What I'm learning from being fakahela 🇹🇴
Plus: A disabled sheep in the US gets it better than most New Zealanders
Mālō e lelei,
In this week’s delicious edition:
Will Sangster and adapting faiva (Tongan dance) 🥭
What has regulating online casinos got to do with disability sport? ♣️
NZ Disability Strategy consultation begins ⏰
This week we’re celebrating Uike Kātoanga'i 'o e Lea Faka-Tonga (Tongan Language Week). 🇹🇴 The D*List’s very own William Sangster reflects on the intersection of his disabled and Tongan identity and thinks immediately to his expression through Faiva (Tongan dance):
Faiva is in my family identity. My papa was a Tongan tutor and until recently, my entire family did it except for me. I felt left out, but it was hard because of the fast hand movements and feeling fakahela (too much) slowing everyone down.
In 2019, I did my first faiva dance at my 21st birthday party. My cousins helped with adapting the dance moves, switching up fast moves to slow ones, reducing the leg movements to help me with the rhythm, and not including dance moves sitting on the ground. It took a lot of extra practice and feedback from my cousins. They were brutally honest, too.
Since then I have contributed to and joined in on so many dances, and each time I get better and faster.
🚏 Anticipating the review on the Total Mobility Scheme, Dr Sally Britnell, a user of the scheme, says that the scheme helps combat the social isolation experienced by disabled people and connects us to support systems and communities. She tells RNZ:
“I’d like [the Government] not just to consider the numbers; I’d like it to consider the social impact, I’d like it to consider disabled people as members of society contributing because there are a lot of people out there that do contribute to society in many ways and have valuable insight.”
🚖 Chris Davis, the chief executive of Aspire Canterbury, is not confident that the 75% subsidy for trips on the scheme will survive the review based on his conversations with government agencies. He tells RNZ this could double some people’s costs getting to and from work.
”Total Mobility at 75% is actually still quite expensive…$20 a day for your commute is actually quite a lot. Most people don’t spend $20 on their commute. And most Total Mobility users can’t use public transport, that’s why they use Total Mobility.”
Transport minister Chris Bishop said final advice is to be provided this year and that the Government is “working hard to provide clarity as soon as possible.”
🎰 Disability sports may be severely affected by the law change to regulate up to 15 online casinos without making those operators return community funding grants. Stuff reports:
The sport sector fears it will face huge funding cuts: it receives about $170m a year in pokie grants and officials fear once online casinos are legal and marketed, they will quickly eat up that market share, meaning a huge cut in pokie grants and no replacement revenue stream.
⛓️💥 The Supreme Court has found the wrong legal test was used to lock up an autistic man, known as Jay, for nearly 20 years, RNZ reports. As a result, the Family Court has been ordered to reexamine whether the Jay should be detained. Human rights lawyer Tony Ellis, who represented Jay’s mother, says the ruling is a significant win for disability rights:
”Anyone locked up on extended compulsory care orders will be entitled to have their decision revisited as a result of this case. That’s a major step forward and a really important decision under the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.”
🤔 Minister Louise Upston acknowledges “one year since our Government took action to stabilise the disability support system” and disabled New Zealanders aren’t impressed, Stuff reports.
🦼Jodie Thorne speaks to the NZ Herald about the fight she is having as the Government will not fund repairs for her powerchair due to the purchasing rule changes introduced last year. The guidelines say funding is not available for mobility equipment if the person can manage getting around in the home.
”Its not a luxury… I’m asking to be able to get out of my wheelchair on my own.”
🐑 Meanwhile, a disabled sheep in Massachusetts has secured a motorised wheelchair from donations, reports the Washington Post.
✨ The New Zealand Disability Strategy is getting a refresh and you’re invited to put in your cents’ worth on the draft for 2026 to 2030 strategy. You can provide feedback through an online form (which includes Easy Read and NSZL formats), attend an online or in person meeting, or email in a three-minute video. Provide feedback now on the whole or parts of the draft strategy, or do so before Sunday 28 September 2025.
❄️ Join Disability Sport Auckland and Halberg for an inclusive ice skating session at Paradice Avondale on Sunday 24 August 3.45 to 4.45pm. The event is free, suitable for all levels, and includes skates and frame hire. All you have to do is bring yourself and warm clothes. Register here.
🎶❤️ Māori mā, tauiwi mā, nau mai ki Mahuru Māori! The D*List is hosting four free weekly waiata Māori sessions every Friday at 3-4pm at our community hub at 322 New North Road, Kingsland. The first starts next Friday 29 August and sessions are open to any d/Deaf or disabled people aged 18+. Trilingual NZSL interpreters will be available on September 12 and 19. Attend as many sessions as you wish. ☺️
Reply to this email or text Ella at 0273352459 to RSVP and to indicate any of your access needs if you have any.
🤟 Learn Te Reo and NZSL with Te Roopu Waiora. They’re offering Level 1-3 beginners program starting from $130 for whānau hauā. Find a course that’s right for you here.
Toki sio 👋
Eda
