The Hearing House is taking its popular Connect & Share sessions into the regions with a new series of gatherings launching in Hamilton this month as demand for regional support grows. The sessions, designed for kiritaki/clients, their whānau and support people, have become a valued source of connection and reassurance for participants in Auckland. Now, after feedback from our kiritaki whānau/family support counsellor Hazel Benson-Dawe says The Hearing House is trialling the

There were many highlights from NZSL Week 2026 for The Hearing House, but one of the most special was the opportunity to spend time with Dr Joseph Murray, President of the World Federation of the Deaf, during his visit to Aotearoa. This year also marked 20 years since NZSL became an official language of New Zealand. It was an important moment to celebrate progress, reflect on the journey so far, and continue conversations about what more we can do to strengthen the rights of

“I’ve felt so much love and support throughout my journey.” Hanin received her cochlear implant in 1997 when she was six years old. She and her mother visited The Hearing House a few times a week for more than 10 years, working with their audiologists and speech language therapists to learn how to access sound – an experience Hanin describes as life-changing. Hanin also attended a mainstream primary school in Auckland, where she credits a teacher aide, Liz Callaghan, with tea

The Hearing House kiritaki/client and cochlear implant user Eviana Peterson recently joined the Spirit of Adventure on a five-day journey – this is the story of her sailing adventure. “I’m a Year 13 student at Mount Maunganui College in Tauranga and I’m currently looking at study options and universities for 2027. I hope to pursue my interests in either Art and Creative Design or Marine Studies. I’ve been doing ballet since I was four years old and am training for my RAD Adv

Our autumn edition of Sound Matters is here! 🍂​ ​ As the season shifts — with cooler days, changing leaves, and the move away from daylight saving — it offers a natural moment to pause, reflect on the year so far, and look ahead to what’s next, both individually and across our kiritaki/client and whānau community.​ ​ This season reflects on the bar-tailed godwit’s annual journey between Aotearoa and the Northern Hemisphere, a remarkable example of endurance, connection, and

Deborah Gill “I went to my first audiologist at about 35. I had two small children at the time and had returned to teaching at Greenmeadows Intermediate in Manurewa. Things sounded muffled, and I struggled to hear without asking people to repeat themselves. “I wasn’t too concerned and underwent some hearing tests, and it was suggested that I wear hearing aids in both ears. That was a surprise. “My first hearing aids were a shock, and I panicked. Things I didn’t want to

​Recently, Bronwyn and Chris, two of our SLTs, delivered a lecture to Speech and Language Therapy students at the University of Auckland.​ ​Their session explored the important role SLTs play in adult cochlear implant rehabilitation — from supporting communication and hearing outcomes to providing psychosocial counselling and planning personalised rehabilitation programmes.​ ​We were also grateful to be joined by our kiritaki/clients Annette, Keith, and Paul, along with Jacki

Last week, Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro hosted a reception to celebrate 20 years of the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006. The Act made NZSL an official language of Aotearoa, giving it recognition in legal settings and protecting it as an important cultural and linguistic taonga.​ ​Claire Green, our CEO, was proud to represent The Hearing House at the event. It was inspiring to see the impact NZSL has had over the past two decades and to celebrate the ongoing work to mak

Our recent Connect & Share group brought together cochlear implant and hearing aid users for an afternoon of connection, conversation and shared experiences. Hazel Benson-Dawe, our whānau support counsellor, said the purpose of the popular sessions was to bring kiritaki/clients together to establish common ground – whether it was benefits or challenges. “We’re creating an environment where we can be aware of each other’s communication needs and spend time working on making