Huge congratulations to Hearing House kiritaki/client Danielle Aitchison, named 2026 Para Athlete of the Year at the ISPS Handa Halberg Awards! 🏆 Pictured with James Sandilands who won the Buddle Findlay Coach of the Year Award, and Hamish Kerr who won the Supreme Halberg Award and the ISPS Handa Sportsman of the Year Award (credit to athleticsnz) ​ ​ This is the highest accolade in Para sport in Aotearoa, recognising an extraordinary 2025 season where Danielle claimed two W

Barry Bjerring is a retired farmer now based in Katikati in the Bay of Plenty. After years farming in Waihi, he received his cochlear implant a year ago, having lived with hearing differences for many years.   Here, his daughter Janine shares her family's story.   “Dad first mentioned a year or so back that his audiologist had suggested that a cochlear implant might be a good option for him. She had done all that she could to help him with hearing aids. Gradually, he needed t

We celebrated a very special day at The Hearing House recently, with the switch-on of one of our youngest kiritaki/clients, six-month-old Louis Smith.​ His mum Nicole says that after switch-on, Louis was more alert and curious as he took in the environment around him.​ “He’s now turning towards sounds, which has been magical to see,” says Nicole.​  “He’s back to his normal happy self, now just with the gift of hearing. We're so thankful! ​ “The team at The Hearing House have

To mark global Tinnitus Awareness Week 2026  which starts today, we interviewed Professor Grant Searchfield, head of the University of Auckland's Audiology department. He is also co-director of the Eisdell Moore Centre for hearing and balance research, with his focus on cognitive processes involved in tinnitus perception and innovative technology for management of hearing loss and tinnitus. At The Hearing House, we’re committed to raising awareness about tinnitus and providin

You just know that 17-year-old Olivia Strang is going to make her mark on the world. The Glendowie College student, who lists art as one of her favourite subjects, has just closed out a successful Year 12 which saw one of her paintings based on the theme “who am I”? voted as the People’s Choice award in her school art exhibition. Olivia has also been known to turn her hand to creative writing and has enjoyed writing about the importance of hearing to her. Her poem, entitled ‘

When you meet Aucklander Janet Parker, 58, her warmth and optimism stand out instantly. Those qualities have shaped both her career and her experience of living with hearing differences.   Over the past decade she has learned to adapt in professional environments that rely heavily on communication. Early signs of change, like missed alarms or silent oven timers, slowly turned into challenges at work. She found herself choosing strategic positions in meeting rooms, concentrati

We’ve just published The Hearing House's Annual Report for 2024 – 2025. Click the image below or click HERE  to read.​

Our Summer Edition of Sound Matters is out now! ​ Click here or on the image below to dive into all the fresh news, stories, and events happening at The Hearing House.

As the key provider for the Northern Cochlear Implant Programme, The Hearing House is committed to partnering with stakeholders, supporting the strategy, and empowering our kiritaki to make informed choices about their communication pathways – including NZSL, spoken language, or both. This was reflected in the NZSL Board’s 10-year strategy, titled New Zealand Sign Language – everyone, everywhere, every day, launched at Parliament by the Minister for Disability Issues, Hon Lou