Life in Eureka

Early this year, there were floodings, cyclone-hurricanes, heatwaves, droughts, fires, and several earthquakes. Then came severe violent wars, which shocked everyone and angered them. There is a never-ending cycle of bad timing, bad news, bad weather and destructive disasters. 

It is nearly Christmas time/holiday season/Hanukkah – Festival of Lights. And the Prophet’s Ascension and the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday. 

“A philosophy of life is defined as having, at a minimum, two components: a metaphysics and an ethics. A metaphysics is an account of how the world hangs together. An ethics is an account of how we should live in the world.”

Everyone will celebrate their own belief and custom holidays around the world, but not everyone will celebrate due to hardship, surviving victims of the wars, having no family to share, and even having no friends. They live in urban and rural countries, while others live in civilised countries. 

Families come together, or families within other families live apart in the world, but what about families who lost their loved ones during the violent and hardship ongoing wars. There are more orphan children/teenagers and disabled children/teenagers than before due to endless wars and climate change – agriculture, crops, and water. There is no celebration for these children/teenagers due to their loss of parents and families. 

Yes, many countries, such as the environment, are changing due to the people and machinery, such as making shifts, building infrastructure for more people to live in, and raining down many weapons to militate terrorists. Global warming is one of the highest changing patterns every year. People can be selfish, greedy for their desires, want to emulate terrorists or criminals and refuse to repent for other people’s lives. 

Between fifty and fifty per cent of disabled people, D/deaf and D/deaf with disabilities are more or less better with financial, employment, poverty, hardships, unable to remove the barriers that prevent their access, health issues and living conditions in their homes. 

We have different opinions of life here, away from the city, where we are in the rural. We are fine and happy to have lived here for nearly ten years where there were several issues, such as a car accident that killed a mother and a young daughter less than three months old close to our property, not much water left inside the water tank due to leaking without warning, burst water from the water meter. We keep learning by doing things in our daily lives, and our personal values are courage, learning, and humility. 

Our gardens have expanded since we moved here; more native birds draw to our trees, shrubs and flowering plants for food, except for so many rabbits enjoying and basking in the sunshine here. Grow many vegetables and fruits for our needs food and allow me to share/give away to the Food Banks and a couple Deaf people with disabilities. I support/assist them each week. We are here to make good things happen for us and the community where I work as the purpose in life. The personal values are relationships, empathy and compassion. 

How can other people learn and tell them there are no failures but learn results from them? 

“Tenacity is behind this philosophy; you keep going no matter what happens to you.

No matter how many less-than-desirable results you get, you keep moving toward your goal and taking action to get closer to it.

You know that every so-called failure is just a result you can learn from, and you view setbacks with a growth mindset to seek out the lesson. 

You look at what went wrong or what you can do to get a better result next time. And you try again.

You don’t accept failure because every result that exceeds your hopes teaches you more than you might expect. Every faltering step is still a step.” 

When someone visits me and asks for advice, seeks solutions, or requests suggestions, I give them my best recommendation by teaching them to understand where they have gone or gone in the wrong direction of a learning curve. The personal values are resilience, tenacity and courage. 

 Let’s hope everything will be okay when people and people with disabilities learn something from dangers and climate change and make a ceasefire happen to stop the war and start rebuilding again, but we don’t know if it will be successful or if it will struggle in the new year 2024. 

We need the answer to make it happen and are still determining what the future will look like. 

United Nations IDPwD 2023 Theme

The theme for IDPwD 2023 is ‘United in action to rescue and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for, with and by persons with disabilities. ‘ The 2023 theme for IDPwD asks everyone to work together to make the world better and fairer for people with disabilities.

https://social.desa.un.org/issues/disability/events/2023-international-day-of-persons-with-disabilities-idpd

Every December 3rd, we, people with disabilities, celebrate International Day of the People with Disabilities. Our mission is to raise awareness of equity, human rights, and sign language and to promote collaboration and the closure of community gaps. Note the language – people with disabilities vs disabled people is more or less where people call themselves depending on informal or formal. “This term should always be avoided because disabled people do not want to be grouped as one. The preferred term would be disabled people (or people with disabilities, depending on which term you prefer).” https://celebratingdisability.co.uk/disability-language/#:~:text=Collective%20Labels%20and%20Positive%20Language&text=This%20term%20should%20always%20be,on%20which%20term%20you%20prefer).

