Sitting down recently with Epi Walker, who last year told his story of living with a severe hearing disability, I met a new man.
Epi is confident, happy, enjoys conversation, and can’t wipe the smile off his face.
He tells me what it was like living in the sound of silence. “Have you heard the remake of that song?” I ask. He shakes his head, so I open YouTube on my phone and play him the powerful ballad. He doesn’t need to strain to hear the tune. The words resonate with Epi and his eyes glisten slightly. “Wow,” he says, “I love this song. I love even more than I can actually hear it.”
A recent operation has repaired one of Epi’s ears. The second operation is scheduled for October and it is believed he will regain 100% hearing by the end of 2017.
Epi looks me in the eye and says, “If it wasn’t for the Whanau Ora Service here at Nga Kete I never would have had that operation. I would’ve still been deaf.”
- Nicci McDougall, Communications, Media and Marketing Manager

This is Epi’s story one year on:

My name is Epi Walker and last year I told my story of living with a severe hearing disability, which led to job loss, a lack of education, relationship breakdowns, depression, and a drug and alcohol addiction.

I felt discriminated against, I felt unimportant, I felt embarrassed, and eventually I realised my injury had completely defined me.

But now I know I was wrong.

I’ve come a long way in the past year. I am still a client at Nga Kete and it’s because of the Whanau Ora team I have recently received a life-changing operation.

For the first time in 20 years I can hear! In October I will receive my second operation and it’s believed that by the end of this year I will have regained 100% hearing.

It’s hard to describe how I felt when I started to gradually hear the world again. Amazing, scary, daunting, incredible, new!

I still can’t quite believe it! I can have a conversation, I can relate to people, I can hear the birds singing, I can hear songs on the radio, and I can hear the kettle boiling.

My confidence is returning, my wall is slowly coming down, and I can now start focusing on my future.

I am going to study beekeeping, I am going to re-sit my welding certificates, and eventually I am going to return to work. I’m going to continue building on my passion of carving and I have started mending bridges with whanau.

I can finally achieve the goals I’ve always wanted to rather than being constantly held up by an old injury.

Whanau Ora haven’t just assisted me with future planning, budgeting, arranging and attending appointments with me; It’s because of them I’m able to hear again and lead an enriched life.

For more information about our Whanau Ora, Addictions, or Disability Service please contact us (03) 214 5260.

Last year I was living with the love of my life, I was employed, I was happy.

Last month I was living in emergency housing after weeks of sleeping in my car with nowhere to go. I had no money, two changes of clothes and a blanket. I was homeless.

My name is Moon and recently, for the first time in my life, I had no choice but to ask for help.

I’m originally from Masterton. I grew up in a one-parent family with numerous brothers and sisters. I realized early that I could be easily led and I ended up drinking too much and getting into trouble.

I was a binge drinker. I’d drink until there was nothing left.

Eventually I realized my problem and sought help. My last drink was in 1988.

I had a wonderful life. I married my beautiful wife and gained three stepsons. I was employed in forestry and I’d been a cleaner, I’d helped to build Marae complexes, I’d studied business at Massey University and I’d taken part in voluntary work. My wife taught me my tikanga and who I was. She got me in touch with my Maori culture and I learnt things I’d never known. I am so grateful for that.

After 30 years of marriage, my beautiful wife passed away last year. I was lost. I was on my own and I didn’t know what to do with myself.

I decided to restart my life in Invercargill so I got in my car and left with a little bit of money, two changes of clothes and a blanket.

I made it to Invercargill but before long I was homeless and sleeping in my car.

I became unwell and I was admitted to hospital after not having taken my insulin for my diabetes in several weeks. I left it back in the North Island.

For the first time in my life I had to ask for help. I came to Nga Kete because I wanted a Maori agency, and somewhere I could feel safe to talk and get things out.

The Whanau Ora service assisted me to get into emergency housing and made a referral to the Salvation Army for basic household items. A Whanau Ora staff member came with me to Work and Income were I was provided with a grant to buy clothing and food.

In short, the Whanau Ora service ensured I was fed, clothed, and housed! I was also referred to He Puna Waiora Wellness Centre and enrolled with a doctor. I am no longer unwell.

I have been attending the Te Rongo Pai Support Group and I have sought help from a local Budget Advisory Service.

Whanau Ora got me back on track. The service helped me into emergency housing, and now I’m living in a unit owned by the City Council. It’s comfortable and warm. I’m also on a temporary benefit.

I came from the highest part of society to the lowest. I’ve been homeless. But I’m not too proud to say that I sought the help I needed and now I know I’m going to be OK.

Whanau Ora Intake Worker:
The next step in Moon’s journey is to provide him with contacts for socialization in the community to introduce him to new people, and for support outside of Nga Kete so he becomes fully established in the community. He will also be connected to a local Marae.

