Deaf Aotearoa

30/07/2025

National Advisory: Tsunami activity – expect strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore.

We expect New Zealand coastal areas to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore following the magnitude 8.8 earthquake OFF THE EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA RUSSIA at 2025-07-30 11:25 AM.

Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, and anyone in or near the water close to shore.

People in or near the sea in the following areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.

AREAS UNDER THREAT:

ALL COASTAL AREAS OF THE NORTH ISLAND, GREAT BARRIER ISLAND, THE SOUTH ISLAND, STEWART ISLAND, and the CHATHAM ISLANDS

**NOTE: The threat is likely to remain in force until at least midday today**

ADVICE FOR PEOPLE IN AREAS UNDER THREAT:
STAY OFF THE BEACHES AND SHORE AREAS

People on boats, live-aboards and at marinas should leave their boats/vessels and move onto shore. Do not return to boats unless instructed by officials.

There is no need to evacuate other areas unless directly advised by local civil defence authorities. Coastal inundation (flooding of land areas near the shore) is not expected as a result of this event. We are advising people to:

- Move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.
- Do not go to the coast to watch the unusual wave activity as there may be dangerous and unpredictable surges.
- Listen to local civil defence authorities and follow any instructions.
- Share this information with family, neighbours and friends.

Tsunami activity has already reached parts of New Zealand. The first currents and surges are unlikely to be the largest and are expected to continue over many hours. The threat must be regarded as real until this Advisory is cancelled.

This National Advisory has been issued following an assessment of information available. The situation may change as new information becomes available. Listen to the radio or TV for updates, or check www.civildefence.govt.nz

22/07/2025

NZSL Video: https://vimeo.com/1102399514/d8947c682d?share=copy

Measles has now been confirmed in the Manawatu region. This is in addition to the earlier cases in the Wairarapa region. All the cases are linked.

There are some Locations of Interest, including businesses where the people with measles (the cases) went before they knew that they were sick.

To check if you might have visited these locations on the same dates and times as the cases, please go to Measles: Locations of interest in Aotearoa New Zealand.

If you or your whānau were at the same place as the cases at the same time, please monitor yourself and your loved ones for symptoms until the date listed on the website.

Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, sore red eyes, followed by a rash.

If you or your whānau develop symptoms, stay home and call your GP/health provider or Healthline [free 24hrs everyday] on 0800 611 116.

Measles can spread quickly, especially among those who aren’t immunised or with low immunity.

Your best protection against measles is to get two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine after 12 months old. You are also immune if you are confirmed to have had measles before.

The MMR vaccine is free for most people and protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.

For information about checking if you are fully protected against measles, , visit: info.health/measles

You can book a vaccination appointment with a pharmacy, your doctor, nurse, or healthcare provider. Visit info.health/bookavaccine for a list of vaccination sites in your area.

22/07/2025

We want to let you know that the NZSL Board Community Grants have recently released a list of successful recipients. We applied for funding for another Deaf Seniors project. In the past year, we gathered feedback from you, Deaf seniors, through surveys, discussions, and your input on what you would like to see happen. Based on your feedback, we have provided presentations, resources, and a Deaf Seniors Information Hub on the Deaf A A&S page. It includes information on aged-related services and organisations, NZSL resources, useful information for seniors, ACE courses/workshops, and events. This is an ongoing effort, and more information will be available soon. Please check it out! https://www.deaf.org.nz/what-we-do/adults-seniors/seniors/

From your feedback and discussions, you have expressed a desire for more support and social meetings for Deaf seniors who are isolated, home visits, social gatherings, and access to aged-related services and organisations. Many of you want to break down barriers to accessing these services. We have listened to your feedback and applied for additional funding to the NZSL Board to recruit a Deaf person as a Deaf Seniors Support Coordinator to support Deaf seniors throughout Auckland. This role would involve working directly with Deaf seniors, visiting them in their homes, rest homes, social gatherings to reduce isolation, and accessing other services and organisations, as well as educating others about Deaf awareness. Unfortunately, our funding application has been declined.

We want to reassure you that we will continue to support you. You can still contact us at Deaf Aotearoa Adults & Seniors service, we will provide information and advice, support with accessing services and organisations, equipment for the home, and you are welcome to join ACE workshops/courses. We are committed to continuing to seek funding for Deaf seniors’ projects based on your feedback and suggestions to grow and strengthen the Deaf senior’s space. Thank you.

21/07/2025

We are thinking of everyone affected by the recent rain events around the country, and in particular, in the Nelson Marlborough Tasman region.