In New Zealand, they address/call ‘disabled people’ than people with disabilities. 

Have a read the United Nations Office in Geneva article. This article will help you understand more and how to address anyone with disabilities/disability. 

Click to access Disability-Inclusive-Language-Guidelines.pdf

What are Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? 

We, people with disabilities, live in houses, flats, and rest homes, working and non-working in the communities, and are often forgotten people in the communities by other people. Sure, here you go:

It is imperative that we are granted equal rights by all members of society, including agencies, the health sector, the business sector, the cabinet team, and political members. Denying us these rights is unjust and hinders progress and growth for all. Let us work together towards a fair and equitable society where everyone lives and works with respect and dignity.

We must not forget people/children with disabilities who lost their infrastructures such as homes, rest homes, hospitals, transports, and special equipment during the wars and floodings. Technologies such as mobiles and computers/laptops are valuable tools for communicating with their families and friends. Without technology, they will be lost and face giant, complicated, complex lives. 

What about the playground for all children/teenagers with disabilities?

Is it accessible for all or not? Let’s start putting a thinking cap on and make the community playground more accessible and friendly by designing equipment, grounds, tactile and visual picture communication, non-verbal sharing, and hand-physical tools. 

The Deputy Mayor of Hamilton confidently inaugurated the Magical Bridge Playground on December 1st, 2023, in the Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand community, emphasising the event’s significance for the city’s residents. We are the first to establish the Magical Bridge Playground with a partnership with the Magical Bridge Foundation of Palo Alto, California, US, in the Southern Hemisphere of New Zealand. We are the first International Magical Bridge Playground. Currently, there are nine Magical Bridge Playgrounds, and we are the number ninth in the world. Five more playgrounds are coming – two in Singapore and three in California. I will have to double check often on the number of playgrounds.

https://www.magicalbridge.org

Watch TEDxTalks here.

Having participated actively in the Disabilities Forum for several years, I was thrilled to join the discussion group Peter van Vroohoven requested through the forum in 2020 for a very short time.

My experience with many forums has taught me how important it is to have a platform where individuals with disabilities can come together to share their stories, exchange ideas, and discuss their unique challenges. As a result, I was excited to be a part of this discussion group and contribute to the conversation in any way possible. 

I have been in touch with old friends, Bernice and Jack, who live in California, and we met through our Italy trip many years ago. We kept in touch every year, and I visited them at least six times in the past. Bernice wrote me a long letter about the Magical Bridge Playground in 2014-2018. Yesterday, in my mind, it was sad that I could not let Bernice know that we have a Magical Bridge Playground because Bernice and Jack have passed away, so I contacted her daughter and son through email. They were thrilled to hear about our news. 

https://www.magicalbridge.co.nz/claudelands-project/

יהי רצון שה’ ייתן את רוח הקודש הדרכה לאנשים!

שני עמים, ארץ אחת
שני עמים, ארץ אחת,
שלוש אמונות, שורש אחד,
אדמה אחת, אמא אחת,
שמיים אחד, התחלה אחת, עתיד אחד, גורל אחד,
לב אחד שבור, אלוהים אחד.
אנו מתפללים אליך: תן לנו חזון של אחדות.
שנראה את הרבים באחד ואת האחד ברבים.
מי יתן, חיי כל העולמות, מקור כל ההבדלים המדהימים תעזור לנו לראות בבהירות.
הנח אותנו בעדינות ובתקיפות אחד כלפי השני, לקראת שלום.

