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CHARITY Assistance dogs changing lives

Assistance dog Logan has provided seven years of friendship and daily aid to 19-year-old Reuben Jansen of Cockle Bay, helping him feel less isolated and alone. Assistance Dogs NZ has its critical annual appeal running this month.

Before assistance dog Logan joined Cockle Bay’s Nico Jansen, Michéle TheronJansen and their son Reuben over seven years ago, they described their lives as being in their own permanent ‘lockdown’, a term we are now all so familiar with.

Reuben, now 19 years old, is autistic, non-verbal and suffers from hypotonia (decreased muscle tone leading to stability issues and trouble walking).

He struggles with loud noises, would often run off without warning and could be unwilling to comply with directions. This made going out to public places or even a walk to the park diffi cult, putting the family’s life on hold.

The Jansens are sharing their story as Assistance Dogs NZ Trust (ADNZT) fundraises during their annual appeal month of September, petitioning the public to help fund the training and placement of more life-changing assistance dogs.

With the reduction in cash giving and over 50 families still waiting for their dog, the trust has been virtually shaking their buckets this year, aiming to raise $75,000 to fund their vital work.

This will continue to address the escalating need within the New Zealand disabled community for assistance dogs that offer independence and crucial daily aid. ADNZT trains specialist public access dogs under Assistance Dogs International accreditation for clients with various neurodisabilities including Autism and Cerebral Palsy.

Within months of Logan joining the family, Reuben formed a strong bond with his assistance dog, starting to show affection and making sounds to communicate with him, something his parents had never seen before.

“Reuben didn’t know how to show affection, even to us as his parents. So seeing him start to pat and ‘speak’ to Logan was a revelation.

Now, he’s so much more connected to the world around him,” explains Michéle.

Reuben fi nds even the slightest change diffi cult. With Logan at his side, Reuben has been calmer and more confi dent, attending appointments and haircuts with relative ease, something that wasn’t possible before Logan arrived.

As one of his only friends, Logan helps make life a little less lonely, ensuring Reuben always has a buddy nearby to provide comfort and unconditional love when times are tough.

Like many parents of children with disabilities, the Jansens experienced prejudice and misunderstanding when Reuben acts out in public as autism is more of an ‘invisible’ disability.

With Logan alongside them in his smart blue ADNZT coat, people are more understanding, and the family can enter their community without anxiety.

This year Reuben developed seizures and other changes in his behaviour, and Logan has continued to provide invaluable support.

When Reuben comes out of a seizure, his dog is lying there at his side, comforting him as he recovers. This makes life a little less scary and helps Reuben’s family through these new challenges.

When stress is high, Logan is always there to offer a cuddle for those that need it, and a calming presence in the house.

“It’s hard to do justice to how much Logan has transformed our lives, and the huge impact he has had,” says Michéle.

Funding manager Alex Williams explains, “The Trust doesn’t receive any government funding, and is funded solely by generous donations, grants and individual donors, including our puppy sponsorship programme.

The hard cost of training, placing, and supporting an Assistance Dog throughout their working life is $75,000.

Reuben Jansen, now 19 years old, is autistic, non-verbal and su ers from hypotonia (decreased muscle tone leading to stability issues and trouble walking). His assistance dog Logan sits in front. Photo supplied

 Assistance Dogs NZ Trust’s

2022 Appeal month runs to the end of September and donations can be made to street collectors or online at www. assistancedogstrust.org.nz.

COMMENT Major milestone for New Zealand

Here in east Auckland, we’ve been through a lot together in the past few years. We’ve stayed home, made sacrifi ces and changed our everyday lives to control Covid.

While it hasn’t always been easy, we’ve pulled together – now we’re in a position to move forward with greater confi dence and certainty.

As you might have already heard, we’ve now removed the Covid-19 Protection Framework, commonly known as the traffi c light system. Mask wearing requirements have been removed, except in healthcare and aged care settings. We’ve also changed the requirements around isolation, so it’s now only people who test positive who need to isolate.

This marks a signifi cant moment in our response. For the fi rst time since 2020, east Auckland can look forward to summer with certainty, a summer where events won’t be cancelled because of Covid and our borders are fully open.

Not only is this great news for families and friends planning holidays and special events, this certainty will also make a real difference for local businesses, particularly in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

New Zealand’s economy is set to recover faster from the pandemic than it did from the Global Financial Crisis with near-record low unemployment, wages outstripping infl ation, low debt and record exports.

However, there’s no question that Labour List MP

Naisi Chen

it’s been a diffi cult few years for east Auckland. Moving on safely from the traffi c light system and welcoming back the world is going to help to drive greater economic activity and allow us to build back better.

I know there may be some people in our community who feel concerned by the changes to Covid settings and I want to reassure everyone that we wouldn’t be taking this step if the country wasn’t ready.

The most recent health advice shows case numbers and hospitalisations are at their lowest since February. Our communities are well-vaccinated and we’ve just doubled the number of people who can access anti-viral medicines, with 40,000 extra courses due to arrive in the country.

We’ve also moved to ensure that people aged 65 and over, and Māori and Pacifi c peoples aged 50 and over, will have automatic access to Covid anti-virals if they test positive.

This is an exciting step for east Auckland and it’s taken a team effort to get to this point. So, thank you for your hard work and sacrifi ces over the past few years. These efforts have made a real difference. Naisi Chen is a Labour List MP based in Botany

COMMUNITY Turning your old to gold

By ZOE GARDEN

A group of migrant and refugee women are utilising traditional sewing and craft practices to turn old things into gold.

Auckland-based Kohna Zari Ko is a mending and upcycling service led by the Migrant Women’s Group and The New Settlers Family and Community Trust (NFACT).

NFACT general manager and registered counsellor Fahima Saeid told the Times that the idea for the service came from her experience working with refugee and migrant women in New Zealand. “I’ve worked in the refugee sector for the last 20 years,” Saeid says. “Women who usually come either have never been to school or don’t have any transferrable skills that could develop into a job opportunity for them here.”

Kohna Zari Ko helps migrant and refugee communities through activities incorporating traditional sewing and craft practices from their home countries, opening up opportunities for friendship, education, and connection.

Additionally, the service creates fi nancial independence for “women who are towards their mature and senior age who otherwise will not get the chance,” Saeid says.

“There’s a major mental health and emotional wellbeing component to this as well.”

The 10 talented women of Kohna Zari Ko have recently undergone up-skilling training – a six-week course that teaches them how to use and maintain an electrical sewing machine, as well as education on running a business and customer service, skills that are integral in establishing further independence.

Kohna Zari Ko can undertake alterations, tailoring and unique sewing commissions with a focus on sustainability by giving ‘new life’ to old clothes and fabric.

Some items are also for sale through their Instagram account.

Kohna Zari Ko organised, with the aid of Arts Out East and Objectspace, a free pop-up mending event at Ormiston Town Centre in July. Community members brought along clothes and garments that required a simple fi x, such as a fallen button, dropped hem or a small hole.

Two Kohna Zari Ko members run a community-based sewing group on Monday evenings at Te Tuhi. Anyone is welcome to join.

Kohna Zari Ko is a mending and upcycling service.