Identical six-year-old twins Ashe and Jett, who live in Tairua on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, received their cochlear implants in June 2024, after having been identified as being deaf since birth.

The boys were implanted on consecutive days by Auckland-based ENT surgeon Colin Brown, who mum Danielle says, “was awesome to work with.”

Rose began her hearing journey at 31 with a cochlear implant in Korea, gradually learning to recognise sounds with her mother’s guidance. Music became a key part of her experience, as she played and listened to the ukulele, celebrating each new sound along the way.

After upgrading to a Nucleus 7 processor in New Zealand, Rose experienced greater clarity and comfort, deepening her connection to music and everyday sounds. Her journey highlights how cochlear implants can transform lives, offering joy, connection, and a richer experience of the world.

At 84 years old, Hazel Wood had been living with hearing difficulties for many years.

Audiologists had supported her throughout that time, adjusting her hearing aids as her hearing changed. She had always appreciated their care and expertise.

At her annual check-up in 2024, Hazel passed the standard hearing test. But when asked to face the wall and repeat sentences, she found it impossible.

Six-year-old Te Waiwaha Prangnell is a bright and bubbly girl who loves dancing.

Cochlear implants provide children and adults who are hard of hearing with access to sound, but receiving an implant isn’t simply about hearing.

Six-year-old Te Waiwaha Prangnell is a bright and bubbly girl who loves dancing, listening to Savage Love by Jason Derulo and reading with her mum. She also has cochlear implants after failing her newborn hearing screen when she was just a few weeks old.