הרב שילה וינברג

May the Lord give the Holy Spirit guidance to the people!

Two Peoples, One Land
Two peoples, one land,
Three faiths, one root,
One earth, one mother,
One sky, one beginning, one future, one destiny,
One broken heart, One God.
We pray to You: Grant us a vision of unity.
May we see the many in the one and the one in the many?
May you, Life of All the Worlds, Source of All Amazing Differences, help us to see clearly.
Guide us gently and firmly toward each other, toward peace.

Rabbi Sheila Weinberg

פיוס במזרח התיכון
אלוהים אדיר!
אחרי כמעט מאה שנה של חוסר אמון ורצח אחים,
נתת השראה ליהודים, נוצרים ומוסלמים
ללכת בדרך של פיוס במזרח התיכון…
אנו מבקשים את סליחתך, אלוהים,
ובכל זאת אנו מתקשים לסלוח לאויבינו בעבר.
יהי רצון שדבריך יגעו באלה שעדיין תועים

במדבר של אלימות נקמנית,
שוכח את פקודתך “לסלוח ולהתעלם,
עד שאלוהים ישיג את מטרתו;
כי לאלוהים יש כוח על כל הדברים.”

עבדאלווהאב היצ’ה

Reconciliation in the Middle East
Almighty God!
After almost a century of mistrust and fratricide,
you inspired Jews, Christians, and Muslims
to take the path of reconciliation in the Middle East.
We ask for your forgiveness, O God,
yet we find it hard to forgive our past enemies.
May Your Words touch those who still stray

in the wilderness of vengeful violence,
forgetting your command to “forgive and overlook,
till God accomplish His Purpose;
for God hath power over all things.”

Abdelwahab Hechiche

It is hard not to be moved by Jean’s unwavering dedication to advocating for the rights of disabled, deaf, and marginalised individuals. Jean’s passion for justice is not only inspiring but a testament to the power of one’s commitment to making a difference. Their tireless efforts exemplify us all to follow in pursuing a more just and equitable world.

Jean wants to give readers some facts of understanding the Palestinian disabled people and the Israeli disabled people.

There are around 795,000 Palestinian Refugee Disabled People registered with UNRWA (2017). That is roughly 15%. There are 28.9% of Palestinian refugee children with disabilities in Lebanon are not enrolled in any school at all. American University Beirut and UNRWA (2015), Survey on the Socioeconomic Status of Palestine Refugees in Lebanon

Look in Israel – “In 2020, people with disabilities accounted for 20% of the population in Israel (more than 1.5 million people). Of those, about 326,000 children (accounted for 11% of all children in Israel), 751,000 people of the working-age population (16%) and 525,000 people over the age of 65 (47%). Some 6% of the working-age population (aged 20-64) (about 276,000) have a severe disability (with significant difficulties in performing basic everyday tasks). In comparison, some 10% (about 451,500) have a moderate disability (with some difficulties in performing basic everyday tasks). Among people with disabilities over the age of 20, there are about 499,000 people with severe disabilities and about 654,000 with moderate disabilities. 40% of people with disabilities have difficulty walking or climbing stairs, 8% have difficulty seeing, and 7% have difficulty hearing.” https://www.gov.il/en/departments/general/pwd_israel_2021_statistics

According to the 2017 Population, Housing and Establishments Census, 2.1% of the State of Palestine’s population- 92,710 people- are disabled. Most (47,109 people) have mobility impairments, and a fifth are under 18.
https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/portals/_pcbs/PressRelease/Press_En_3-12-2019-dis-en.pdf

Click to access Press_En_2-12-2021-dis-en.pdf

Compare the financial support living payments here, in Israel and Palestine. 

NZ$ Supported Living Payment plus accommodation supplement $2064.92 (after tax) a month. Suppose anyone has a disability and requires a disability allowance of up to $75.10 (before tax) a week. 

