Deafblind Association New Zealand

Weekly update: 11 April 2025

Kia ora tatou,

Great Auckland gathering last Saturday!!
Thanks to Amy Arnold deafblind coordinator and Kaitlyn Volunteer coordinator and Harris volunteer for your support.

Local body elections, these are coming up October 11th, 2025. Now is the time for you to have your say about both accessibility to materials for informed decision making and to have your say about the way we are able to vote. The human rights act of 1990 refers to "A secret ballot" for voting. While we have the telephone dictating service for General Elections, we are now invited to explore what a secret ballot would look like for us at local body election level. Please read the below summary, written by Dr Jonathan Godfrey, Blind Citizens NZ in response to the Task Force set up for accessibility for a confidential vote for disabled people:
Begins

We knew they preferred four-year terms, but that this would need to align with central govt. Personally, I like the idea, but this is not an organisational view. I do believe the four-year terms being equally offset with central govt elections would enhance the likelihood of achieving the outcomes we seek though. The inconsistency we currently experience in local body elections is a massive problem, and as yet, no local body has managed perfection in providing an accessible election.
It is also implicit in the recommendations below but was made quite explicit by Dr Nick Smith (Nelson Mayor and leader of this task group) that online voting for people inside NZ as not likely due to security concerns. I’m still of a mind that the likelihood that an external influence could breach the security so thoroughly as to control the outcome of an election in an undetected fashion that the security concerns remain overstated. I also argued that the necessary protections will only be developed if the developers are forced and funded to provide them.

This is important to me! Is it important to you?

Ngā mihi mahana,
Warm regards,
Amanda

In this week's newsletter

Job Opportunity, Auckland: Community Disability Information Advisor

From Disability Connect.
Are you Disability Connect’s newest Community Disability Information Advisor? 15-20 hours per week in this exciting role. The role involves strategic planning, attending community events and visiting community hubs, Supporting and potential co-ordinating community seminars / workshops with community partners. This involves occasional evening/weekend work.
Applications close end of April.
Click here https://www.seek.co.nz/job/83275908 for more information and to apply.

Nominate a Youth Volunteer

Spotlight on Youth Volunteers at the Mahi Aroha Awards 2025

We are very excited to introduce the Youth Volunteer Award as part of Mahi Aroha Awards 2025.
Young volunteers can bring fresh ideas, energy, and passion to their communities. This award recognises an outstanding volunteer under the age of 25 who has made a meaningful impact through their time, skills, and dedication.
If you know a young person making a difference, let's celebrate their efforts! By celebrating young volunteers, we aim to encourage and encourage the next generation of volunteers.
It may be a new award but young people have definitely been part of the Mahi Aroha Awards history:

Last year Volunteer Wellington launched Youth Impact - a special programme to bridge the gap between young volunteers and community needs. Including a specific award for young people we can celebrate the mahi of young volunteers in our community.

How to make your nomination stand out? A few tips:

Nominate here

Event reminders

Remember to check out new documentary series Sight Unseen, from Able and NZ On Air, which talks with vision-impaired people around Aotearoa New Zealand. Audio descriptions accompany each of its 5 episodes - there are around 180,000 New Zealanders who are vision impaired.
Sight Unseen (Able)

Christchurch Audio Described, Bluey's Big Play The Stage Show

Tickets are on sale NOW but hurry, they're only available until this THURSDAY, 10 April at 5:00pm! We apologise for the short notice.

For the first time ever, hit theatre show Bluey's Big Play The Stage Show will visit Aotearoa following a global tour across Australia, UK, Ireland, Singapore, Spain, Abu Dhabi and North America. Audiences of all ages will get to see Bluey, her younger sister Bingo and Mum & Dad embark on their first live theatre show, featuring brilliantly created puppets, live actors, and iconic sets. Based on an original new story written by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, the theatrical adaptation contains music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush.

When: Wednesday, 16 April, 10am audio described show
Where: Wolfbrook Arena, 55 Jack Hinton Drive, Addington, Christchurch 8024
Run time: 50 minutes, no interval.
Tickets: $54.90 + booking fees. On sale until Thursday, 10 April at 5pm.

To book visit: TicketMaster

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Hamilton Audio described, Bluey's Big Play The Stage Show

Tickets are on sale NOW but hurry, they're only available until this THURSDAY, 10 April at 5:00pm! We apologise for the short notice. For the first time ever, hit theatre show Bluey's Big Play The Stage Show will visit Aotearoa following a global tour across Australia, UK, Ireland, Singapore, Spain, Abu Dhabi and North America.

Audiences of all ages will get to see Bluey, her younger sister Bingo and Mum & Dad embark on their first live theatre show, featuring brilliantly created puppets, live actors, and iconic sets. Based on an original new story written by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, the theatrical adaptation contains music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush.

When: Wednesday, 23 April, 10am audio described show
Where: GLOBOX Arena, Claudelands, Gate 1 Heaphy Terrace, Claudelands, Hamilton 3214
Run time: 50 minutes, no interval.
Tickets: $47.50 + booking fees. On sale until Thursday, 10 April at 5:00pm.