For your information, Health New Zealand has a number of resources in Alternate Formats on recovery from a flood. These can be found: https://info.health.nz/keeping-healthy/protecting-health-natural-disaster/floods-and-health -a-flood-factsheets-5121

There are also resources available in the National Emergency Management Agency website: https://getready.govt.nz/alternate-formats

If you need to talk to someone, please text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor.

18/07/2025

🌟 Save the Date – NZSL Week 2026 🌟
Celebrating 20 Years of NZSL as an Official Language!

📅 Monday 4th – Sunday 10th May 2026
✨ NZSL Awards Night: Saturday 9th May - More details to come soon!

In 2026, we mark a powerful milestone - 20 years since NZSL was officially recognised as a language of Aotearoa!
That’s two decades of language pride, community strength, and the ongoing fight for recognition, equity, and visibility.

🖐️ This year’s theme remains:
An Aotearoa Where Anyone Can Sign, Anywhere!
Because NZSL belongs in every space - in whānau, schools, marae, workplaces, and everywhere in between. When our language thrives, so do our people.

💫 The NZSL Awards return on Saturday 9th May - a night to celebrate the changemakers, storytellers, and champions of NZSL.

🎉 Whether it’s your first NZSL Week or your 20th, let us know!
How will you celebrate?
Share your ideas, dreams, or plans with us.

Tag and use , or email us at nzsl@deaf.org.nz

18/07/2025

Siblings – A Theatre Show About Brothers and Sisters

If you have a brother or sister, or even if you didn’t grow up with them but they are still part of your life, you might know that sibling relationships can be very special and sometimes complicated.

When your sibling has a disability, these relationships can be even more complex. It’s like a whole new world with its own rules and feelings.

Siblings is a theatre show directed by Pelenakeke Brown and Barnie Duncan. It features four disabled performers (tāngata whaikaha) who explore what it’s like to be a sibling, and how disability, care, and personal choice play a part in these relationships.

The show was created through open conversations (called talanoa), fun games, and using accessibility as a way to inspire creativity.

This show is:
- Beautiful
- Funny
- Deep and meaningful
- Something many people can relate to

Siblings will have its first performance at Te Pou Theatre after more than three years of development.

The show was made possible thanks to:
- Flock Charitable Trust
- Creative New Zealand
- Foundation North
- Auckland Council

Created with and for our communities.
Created with access at its centre.
Created with deep whanaungatanga.

Āhea | When
Thurs 24 July 2025, 7:30pm (NZSL Interpreted)
Fri 25 July 2025, 7:30pm (NZSL Interpreted)
Sat 26 July 2025, 7:30pm
Sun 27 July 2025, 2pm (NZSL Interpreted)
Mon 28 July 2025, 2pm

Book tickets here: https://www.tepoutheatre.nz/siblings/

NZSL + audio description available

07/07/2025

A historic and powerful speech by World Federation of the Deaf President, Dr Joseph Murray.

For the first time, this conference returns to Rome - the same city where, in 1880, sign languages were infamously banned. That decision began 14 generations of language deprivation for Deaf people worldwide.

It’s time to let go of oralism.
It’s time to embrace sign languages.

07/07/2025

07/07/2025

That Sign What? QUIET 🤫

NZSL: Me in city, see busy, lots-people, me don't-like, had-enough. I go country, feel good, nice, quiet
English: I'm in the city, I can see it's busy and crowded - I've had enough of that. So I head to the countryside where it feels nice and quiet. What a relief.

30/06/2025

👋 Oakley’s Story – Signing, Smiling, and Racing Ahead 🏎️

At just three years old, Oakley is already showing the world that being Hard-of-Hearing doesn’t hold him back.

Diagnosed with Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss, his whānau were new to the Deaf community – but they jumped in, learning NZSL through First Signs – a service offered by us here at Deaf Aotearoa 🙌

Now, NZSL is part of everyday life for Oakley and his whānau – from home to community events. Even extended family and friends are learning to sign!

“Take whatever support you are given,” says Oakley’s whānau. “Every little bit helps.”

Deaf Aotearoa has been supporting Oakley and his whānau throughout their journey, and we’re so proud to be part of it ♥️

Read more about Oakley here: https://supportdeafaotearoa.org.nz/oakley

28/06/2025

23/06/2025

Deaf Aotearoa would like to know your feedback about our ACE (Adult Community Education) workshops.

See link to the survey – https://forms.office.com/r/LV1VGyCFsD