Monthly pension rates (as of January 01, 2023):

Full incapacity degree (100 or 75%) – a full disability pension of NIS 4,063. Partial incapacity degree of 74% – a partial disability pension of NIS 2,770.

Israel Disability Allowance – NIS 4,063

NZ Dollar total Disability Allowance $1,726.66 a month

Palestine’s monthly income of NIS 2,500

NZ Dollars $1,060.77

The current minimum wage in the Palestinian Territories is ₪1,880.00 per month in 2023. It became valid on January 01, 2022. The amounts are in Israeli Shekel.

No one wants to employ any disabled persons with excellent skills, let alone those who are struggling to live on Social Welfare Payments but often miss payments. In Palestine, many people, including disabled people, received no social welfare payments for six months, according to 2022.

https://electronicintifada.net/content/half-year-no-welfare-payments-gaza/37591

https://electronicintifada.net/content/how-do-people-disabilities-cope-when-israel-bombs-gaza/38276

53.3% of Palestine disabled children have more than one disability through the survey in West Bank. Overseas Development Institute and UNICEF (2016), Every Child Counts: Understanding the needs and perspectives of children with disabilities in the State of Palestine. 

Click to access disability-factsheet-2017.pdf

Click to access Factsheet_Inclusive-Education_oPt_HI_March2022.pdf

20.6% of the housing problem in Lebanon, where Palestine refugee households living in extreme poverty in Lebanon include at least one individual with a disability. American University Beirut and UNRWA (2015), Survey on the Socioeconomic Status of Palestine Refugees in Lebanon.

“The electricity shortage has decreased the availability of water, sanitation, and health services and undermined Gaza’s fragile economy, particularly the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

Many organizations are working persistently to alleviate poverty in Palestine.”

https://borgenproject.org/tag/poverty-in-palestine/#:~:text=The%20shortage%20of%20electricity%20has,to%20alleviate%20poverty%20in%20Palestine.

There are many protest groups worldwide, and journalists, families, staff, and United Nations staff produce media and video reports daily. However, there is no news about people with disabilities on social media and television. The recent news was that Jabalia Rehabilitation Centre, where persons with disabilities are being cared for alongside others sheltering at the centre, cannot move with heavy strikes close to these centres, such as al-Quds Hospital and Indonesia Hospital. The al-Quds hospital ran out of fuel and power.

“Hostilities taking place in heavily populated urban areas, including around hospitals, endanger the lives of the most vulnerable people, like medical staff, patients, the wounded, premature babies, people with disabilities, and the elderly.” https://www.icrc.org/en/document/israel-and-occupied-territories-icrc-urges-protection-gaza-civilians-evacuating-and-staying

https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/features/living-disability-palestine-refugee-syria-jordan

Palestinian Opposition to Social Security: Revolution or Devolution?

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/27/people-with-disabilities-not-spared-from-israels-war-machine-on-gaza-strip#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20the%20Palestinian%20Center,in%20the%20occupied%20West%20Bank.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230823-israel-violates-disabled-palestinians-human-rights-report-reveals/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-21/the-disabled-refugee-who-founded-hamas/102993128

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-27/israel-army-gaza-invasion-qatar-emerges-important-hostage-crisis/103023964

“Hamas has said it was motivated to launch the attack essentially as the culmination of long-building anger over Israeli policy, including recent outbreaks of violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, but more generally over the treatment of Palestinians and the expansion of Israeli settlements.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-did-hamas-attack-israel-and-why-now/#:~:text=Hamas%20has%20said%20it%20was,the%20expansion%20of%20Israeli%20settlements.

https://tonymaritis.medium.com/were-the-biblical-philistines-the-same-race-of-people-that-the-palestinians-are-today-72b82cb49012

https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/ohchr-opt-hospitals-statement-12-nov-2023

https://ochaopt.org/content/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-flash-update-37

https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/11/01/gaza-israeli-attacks-blockade-devastating-people-disabilities

https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/gaza-israeli-attacks-blockade-devastating-people-disabilities#:~:text=(Jerusalem)%20–%20The%20Israeli%20government%27s,needed%20necessities%20and%20humanitarian%20aid.

