Your Way l Kia Roha

🌿 Free Care Matters workshops for whānau and carers
Our friends at Care Matters are hosting free in-person workshops for whānau and carers of disabled people.

These welcoming workshops are a space to connect, share and learn, with the day shaped around what matters most to you.

The workshops will cover:
• Understanding the system
• Supports in your community
• Enabling Good Lives
• Taking care of yourself – wellbeing
• Planning for the future

📍 Dunedin
10 November 2026, 9.30am–2.30pm
Register: https://carematters.org.nz/events/dunedin-care-matters-workshop-2/

📍 Cromwell
11 November 2026, 9.30am–2.30pm
Register: https://carematters.org.nz/events/cromwell-care-matters-workshop/

📍 Queenstown
12 November 2026, 9.30am–2.30pm
Register: https://carematters.org.nz/events/queenstown-care-matters-workshop-2/

Venue details will be provided after you register.

Questions? Contact Lianne:
📞 021 158 2082
📧 [email protected]

Bula and welcome to Fijian Language Week! 🌺

This week marks Macawa ni Vosa vakaViti – Fijian Language Week, part of the 2026 Pacific Language Weeks.
📅 4–10 October 2026

The 2026 theme is:
"Na noqu vosa me tekivu mai vale ka me'u na vosataka e na veisiga"
"My language starts at home and I need to speak it every day."

This year's theme highlights the importance of using Vosa vakaViti in our everyday lives, starting at home and continuing across our communities.

Fijian Language Week is an opportunity to celebrate Vosa vakaViti, and the language, culture and heritage of Fijian communities across Aotearoa.

🔗 To learn more and explore Fijian Language Week resources, visit the Ministry for Pacific Peoples: https://www.mpp.govt.nz/programmes-and-funding/pacific-languages/pacific-language-weeks/fijian-language-week/

🌟 Come and see us at the Aspire Community Showcase!

We’re excited to be part of this community event at the awesome Hamilton Gardens Pavilion.

The Aspire Community Showcase brings together three interactive showcases in one:
🌿 Wellbeing Showcase
📚 Lifelong Learning Expo
🎨 Clubs & Creativity Showcase

Come along, connect with the community, explore what’s on offer, and say kia ora to our team!

📍 Hamilton Gardens Pavilion
🎟️ Free entry!

Find out more and see the Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/762021150087700

🏀 An exciting morning of basketball at our Sport Opportunity programme for disabled tamariki and rangatahi in Kirikiriroa Hamilton.

A massive thank you to Donovan Matara from Waikato Basketball for supporting us this morning. We really appreciate you helping create a fun and inclusive opportunity for our tamariki and rangatahi to get active, connect and enjoy basketball.

Ngā mihi, Donovan! 🏀

Want to learn more about our Sport Opportunity programme? Check it out here: https://www.yourwaykiaroha.nz/sports

We were excited to attend the opening of Whare Wairua from our friends at Xabilities yesterday.

Whare Wairua is a space made by and for neurodivergent people to heal, develop, connect and simply be.

The space offers mirimiri healing sessions, as well as a low-sensory space where people can slow down, regulate and enjoy some kawakawa.

We’re excited to see this space open and look forward to seeing the ways it supports the neurodivergent community.

Fakafetai and welcome to Tuvalu Language Week! 🌺

This week marks Vaiaso o te 'Gana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week, part of the 2026 Pacific Language Weeks.

📅 27 September – 3 October 2026

The 2026 theme is:
"Tuvalu, alofa ki tou fakavae, kae teugina tou iloga i tau kete fai malaga."
"Tuvalu, cherish your foundation, and carry your identity along your journey."

This year's theme is a reminder of the importance of language, culture and identity, and of carrying these connections with us throughout our lives.

Tuvalu Language Week is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate te 'Gana Tuvalu, and the language, culture and heritage of Tuvalu communities across Aotearoa.

🔗 To learn more and explore resources, visit the Ministry for Pacific Peoples: https://www.mpp.govt.nz/programmes-and-funding/pacific-languages/pacific-language-weeks/tuvalu-language-week/

🗳️ Accessible election information is now available

The Electoral Commission has brought accessible election resources together in one place, making it easier to find information about enrolling and voting.

Resources are available in a range of accessible formats, including:
🔹 Audio
🔹 Braille
🔹 Easy Read
🔹 Large Print
🔹 New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL)

Find accessible election information here: 👉 https://vote.nz/2026-general-election/resources/information-in-accessible-format

⏰ Daylight Saving Reminder – Sunday 27 September 2026 ⏰

At 2:00 am, don’t forget to set your clocks forward 1 hour!

🔥 Fire and Emergency New Zealand recommends testing your smoke alarms every daylight saving. Check out more tips here: www.escapemyhouse.co.nz/sorted

Daylight saving is also a great time to check if you can hear your smoke alarms, with or without hearing aids. You may qualify for government funding for specialised smoke alarm systems.

Hearing Therapists with Your Way | Kia Roha can assess your needs and help you access this equipment. Our service is free, independent, and here to support you with your individual hearing needs.

Visit here for more information: https://yourwaykiaroha.nz/hearing

On Friday 25 September, there is a planned system outage for Connections & Funding. This will impact people and teams in Hutt, Otago, Taranaki, Tairāwhiti and Whanganui. It means we will be unable to process or check information.

We are hopeful that this system outage will be completed by the end of Monday 28 September at the very latest.

Research opportunity: disabled parents' experiences of postnatal care

Are you disabled and have had a pēpi | baby in the last two years? Did you receive postnatal care from a Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) midwife?

Researchers want to hear from you.

Birthing Whānau: Experiences and Expectations of Postnatal LMC Midwifery Care in Aotearoa is a study by Ara Institute of Canterbury, Otago Polytechnic, the University of Waikato, the New Zealand College of Midwives, and a team of independent lived experience researchers and midwives. It's one of the first studies in Aotearoa's perinatal sector to intentionally seek out the experiences of disabled whānau, with accessibility and participant choice built in from the start.

You may be eligible if you:
• Identify as disabled, tangata whaikaha, Deaf, neurodivergent, chronically ill, or have another access need
• Had a baby within the last two years
• Received postnatal care from an LMC midwife in Aotearoa

Ways to take part:
Online, in-person, or wānanga-based interviews; written responses; voice messages; asynchronous participation; NZSL interpreters and other supports available on request.

Interested? Register here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/MNtb5cZQHT

Please feel free to share with disabled parents, whānau, and communities who may want to take part.