We work with our member groups to
Read our Objects, which form part of our Constitution
Hearing Week 2012 is at the end of March. More information on how you can help is coming soon.
NFD has been advised by Cochlear Limited that they are doing a voluntary recall of their un-implanted Cochlear Nucleus CI500 cochlear implant range.
While less than 1% of CI512 implants have failed since launch in 2009, Cochlear has identified a recent increase in the number of Nucleus CI512 implant failures. Though the failure rate is still very low, Cochlear is recommending use of the Nucleus Freedom Cochlear Implant range instead of the Nucleus CI500 range while it further investigates the cause of this issue.
If you are concerned or want further information, please download the consumer Q&A sheet or contact Cochlear Customer Service on 0800 444 819.
The first ever World report on Disability, produced jointly by WHO and the World Bank, suggests that more than a billion people in the world today experience disability. The report provides the best available evidence about what works to overcome barriers to health care, rehabilitation, education, employment, and support services, and to create the environments which will enable people with disabilities to flourish. Download here
Disabled people’s organisations have welcomed the first set of indicators developed to track equal employment opportunities for disabled people. The release of the Human Rights Commission report on 1 August 2011 entitled ‘Tracking equality at work for Disabled People’ highlights the need for more leadership to address the fundamental inequalities faced by disabled people in employment. Download here
The New Zealand Tourism Research Institute has recently published a report presenting the final results from online surveys conducted to understand the tourism experiences of people with hearing loss. Download the report here
Click here to find out what services are currently available in Christchurch and how you can access them.

NFD has developed a Safe Sound Indicator (SSI) for use in early childhood centres. The SSI is a visual tool educators can use to monitor and manage noise levels. Read more
Our goal is to ensure that an SSI is available to every early childhood centre in New Zealand - about 3,500 of them. We can only achieve this with your support.
Donate to our SSI National Appeal and help ensure an SSI is available to every early childhood centre in New Zealand.
Read more about the SSI and Jamie Fenton, whose idea it was
The SSI is now available for purchase. Please contact Sara Huszak on 0800 867 446 or email sara.huszak@nfd.org.nz for further details.
With funding received from the Ministry of Health, NFD has produced an information pack and sign language DVD detailing the services and support options provided by Government agencies and other support organisations in New Zealand. You can access the information online from the Ministry of Health web site via the following links:
Adults: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/disability-news-factsheets#areyoudeaf
Children: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/disability-news-factsheets#childhearing
Our new desktop widget checks to see if your headphones are too loud! Download our widget on the right and follow the instructions. If the sound glows green, they are at a good level, if the sound glows red they could be doing irreparable damage!
The RNID (the Royal National Institute for Deaf People) in the UK has developed an on-line hearing check. Click here to start the check. It only takes a few minutes and it's free. Do you know anyone who needs to check their hearing? Please forward this link on.
A new innovative iPhone application that allows people to check their hearing anywhere in the world was also launched by the RNID on 30 March 2010. To access the link and to read more, click here
NFD upholds and applies the principles of the CRPD. Read these here
Brent Macpherson from Stretch Productions has produced a documentary about Deaf Solomon Islanders at San Isidro Care Centre learning life skills. The Centre is a 45 minutes drive from Honiara on Guadalcanal Island.
View the film on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHF8ckhAf2I&feature=youtu.be

Yellow cards in their plastic holders should be displayed on every public reception/counter throughout the country. Thanks to funding from the ASB Community Trust, we are currently distributing them free of charge to retail and service areas in the Auckland and Northland regions.
The cards help both the person on reception and the hearing impaired person to communicate effectively. For the person with hearing difficulty, there is a reminder that they should explain to the receptionist that they do have trouble hearing. For your staff member there are discrete reminders that they should:
The National Foundation for the Deaf aims to break down barriers and these cards provide clear, concise information on how to communicate with a hearing impaired person - something from which we can all benefit. To order cards, please email your delivery address to enquiries@nfd.org.nz.
NFD has prepared a practical guide to fire safety for the hearing impaired. Download it here
The Spring 2011 copy of our bi-annual magazine, Hearing Matters, has just been published! You can download a copy here.

Download a copy of this poster here
Hearing protection (ear muffs) can be purchased from (information only - products not endorsed by NFD):
Hearwell, Ear Buddies, Kiwi Plugs, Kiwi Safety, Mitre10
Even with the most modern hearing technology, it can be difficult to hear everything that is being said when speaking directly to another person or in a larger group. Click here to read 13 simple tips to optimise such situations.


A hearing dog could enhance your life. Find out more here
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Information on scholarships for deaf and hearing impaired people offered by the NFD Trust and other organisations. Scholarships & Grants |
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