https://www.jns.org/life-for-israelis-with-disabilities-is-a-well-kept-secret/

“warau” means both laughing and splitting open (of the bud in this case). Sakura means cherry blossoms in Japan. 

https://www.tokyoweekender.com/art_and_culture/books-literature-art_and_culture/cherry-blossom-haiku/

And a spring haiku that signifies friendship and community, the beauty of shared joys, as well as a possible budding romance:

花の陰赤の他人はなかりけり

(hana no kage aka no tanin wa nakari keri)

Under the cherry blossoms,

strangers are not

really strangers

(translation: Zoria P. K.)

https://www.tokyoweekender.com/art_and_culture/japanese-culture/best-love-haiku/

Seeing our six Cherry trees in the field from the 18th of October that morning was beautiful! The weather was dreadful each day from the 18th of October, except our Cherry flowering always stood out against the weather. 

Each year, Cherry trees are a sign of Spring season here despite the changeable weather in the past. It is not just here when I drove anywhere in the Waikato region and saw many cherry flowers in the streets, along the main roads and parks. It is a magnificent showing of displays and warm to everyone’s hearts. 

“The significance of the cherry blossom tree in Japanese culture goes back hundreds of years. In their country, the cherry blossom represents the fragility and the beauty of life. It’s a reminder that life is almost overwhelmingly beautiful but that it is also tragically short.” – Homaro Cantu. 

Many tuis and bees love collecting nectar and pollen from cherry flowering. As myself, I would not hear the buzzing noise of these birds and bees each day but see them working over flowering. 

The cherry blossom symbolises life and death, beauty and violence, and promising new life. The blooming of cherry blossoms shows a sense of vitality and vibrancy, and the flowering takes a short time to remind us that life is fleeting.  

“Are we to look at cherry blossoms only in full bloom, the moon only when it is cloudless? To long for the moon while looking on the rain, to lower the blinds and be unaware of the passing of the spring – these are even more deeply moving. Branches about to blossom or gardens strewn with flowers are worthier of our admiration.” – Yoshida Kenkō.

https://www.jal.co.jp/kr/en/guide-to-japan/experiences/cherry-blossom/what-do-cherry-blossoms-represent/index.html#:~:text=The%20embodiment%20of%20beauty%20and%20mortality,-The%20sakura%27s%20meaning&text=It%20symbolizes%20both%20life%20and,reminder%20that%20life%20is%20fleeting.

It’s imperative that we raise awareness about the difficulties faced by people with disabilities when dealing with organisations such as Kaainga Ora, Life Insurance, and MSD. The recent experience of a Deaf tenant with Kaainga Ora highlights the need for better communication and understanding. Despite submitting an online form two weeks ago, I, as a consented person on behalf of the Deaf (ESOL) tenant, had not received any updates on job maintenance for leaking taps. The system had removed my name as the consented person, leading to confusion and difficulty in understanding their needs. The call centre staff were not adequately trained to deal with people with disabilities, leading to further frustration. The lack of communication and understanding from the case manager of the Housing Support Manager added to the Deaf (ESOL) tenant and myself more problems. It’s time we take action to ensure that people with disabilities are treated fairly and with respect and that organisations are better equipped to meet their needs. I updated the tenant’s profile with consented persons in the portal system and hope they will not remove my name again.

It’s disheartening to hear about the challenges you faced while trying to contact Kaainga Ora for the Deaf (ESOL) tenant and myself as a deaf consented person. It’s high time that organisations like Kaainga Ora take the necessary steps to understand the needs of people with disabilities better and train their staff to handle such calls effectively. Doing so can improve their communication channels and ensure that people with disabilities are treated fairly and respectfully. Let’s work together to create a world that’s inclusive and accessible for everyone.