To book visit the link below, select the 10am performance on Wednesday, 23 April in the drop down menu, then select "Find Tickets"

Ticket link: Ticketeck

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Auckland again, Audio Described, Bluey's Big Play The Stage Show

Tickets are on sale NOW but hurry, they're only available until this THURSDAY, 10 April at 5:00pm! We apologise for the short notice. Please note, you have two more days to book.
For the first time ever, hit theatre show Bluey's Big Play The Stage Show will visit Aotearoa following a global tour across Australia, UK, Ireland, Singapore, Spain, Abu Dhabi and North America. Audiences of all ages will get to see Bluey, her younger sister Bingo and Mum & Dad embark on their first live theatre show, featuring brilliantly created puppets, live actors, and iconic sets. Based on an original new story written by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, the theatrical adaptation contains music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush.

When: Sunday, 27 April, 10am, audio described show.
Where: Spark Arena, 42-80 Mahuhu Crescent Parnell Auckland 1010.
Run time: 50 minutes, no interval.
Tickets: $44.90 + booking fees. On sale until Thursday, 10 April at 5:00pm.

To book:

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Check out our calendar of events for reminders of all the other events coming up, and updated dates for our regional peer-to-peer gatherings. Calendar / events (Deafblind Association NZ)

Other newsletters

Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) Information Exchange: 4 April 2025

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The D*List

More families stung by immigration policy changes

The D*List website is an online culture magazine that creates space for disabled people to tell their own stories through features, columns and news reporting. This week, they ask "Don't throw us under the bus", plus breaking free of neurotypical validation. Link to weekly update below. The D*List Delivered (Substack)

Following is a link to have a browse of The D*List website or sign up to receive their weekly newsletter. The D*List

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Be Seen be Heard be Connected weekly update, and mailing list

You can find our weekly Seen Be Heard Be Connected updates (ie our newsletter) on our website, at the following link.
Our weekly updates (Deafblind Association New Zealand)
You can also sign up for our weekly newsletter, and / or our mailing list DBANZ Discuss, at the links below. Please feel free to spread the word 😊

Feedback request and other reminders

Students seeking your feedback about audio description and AI

A team of students have trained an AI model to automate parts of the audio description process for films. They know most synthetic audio description falls short - flat narration, awkward timing - so they’ve focused on making their TTS sound less robotic. It’s still rough, but they're improving it weekly. They're now looking for people to test it and provide feedback, which you can do using the forms and short film clip below. They’ll use the feedback to refine the tool. and will publish updates openly.

  1. Link to the first form - please fill out before watching
  2. 300 movie clip (YouTube)
  3. Link to the final form - please fill out after watching

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Improving the sustainability of Disability Support Services" paper - alternate formats available

Alternate formats for the Cabinet paper on 'Improving the sustainability of Disability Support Services' are now available on the MSD website.
Improving the sustainability of Disability Support Services (MSD)
This paper contains Cabinet decisions for next steps to improve the sustainability of Disability Support Services. It follows the recommendations from the Independent Review of Disability Support Services.

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Nominations are still open for the World Blind Union scholarships!

Find out more about the 3 scholarships and 2 funds (World Blind Union)

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National Housing Survey

The Urban Advisory longitudinal study so there is no foreseeable closing date. The survey asks how people make their housing choices and what they want to see happen with housing in the future, with the intention of helping New Zealand better respond to housing needs and demand.
Completed surveys are eligible for entry into a quarterly prize draw to win a $200 Prezzy Card. It is an online survey through Qualtrics and is expected to take less than 30 minutes to complete.
The website link below includes frequently asked questions, an info pack and a contact email address.
New Zealand's Housing Survey (The Urban Advisory)

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Public library use and accessibility

Blind Low Vision NZ Client Training and Engagement Senior Advisor Tom Smith asks: "Is there anybody willing to be interviewed about their use of public library services and accessibility?"
Email Tom for details, at tsmith@blindlowvision.org.nz

Ongoing events

No Labels on Wellington Access Radio

You can listen the show on Wellington Access Radio on Tuesday just after 1pm, or the following Tuesday at the same time. If you miss the scheduled show, you can check it out later online at the link below.
No Labels (Wellington Access Radio)
Or you can subscribe to the show via your preferred podcast player to check out this episode or previous episodes of the show.

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Blind Spot, Radio Southland

Monthly show hosted by Carolyn Weston
Blind Spot on Radio Southland

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Disability Disrupters podcast

From Disability Responsiveness NZ, the podcast features news, views and interviews with disabled people from around the world.
Disability Disrupters podcast

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Entertainment with Able

Able is a not-for-profit organisation working towards a more inclusive Aotearoa, believing everyone should be able to access news, entertainment and culture. Funded by NZ On Air, theyre Aotearoas leading provider of media access services, including captioning services, subtitling and audio description.
Listings are available at the following browser links.

A link to Able's website to subscribe to the weekly newsletter with listings and picks of the week follows.
able.co.nz

Deafblind Association NZ access to TellMe

See TellMe numbers for your area

End of report and this week's update.
Amanda Stevens
Executive Officer
Taringa Turi Kāpō Rōpū
Deafblind Association New Zealand