

When I watch television, I do not use it to read captions now because they are too far away and have very small fonts. When I am walking in the street or the supermarket, around 2 metres, if someone comes to say hello or reads the signs at the top of each aisle, I feel a bit awkward. At least I come close to the person or to read the signs. When I am having a conversation with my partner apart, it can be challenging to lip-read him. We stand close, not too close. I can lip-read him or someone else.

I have been weeding the garden and vegetable gardens, and I realised that I can not do it in the sunshine, where the sun is too bright. Bugger, there does another problem, and it is impossible to wear sunglasses without a strap around the head. I should do it on a cloudy day, which is good and making easier.

As I navigate these challenges, I’m reminded of the support and strength I receive from those around me. It’s a journey I don’t take alone, and for that, I’m truly grateful.

The next step is another eye clinic visit at the end of this month, and I have a list of positive and negative things based on what I have done. The eye drops I take regularly every night are more or less helpful. I have several requests for technology devices accessible and long-sight or bi-fold glasses, depending on the costs and the funding available.

I mentioned gardening, and looking at it, it has been nearly ten years since we moved here. Here are a couple of videos showing the work in progress on weeding since last Autumn. It’s not bad for the amount of nasty buttercup weeds.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

God was lending me as a guide while I was not well and working through me, healing and slowing my recovery from day to day. God is a shield of amour to any human who is in trouble, not well, has financial issues, is trapped in the war zone or needs protection from people who harm. My mind is to stay focused by getting back on track with our health and well-being and stable financial security for our bills, loans, food, petrol for transport and equipment, prescriptions and mortgage with a roof over our heads as we are over sixty years old. We are not rich and do not have high incomes for many years. We budget and oversee our financial spending daily during weeks when prices shot up higher than before.

Under five years, I will turn sixty-five years old; there is a new transition when getting a pair of hearing aids and glasses by whom – the Health Funding or MSD (Ministry of Social Development) Superannuation benefit of one-third payment or full payment but to pay back to MSD. With my other disabilities – Cervical Spine Disc degeneration of my entire right side will become worse, and other health issues will change effect from time to time. My partner does have his ‘disabilties’ as well from his twice several incidents in the past, and he will develop new health issues unexpectedly without warning.

We can not foresee our future, what it will be like for us to live in our homes, what retirement will be like for both of us, how we will live on superannuation benefits, and how we will deal with increasing health issues. We do not have an answer, but we can consider our budget carefully and look after ourselves. We know our Government is making things worse for everyone by breaking too many promises that our country will improve. We have our leadership skills in our blood as we work together as a team to encourage family, friends and staff to learn from us so they will learn and develop their skills to pass on to the next generation. The government staff and MPs could have done better in their leadership roles.

New Zealand and many other countries, such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Europe, and even the USA, are seriously facing their worst economic conditions since COVID-19. The pandemic has led to job cuts, businesses foreclosing or going bankrupt, and a significant rise in homelessness and poverty. This global economic downturn has particularly affected the elderly and disabled, who are struggling to make ends meet and find affordable food and shelter. The Government tried hard to find economic solutions. Still, MPs and the Reserve Bank were made worse by the interest rates, ORC (Official Cash Rate), inflations and many other types of finance, such as funding for non-profit organisations and charities that cut back or reduced staff. Many wealthy and above-average businesses are of no help except to give little help to the communities.
https://www.oneroof.co.nz/news/tony-alexander-what-the-ocr-cut-means-for-house-prices-and-your-mortgage-46380

https://business.scoop.co.nz/2024/10/11/food-prices-increase-1-2-percent-annually/

https://www.worldvision.org.nz/about/media/food-price-spikes-nz-joins-worlds-poorest/

“Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts.”

– Thich Nhat Hanh

Birds seek food for their babies and make nests elsewhere, while bees seek pollen and nectar from many bright-coloured flowers.

The sun shining on the ground warms the soil, allowing many thousand seeds to sprout from the ground below.

The apple trees, born from seeds, are now ready to spread their wings. They are starting to produce new growth from the pot, a sign that it’s almost time to transfer them to larger pots. A faithful companion, the sun shines down, though it occasionally hides behind the clouds.

Hey on, strawberries will produce more flowers in the coming weeks. It’s time for their food to be fertilised in a few days.