Effective communication is essential for everyone and becomes even more critical when dealing with people with disabilities. My recent experience with Kaainga Ora and a Deaf tenant highlights the need for better communication channels and understanding. It’s time for organisations like Kaainga Ora, Life Insurance, and MSD to take action to ensure that people with disabilities are treated fairly and with respect. By improving communication channels and training their staff to handle calls more effectively, these organisations can provide a more inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. Let’s work together to create a society that values diversity and promotes equal opportunities for all.

It’s frustrating to hear about my experience with a different caller who didn’t realise I was a deaf person and sent the email incorrectly. It’s essential for people to be aware of the needs of individuals with disabilities and take appropriate measures to ensure effective communication. However, it’s good that the caller apologised and resent the email without any issues. Let’s continue to raise awareness and promote understanding to create a more inclusive and accessible society for everyone.

To create a more accessible and inclusive society, organisations like Kaainga Ora, Life Insurance, and MSD need to recognise the needs of people with disabilities. These organisations’ current database system is minimal and fails to display disabilities. It takes work to communicate effectively, make appointments, and arrange for interpreters. However, by investing in improving their systems and displaying the profile’s disabilities, these organisations can provide better services to people with disabilities and ensure that they are treated fairly and with respect. Let’s encourage them to immediately improve their systems and create a society that values diversity and promotes equal opportunities.

It’s unacceptable that many organisations fail to recognise the needs of people with disabilities, as seen in the case of Kaainga Ora, Life Insurance, and MSD. On the other hand, hearing about my positive experience at an international hotel in Europe is commendable. It’s high time that all organisations recognise the importance of investing in training their staff to identify and cater to the needs of people with disabilities. It’s essential that they provide accessible facilities such as flashing lights for phone wake-up calls, fire alarms, and doorbells to ensure that people with disabilities are treated with respect and dignity. Let’s demand that organisations take immediate action to create a society that values diversity and promotes equal opportunities for all, including people with disabilities.

“Sweet scents red tulips, red tulips bring such happiness. Our hearts are full of pleasure.” – Natasa Tocuc.

Life is some philosophy to anyone, but not everyone’s real life is hope, joy, or despair. Socrates is possibly the father of philosophy in Western philosophy, and Jean studied his books to find the answer or solution in our sign languages and Deaf Culture. What about Aristotle, Plato, and Pythagoras? Many academics pointed out the first three philosophers in their scholarly thesis papers: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Did anyone know there was/were disabled Greek people in the mythology? The people were Larunda, Tiresias and Hephaestus, and their disabilities were mute, blind and clubfoot.

Mm, let us look at the chart here. There are more than five key branches – epistemology (knowledge and truth), metaphysics (reality and being), logic (argumentation and reason), axiology (aesthetics and ethics), and political philosophy (the state and government).

In Jean’s diverse and multifaceted life, Jean takes on multiple roles, including being an advocate for the D/deaf community both at work and at home. Over the years, Jean has been honoured with several awards for her contributions to this community. Those in leadership must recognise her essential role in advocating for individuals with disabilities, particularly those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Jean’s ultimate goal is to impact the lives of those around her positively, and she is dedicated to achieving this through her work.

“Focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses.

Focus on your character, not your reputation.

Focus on your blessings, not your misfortunes.”

— Roy T. Bennett

Jean relishes collaborating with her partner and furry companions in her leisure time on various gardening endeavours. Jean owes her gardening acumen to the benevolent guidance of her departed grandparents and other kindred spirits who graciously imparted their wisdom. Although Jean hailed from Hamilton with minimal gardening exposure, she spent countless school breaks in the countryside with her grandparents, honing her horticultural skills. Jean is deeply grateful for the invaluable knowledge they bestowed on her and is enthusiastic about further advancing her gardening expertise through perpetual education and development.

