3 Aug 2017

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Wearing ear muffs during a Council meeting isn't usually considered polite, but on this occasion it was done for a good cause.

Councillors and Mayor Lianne Dalziel donned ear muffs at today's meeting to highlight the Silent Leadership Challenge 2017, a nationwide fundraiser for the National Foundation for the Deaf and a way to help people better understand the effects of hearing loss. 

Councillors wore ear muffs to better understand hearing loss.

Mayor Lianne Dalziel and Council Chief Executive Karleen Edwards wore ear muffs to better understand hearing loss.

The challenge, to be held around the country tomorrow, involves wearing ear muffs for four 10-minute sessions to simulate deafness – during a one-on-one meeting, a group meeting, a busy café or lunch room, and while watching television at home.

Hearing Association New Zealand President Tony Rush and Christchurch Hearing Support President Russell Simes gave a presentation at the meeting while Councillors wore ear muffs, then handed them a written version of the talk. 

“This presentation has for some Councillors been one of those four challenges,” Mr Rush said.

“Signing up for the challenge is a way of showing support for improving quality of life for the one in six New Zealanders who has some kind of hearing loss – that’s about 880,350 people.

“Wearing ear muffs helps people understand the challenges these people face every day and helps to change community attitudes.”

He said hearing loss could lead to social isolation and lack of understanding from other people, even family members, was a major hurdle.

Ms Dalziel said it was a very worthwhile for Councillors to help raise awareness of hearing loss, an issue that affects about 63,000 Christchurch citizens. “Putting on these ear muffs really makes us think about the scale of the problem and how we can interact with our work colleagues and other people we meet who have hearing loss.”

This year the National Foundation for the Deaf hopes to raise $50,000 to support its advocacy and prevention work. Local donations will go to Christchurch Hearing Support, which gives advice, support and assistance to about 6000 people each year.

Other fundraisers that can be held for the event include raffles, quiz nights, mufti days and bake sales.  A small raffle organised by staff in the Mayor's Office raised about $380.