Find your new favourite artworks online
For the first time in its history, this year will see the Auckland Art Fair go online. From 11am NZST on Thursday 30 April until Sunday 17 May, Artfair.co.nz will be hosting a Virtual Art Fair where you will discover more than 30 galleries from New Zealand and Australia displaying works that would have otherwise been seen at the 2020 Auckland Art Fair.
The Virtual Art Fair is in recognition of the artists who have already made special works for the Auckland Art Fair that couldn’t happen, and the galleries who have supported them in doing so.
“It comes at a time of global uncertainty, when the importance of art, community and culture are especially apparent,” their team said in a recent statement.
The Auckland Art Fair is designed to be “a celebration – as best we can – of the talent and diversity of art making by artists from our region; not only across New Zealand and Australia, but also around the wider Pacific-rim. We hope that, wherever possible, some of these artists and galleries will be supported by someone buying a work of art.”
Browse, look, enquire and consider as you get to know new galleries and artists in support of contemporary culture at a time when the artists and galleries really need it.
Find out more at www.artfair.co.nz.
Wendy & John's Winter Escapes
Winter’s almost over, and while many of us are shaking off the chilly months spent indoors, Wendy and John from Keith Park Village have been making the most of every moment. For this couple, winter isn’t a time to hunker down – it’s the perfect season to jet off to warmer climates and explore hidden corners of the world.
Click read more for the full story.
A heart-wrenching glimpse into the reality faced by those using Flexible Funding
This survey offers a heart-wrenching glimpse into the reality faced by those using Flexible Funding—a lifeline that has been too often taken for granted. While the government, insistent on slashing this crucial support, claims that time constraints prevented them from engaging with the disabled community, the truth is starkly different. They didn’t ask, and therefore, they remain oblivious to the clear message conveyed by those directly affected.
The survey paints a poignant picture: 80% of respondents filled it out on behalf of someone else, while 20% shared their own experiences. And the results are nothing short of compelling. A staggering 98% either Agree (8%) or Strongly Agree (90%) that Flexible Funding has profoundly improved their quality of life compared to other alternatives like residential care. The benefits are manifold—Autonomy and Choice, Tailored Support, Improved Quality of Life, Increased Independence, Community Engagement, Respite for Carers, Access to Therapy and Health Services, Educational and Employment Opportunities, Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Financial Relief.
Moreover, 95% either Agree (25%) or Strongly Agree (70%) that their Host (Manawanui) provides an invaluable service, making the use of Flexible Funding straightforward and effective.
Yet, despite these resounding endorsements, the disabled community is being relentlessly battered, and the disconnect between the government and the lived experiences of these individuals is glaring. Disability is not a switch you can turn on and off—it’s a constant, all-encompassing reality. Experts in the field lament that the sector feels like it’s been thrown back to the outdated thinking of the 1990s, if not further. The attitudes of today’s government towards the disabled are reminiscent of the 1970s, echoing the dark days of sheltered workshops.
It’s profoundly disheartening to witness so many people suffering needlessly due to ignorance and indifference. The current trajectory is not just a policy failure—it’s a betrayal of the very people it is meant to support.
Q&A: Ask a question about...Online Safety
Continuing with Neighbourly's online Q&A with experts in their field, this week we are tackling online safety with Jandy Fiske from Netsafe.
Jandy Fiske has been with Netsafe for nearly 8 years. Starting on their helpline, she's now Netsafe's Community Engagement Advisor. Jandy says: 'I'm passionate about online safety because I strongly oppose bullying and want to support those affected by it.'
Jandy is passionate about protecting vulnerable communities and is promoting online safety to ensure no one falls prey to online scams. She can answer your questions about any type of online scams, and also about online harm such as online bullying.
↓ Ask your question below now and she'll be online on Wednesday, 11th September to reply to you ↓
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