“If we should be blessed by some great reward, such as fame or fortune, it’s the fruit of a seed planted by us in the past.”

— Bodhidharma

Jean is a remarkable individual who serves as an inspiration to many. Despite her disabilities, she refuses to let anything hinder her from experiencing life to the fullest with such strength and determination is truly inspiring. Whether at home or work, Jean always finds ways to overcome any obstacles that come her way. Her passion for nature is evident in the garden with her dogs, where she is truly in her element. Watching her flowers, fruits, and vegetables grow brings her immense joy, and she is always eager to share her harvest with others. Her beautiful gardens are a sight to behold, and even her neighbours cannot help but appreciate their beauty. Each season brings something new and exciting, and Jean’s positive attitude and determination are truly remarkable. She is a shining example of overcoming challenges and living a fulfilling life. She is an accurate role model for anyone facing difficulties, showing us all that we can lead a fulfilling life with hard work and perseverance.

“Blessing must arise from within your own mind. It is not something that comes from outside.”

— Dalai Lama

“Always remember to forget the troubles that passed away. But never forget to remember the blessings that come each day.”

— Irish Proverb

Those who lead give sight to those who follow; those who follow give life to those who lead. This whakatauki also speaks to the importance of working together. It acknowledges and values the importance of both the leader and the followers, for both are essential and co-dependent.

Last night, we were watching the programme ‘The Project’ channel three, and there was a clip about a Māori whanau (family) with their tamariki (Plural as in children) and te tamaiti (singular as in a child) to speak Te Reo Māori in the home. The large cities did not have enough service or kura (schools). This story clip made me think about Māori Turi Tangata (Māori Deaf people) in Aotearoa. 

Ko tōku reo tōku ohooho, ko tōku reo tōku māpihi maurea. My language is my awakening, my language is the window to my soul.

Māori Turi Tangata (Māori Deaf people) use their first language – Māori Sign Language concepts, which use most of our NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language) into Māori Te Reo. “Deaf signs express concepts through visual elements rather than originating in spoken words, so NZSL signs can be translated into either English or te reo Māori.” 

https://teara.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-sign-language#:~:text=New%20Zealand%20Sign%20Language%20(NZSL,is%20itself%20a%20distinct%20language.

 One thing is to speak in Māori Te Reo; they cannot say correctly because of sounds. Māori Turi Tangata cannot hear the sound correctly, let alone follow the lip reading. They will ‘mouth’ the words as they sign where a trilingual interpreter is available. 

Look at the poster and try to learn our sign language when ordering coffee.

One weekend, I took Jacek for his social outing as part of my job, and we went to see the new building at the University of Waikato. I studied for a BA in History along with Linguistics and Anthropology. The new facility is called The Pā: māu, māku, mā tātou katoa. The previous small building and the marae – Te Kohinga Mārama were no longer there. 

https://www.waikato.ac.nz/news-opinion/media/2023/university-of-waikato-opens-the-pa-mau-maku-ma-tatou-katoa

He mea nui kia tiakina o tatou reo, kaua ki te mate i nga reo mo nga whakatipuranga o muri. It is crucial to preserve our languages rather than dying languages for future generations.

“Kotahi te waka e noho ana tatou katoa kaore he wehenga.”
– Whakatauki Maori
“One canoe which we are all in with no exception.”
– Maori Proverb

Tōtara rakau (tree) was there when we bought our home and the large property in 2014. The tara (spike leaves) change their colours from lime-green to gold each season; for example, in Spring, the tara is yellow-green colour, yellow in Summer, and then in winter, the tara is golden yellow. This tree is a Podocarpus totara ‘Aurea’ – Golden Totara. It grows to 5 metres tall and 3 metres wide and lives over 900 years.

Ka rere nga manu ki roto i te rakau mo nga hua whero kiko. Birds swoop into the tree for fleshy red berries. Possums often climb up for shelter or to collect berries. 

