If I am to Dream…
This photo was taken several years ago (2019), where I was in the Waikato District Council Disability advisory group meeting and the DHB (District Health Board) staff at the old Farmers Building – now Waikato District Health Building in Hamilton. I was in the reception room, and I saw the quote displayed on the wall where I waited for the staff to lead me to the meeting room. The quote inspired my thought on how we can achieve by making all disabled people and Deaf people’s goal come true. Te Puea Herangi, the granddaughter of the second Māori King, Tawhiao Te Wherowhero, Te Puea, was raised to lead her people, the Tainui iwi (tribe) Waikato. She led Tainui’s opposition to conscription in World War I and gave refuge to men who refused to fight.
What do this quote and the meeting when I was involved with the Waikato District Health Board? The board and the staff of the Waikato Health Board wanted to create. They implemented the plan the Disability Responsiveness Plan in 2019. They consulted with Te Rōpū Tiaki Hunga Hauā. Also, They got advice from Waikato Tainui that whānau hauā was the more appropriate reference to use for disabled people and their whanau. This term has been in use in the Waikato since 2006. Tāngata whaikaha was initially used as it was developed for Whāia Te Ao Mārama 2018-2022: The Māori Disability Action Plan in 2014. We have heeded Waikato Tainui advice and used whānau hauā instead of tāngata whaikaha throughout this plan. I have been involving with the EGL (Enabling Good Lives) Leadership Waikato and Disability providers for many years. Waikato District Health Board invited several groups made up of 70 people who involved in this meeting.
“If I am to dream,…then we will achieve.” – Every D/deaf people and disabled people have a dream to achieve over a thousand years. Still, in New Zealand, D/deaf people and disabled people struggle to achieve their dream due to many barriers and being discriminated against by finding employment, getting a proper education or universal design in building and technology. What about Māori Tangata turi (D/deaf people) and whānau hauā (Māori people with disability in the background) in New Zealand? Up in the Northland of New Zealand, there is a higher case of low income and poverty of Māori people living in the shed, caravan, tents and unable to find employment and many other issues such as health. Where is their help by their Māori Iwi as this iwi received the Crown compensation from the Government?
Look at the census 2018:-
Languages spoken by people in Waikato Region and New Zealand, 2018 Census
| Category | Waikato Region (%) | New Zealand (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Māori | 5.9 | 4 |
| Samoan | 0.6 | 2.2 |
| Northern Chinese | 1 | 2 |
| Hindi | 1 | 1.5 |
| French | 0.8 | 1.2 |
| Yue | 0.5 | 1.1 |
| Sinitic not further defined | 0.6 | 1.1 |
| Tagalog | 0.7 | 0.9 |
| German | 0.7 | 0.9 |
| Spanish | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| Afrikaans | 0.9 | 0.8 |
| Tongan | 0.3 | 0.8 |
| Panjabi | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| New Zealand Sign Language | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Other | 4.9 | 7.4 |
| None (eg too young to talk) | 2.2 | 2.2 |
Number of children born to each Māori female in Waikato Region, 2006–18 Censuses
| Category | 2006 (%) | 2013 (%) | 2018 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| No children | 28.8 | 29.1 | 28.5 |
| One child | 12.3 | 12.6 | 12.4 |
| Two children | 16.5 | 17.3 | 18 |
| Three children | 14.1 | 14.3 | 15.1 |
| Four children | 10.1 | 10.1 | 10.2 |
| Five children | 6 | 5.7 | 5.9 |
| Six or more children | 7.6 | 6.4 | 6.5 |
The data in the D/deaf community is: – “approximately 4,599 deaf people (Census 2018, Stats NZ) who use NZSL as a form of communication and approximately 20,000 people in total who use NZSL. This includes parents who use NZSL to communicate with their deaf child. These figures are likely to be underestimated.” https://www.odi.govt.nz/nzsl/about/ I suggest having an excellent tool of data collecting throughout New Zealand by using the Washington Group. in order, we can recognise the actual number of D/deaf persons and D/deaf with multi disabilities people
There are estimated whānau hauā of 24,600 Māori, 66,900 European, 2500 Pacific and 5400 Asian in the Waikato region. The population of Māori Deaf people is difficult to determine around New Zealand. The people in New Zealand recorded the data via The Washington Group were recorded in 2018. These groups of data showed you how many disabled people and D/deaf people, including Māori Tangata turi (D/deaf people) and whānau hauā (Māori people with disability in the background).
In New Zealand, we, D/deaf people, has got a long way to go. Still, we need support from other organisation that runs by disabled persons, Māori disabled people, families of disabled children and youths even support workers and disabled and D/deaf advocators.
As above, Te Puea Herangi’s quote encouraged many Māori people to develop the first small health Māori clinic in 1985 due to the major disparities in employment, health, education, and housing. Today in Waikato, we have healthcare called Raukura Hauora o Tainui ki Taamaki was established in 1995 in Hamilton. Today it would be good to have someone as a sustainable leadership (D/deaf person) work together. Yes, there are several D/deaf sustainable leadership but in a different way, which is recognised in our language – NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language) and need to make more accessible for the Deaf communities.
I am trying to put words in sentences to your audiences as readers, staff, employees, MPs, and many other people who have read the blog. Looking out through the window and imagining what the future would look like if we, D/deaf people, D/deaf with multi disabilities and disabled people, achieve by living equality to non-disabled people.
Here is another quote from Raukura Hauora o Tainui ki Taamaki via Te Puea Herangi.
Nga Moemoea O Te Puea
Kia tu pakari ngaa uri whakaheke
Kia ora ai te Whaanau
Kia Mau ki te Reo Maaori
Akonga Nga Mokopuna kia Maia
Awhina te Whaanau kia Ora te Iwi
The future generations shall stand strong for the survival of their families,
they will be well versed, and will holdfast to Te Reo Maori
Teach the generations that follow them to be brave
They’ll take care of their families which in turn will care for the tribe