“Eating is not merely a material pleasure. Eating well gives a spectacular joy to life and contributes immensely to goodwill and happy companionship. – Elsa Schiaparelli”

Wisteria is growing in the pot. I found a new seedling of a very young wisteria shoot near the carport and gently pulled it out by showing the root exposed for potting until it is more robust enough to replant in the new location near the water pump hut. Mm, not next to the water tank-water pump hut; otherwise, the wisteria’s root system is aggressive. Since the wisteria root system is so large and powerful, bother! Next plan where?

There does the chainsaw noise – “brrrr” or “vroom vroom.” This is an example of onomatopoeia, where the word imitates the sound it represents when my partner was chainsawing down a pair of fences, for he had some idea to make a way to walk across or to use his ride-on mower to the cherry trees field. That goodness for he did not damage the young tree in the Cherry Trees field.

I have been slowly recovering from a nasty illness for over two weeks. I am looking forward to a well-earned break, but my chest is not strong enough to do physical gardening, and my mental abilities need to think straight and calmly.

“You have probably heard this phrase a million times. Money is a tricky question because if you do not have it, you want more of it, and even if you do, you want to earn more of it.”

As I reflect on the lives of the many different people, families, and disabled individuals I’ve had the privilege to work with under the Social Services and Disabilities Organisations in New Zealand, I am struck by their resilience. Despite being underfunded and understaffed, these organisations provide crucial support to those in need. It’s a testament to the strength and determination of these individuals that they continue to persevere, even when the system fails them.

We are not rich in finances of wealth as we get older, for example, over 60 years. Our health declines each month or year paying house mortgages, loans, bills, food, petrol/diesel like you while the world of finances grows worse, with the economy forcing many people off work, businesses shutting down, and an increasing number of people living in poverty in New Zealand. For example, 122% of children live in the worst poverty homes or have no home. New Zealand is smaller than any other country, but other countries follow the same pattern of influx finances, high taxes, higher poverty and homelessness in the wealthy countries.

One day, I was sitting in the car while the Somalian Deaf lady went to her shopping errands at Five Cross Road, Claudelands, Waikato. Jamila (not the actual name of this person here) came back and sat in the car while I asked her if everything was okay when she did the shopping alone. Suddenly, a young girl around eleven or twelve years old was tapping the car window and her hands out as she begged us to give any money. I declined her because I knew her parents, who visited many social services offices around Hamilton and tricked many staff members into more cash and food assistance. Why? The parent lives in a reasonable home with enough income to live. The parent taught their children to be beggars anywhere in the car park, shopping mall, or park. It is all about greed, lack of empathy for other people’s wealth other than themselves, even scammers, ripping off, fleecing other people’s finances away, fabricated stories and many other issues. This is a stark reminder of the negative impact of greed on our society.

Mother Teresa, a revered figure in social justice, once said, ‘We sometimes think that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.’ These words hold a powerful message for each one of us. They remind us that we all have a role in addressing poverty, starting from our homes and communities. It’s a call to action, a reminder that we can all make a difference if we act with empathy and understanding.

Many social media platforms, such as Meta (Facebook), Whatsapp, and video game media, can be good or bad. Still, they are not designed to prevent scammers, hackers, or false marketing to all disabled people, D/deaf people, and older people because of ableism, a form of discrimination or social prejudice against people with disabilities. Many social media often lead to these individuals being targeted for scams or not being provided with the necessary accessibility features. I know several D/deaf people have been hacked many times via advertisements or YouTube videos/fake profiles. Online banking, gift cards, loan sharks and Apple iTunes/App gift cards are among the worst scammers and hackers. Jean’s Deaf History International Facebook page was hacked in March 2024. Unfortunately, the Meta Support Service was not there to assist because there was no human contact service. The Meta Support Service was ableism and failed to deliver goodwill in resolving the problem and restoring the Facebook page.

When I was a deaf teacher aide to a Deaf student at an intermediate school, one of the students in the same classroom took my laptop behind my back and quickly closed the lid when I turned around and noticed something was not right. This student did not ask my permission to use my laptop in the classroom. I suspected one of the students, so again, with my different laptop several weeks later, and this student tried to attempt, but the teacher and I caught this student in red hand. This student could not access my laptop due to a biometric need instead of a code breaker. Three of us went to the principal’s office, and the student’s father attended the meeting. I discovered this father from the past; I knew him well for his hatred toward disabled people in society and his lack of empathy, brazen, selfish, cold man and remorse. This father and the student do not care about other people; they feel superior to us with wealth, selfishness, and greed in the community. Several years later, I learnt of them before my volunteering visit to one of the Deaf adults for his literacy lesson in prison under the Social Service Trust where I work. The father’s business went to receivership, and the student went to jail for being corrupt over finances and bribing the tax department in a different company. They have not learnt anything about good deeds in the community. The father passed away a couple of years ago as a broken man, and I understood his funeral was not a whole house; just 6-10 people attended.