Autumn into Winter: Many Tara are shedding on the ground and replaced with many new Tara. Incredible mulch ground for the soil. 

Tōtara wood is widely used for waka (long boats), fence posts, floor piling, and railway sleepers. Many Māori tane (men) used this wood for carving properties such as Toi whakairo (art carving) or just whakairo (carving), which is a Māori traditional art of carving in wood, stone or bone, e.g. the tekoteko (carved figure), the maihi (front barge boards) 

Kānuka (Kanuka) and Mānuka (NZ Tea Tree) are growing in our garden. It has benefits for bees, pollen transfer from one tree to another tree, collecting nectar, using the leaves for cooking like smoking during roasting meats or steaming the leaves over hot water for head cold, oil from the soft bark and chewing the smooth bark for relaxing and sleeping benefits. 

The flowers differ between these two trees – Mānuka displays large white or light reddish pink flowers and produces single flowers over the bush/tree. 

• Kānuka displays small white flowers and produces a cluster of flowers in clumps. 

Many thousand years ago, Māori settlers used Mānuka (NZ Tea Tree) for honey in New Zealand. They know and claim that Mānuka (NZ Tea Tree) honey is used for antibacterial health properties. 

https://manukahoneyofnz.com/blogs/manuka-honey-blog/the-history-of-original-manuka-honey

Why was it called ‘tea tree’? Captain Cook visited Aotearoa and came across the Mānuka rakau. His crew boiled the rau (leaves) to make cuppas of tea for drinking. They made beer using Mānuka and Rimu rau (leaves) and found it: “exceedingly palatable and esteemed by everyone on board.”

https://www.nzstory.govt.nz/stories/manuka-a-honey-of-a-plant/

Which country makes the best Mānuka honey? The reality is our country – New Zealand, not the Australia Manuka. 

Understanding the different types of honey products each country makes where NZ help ensure an authentic product is essential. Also, it’s crucial to choose a Mānuka honey product that is raw and unpasteurized to preserve the anti-inflammatory properties and other nutrients found in the bee pollen. It is not about the number of tea trees available in Australia; there is one unique Mānuka rakau (tree) in NZ.

See the argument between Australian scientists and our people in NZ. It is about competition, bragging about who is the best-produced honey, marketing for finances and, of course, the greed of Australian capital financial marketing. “Biosota using lab testing to create an MGO rating – the higher the rating, the higher the grade of your honey and its benefits.

Australia’s Manuka trees’ diversity is vastly superior to New Zealand’s. Australia is home to 83 species of Manuka, 12 of which have bioactive, medicinal properties, making them ideal for high-MGO Manuka production. In comparison, New Zealand has only one.”

https://biosota.com.au/blogs/resources/what-makes-australian-manuka-honey-the-superior-choice#:~:text=The%20diversity%20of%20Australia%27s%20Manuka,New%20Zealand%20has%20only%20one.

Manuka in Australia was incorrect; many Aboriginal people called Ngooka (the Ballardong Noongar native word), and the tree grows on Ballardong Noongar native land in Western Australia. https://www.foodnavigator-asia.com/Article/2020/09/29/On-par-with-manuka-Aboriginal-Ngooka-honey-aims-for-premium-positioning-due-to-health-benefits#

Did you know that Aboriginal people have another name for sweet? It is Ngkwarle — a honey-like food in Central Australia (“sugar-bag as in native”). The Marrangu-Wurrkiganydjarr people and Wurrkiganydjarr mean flower power – known as the sugarbag (honey) people. 

https://nga.gov.au/first-nations/the-aboriginal-memorial/artists-and-clans/marrangu-wurrkiganydjarr-people/

https://truebluebees.com.au/f/sugarbag-the-origin-of-the-native-australian-word-for-bee-honey

So, Manuka is not an Aboriginal language but a native Māori language. The indigenous Māori people of Aotearoa were the first to discover Mānuka honey.

Tōtara – Podocarpus totara

“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/