Did Jesus teach us to be rich or poor? Jesus said things like, ‘Woe to you rich,’ Luke 6:24, and ‘Blessed are the poor,’ Luke 6:20. These teachings are not about the inherent moral value of wealth or poverty but rather about the dangers of becoming too attached to material wealth and the blessings that come from a humble and compassionate heart.

“When someone lives in poverty, they struggle to afford the basic necessities of live. On the other hand, having wealth allows one to live an excessive life in terms of material and non-material goods.”

Our Government has gone backward, forcing many businesses into receivership, raising the cost of power and cutting back funding. They have broken the promise to deliver Health Sectors, Disability Organisations, Whaikaha, EGL (Enabling Good Lives), and others. This broken promise has devastated these sectors, leading to a lack of resources and support for those in need.

Christmas is drawing, and we have lost more than four of the largest companies/mills in New Zealand. and the largest company was lost in Timaru because “Falling stock numbers and a shift in land use from farming to forestry are being cited as the reasons behind the proposed closure of the Alliance Group’s meatworks in Timaru.” More than 600 employees will be laid off work before Christmas this year. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/529290/what-s-behind-the-proposed-closure-of-alliance-group-s-meatworks-in-timaru

Proverbs 23:4-5 – Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven. Solomon mocks lazy people and warns them to expect poverty and family shame.

We are not the only country in despair, facing poverty and hardship. Australia, the UK, the USA, and Europe have the same problems with their governments and financial crises. Their Governments have gone backward, just like ours. Failure is a leadership tool; where does the skilled leadership person run a good shape?

Thousands of people aged 14 to 99 live in cars, tents, parks, empty warehouses, buildings, bridges, and streets. Disabled people live in vehicles, carports without kitchens and bathrooms, make-shift homes next to strangers’ homes or family’s home property, and in garages or caravans without power.

Every Monday, our workplace (Social Services Trust) runs a community lunch meal except during the Christmas and New Year Holiday seasons. Many homeless people, disabled people, and low-income people come with gold donation coins. We have a list of support networks, and the Church organisations assist with preparing community meals. We receive many foods donated from supermarkets, local schools, church groups, and businesses, and Jean often donates vegetables and fruits from our large property to them.

“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.” Nelson Mandela

Let us support D/deaf children and their family’s connections with deaf communities to ensure early exposure to national sign languages and access to language-rich environments.  Sign up for Sign Language Rights by sharing a video on social media about our vision for the future of our D/deaf communities.

Today, as we conclude the International Awareness of the Deaf People Week, we reflect on the progress we’ve made. While the lack of exposure of our Deaf Culture, sign language, and the Deaf community in New Zealand was disappointing, it also serves as a reminder of the work that still needs to be done. Let’s use this as a catalyst for positive change.

Each of us plays a crucial role in spreading our Deaf culture, our sign language, and the importance of communication in sign language and interpreters. Through education, health, and the public sectors, increasing videos and stories through social media, and improving technology, we can make our culture more friendly and accessible. Your contribution is not just valuable, it’s integral to our success.

Our mission to spread sign language continues. We’re actively promoting sign language classes and encouraging everyone to consider becoming an interpreter. The demand is high-we need more interpreters, trilingual interpreters, and teacher aides with sign language skills in the education sector, as well as staff with sign language skills in the health sector.

We, the Deaf people of the community, need to remind Government staff, agencies, and disability organisations that they need to listen to us, not control us. They will have to work with us as equals, not superiors, to allow everyone to enjoy, prepare for emergency disasters, stay in touch, gain employment, maintain equal finances, and receive updates and news throughout their daily lives.

We will continue to teach our D/deaf children, D/deaf children with disabilities, and hard-of-hearing children how to maintain/preserve sign language, culture, tradition, and heritage for the next generation.

We know that technology keeps changing and updating, but what counts to ensuring all IT students, developers, staff, and cyber experts understand our need for friendly accessibility and provide sign language and captioning, video chats, emails, or texts? We do know about the high cost of finances. Still, it is unnecessary to complain about the expensive or high cost of damage, repair or improvement of broadband quality for internet –network services. It is the people who come first, then financial.

Could Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, or any high-profile wealthy social media person take on the responsibility to learn more about our Deaf culture, sign language and technology-accessible needs? Your influence could make a significant difference.