For more information about our Whanau Ora Service please contact us (03) 214 5260 or free phone 0800 925 242

Edna Wallace has been a client at Nga Kete for the past year and in that time has received support from Addiction Services, Whanau Ora, He Puna Waiora Wellness Centre, and will be attending some of Nga Kete’s support groups. The care she has received has boosted her confidence, and given her hope for her future, she says.

This is her story:

My name is Edna Wallace, I am 61 years old, and I was addicted to gambling.

I played the pokies for about 20 years, using it as my outlet and as a way of avoiding my family-related issues.

I wouldn’t even have $1.00 left after pay day because I’d sink it all into the pokie machines. But when you’re down and out and gambling like I was, you just don’t think about the consequences of what you’re doing.

Instead you continue living in your own little dream world and covering it up, telling lie after lie after lie.

I knew I had hit rock bottom in my life, and I finally decided I needed help. I was referred to Nga Kete about a year ago and I have since been receiving gambling counselling.

The counsellor has given me encouragement and it has helped so much to be able to talk about it with someone. Since coming to Nga Kete I have had just one slip up.

I was also referred on to Whanau Ora. The staff have helped me with my family-related issues, guided me, and given me suggestions. They have just been wonderful. It’s such a good feeling knowing I have the support of the staff, who have always been prepared to support my family and I with anything.

Whanau Ora staff even attended some appointments with me, which made me feel comfortable and well supported.

Whanau Ora staff assisted me in creating a PATHWAY plan, and it’s been great to see the achievements my family and I have made in that process. It made me feel proud, and it’s given me the encouragement to speak up when I need too.

I intend to attend the weekly Coffee Group and the Problem Gambling Support Group, and I have recently started Art Therapy.

This month I was a participant at the Hikoi te Hauora Addiction Recovery Camp, where I was nicknamed “super gran”. I was so proud of myself for getting involved in all of the activities including the 12km walk and waka ama. I really came out of my shell and it helped immensely towards my recovery. It gave me so much confidence in myself!

Life is back on track now. I love taking my grandchildren out to McDonald’s on the weekend because I actually have the money to take them there. I would never have done that if I was still gambling. I even go to Budget Advice now, which is really helpful. It’s something I’d earlier put off because I didn’t want anyone to know how much I was spending on the pokies.

I have hope for my future now, which I never would have if it wasn’t for the staff of Nga Kete. I wish I had known about this service years ago!

I used to be ashamed to tell people I played the pokies, but now I don’t mind admitting I had a problem, talking to people about it, and recommending they seek help at Nga Kete.

Thank you Nga Kete, for all that you have and are continuing to do for me and my family.

Anonymous
​
Anger, drugs and alcohol, crime and gang association have been a part of his life since he was a young teenager. Now in his 40’s, he has turned his life around to keep his children safe and ensure they don’t follow in his footsteps.

This is his story:
I’ve always been the black sheep of the family, the ratbag, the outcast.

Things were alright until I went to high school and started hanging round with a new crowd. Soon I was associating with a gang, drinking too much, and stirring trouble.

I didn’t realise it then but I was a very angry person. I had a lot of anger in me from being beaten by my father as a child. I used to get hidings often, sometimes with a hunk of wood. My mum always tried to stop it but my father was an overpowering man.

I was always stirring up trouble and ending up in court. I was always getting charged for violence-related crimes, along with intentional and willful damage. It was fun back then. You know? A lot of drinking and causing chaos. I went to jail a couple of times and had numerous sentences of community work.

My family hated what I had become, and I wasn’t allowed at my parents’ house for a few years. They were completely against my lifestyle. Ironic isn’t it?

I got married but I was still getting in trouble, fighting, and hanging out with the gang. My wife didn’t want a bar of it though so I kept her away from it. I eventually got sick of it all anyway and we moved to another city.

The next few years were great. My wife and I had children together and things were going well.

But then we met this guy who quickly became my best mate. Within a short time, he’d introduced us to methamphetamine, and my wife and I became hooked.

Soon after, he and my wife ran away together. I was so angry. I’ve never been so angry.

I kept to myself for a long time, but then there was another incident where I got into some trouble and I realized it was time to make a change. I had my kids now and I couldn’t do anything stupid to jeopardize that.

I referred myself to Nga Kete where I received counselling for anger and alcoholism. It helped so much. I don’t drink anymore and by that stage I’d already given up drugs.

Later I started coming to the Nga Kete Work and Living Skills (WLS) Programme and from there I was introduced to the Whanau Ora team.

I really wanted the help. I couldn't risk losing my children. Through Whanau Ora I established a plan through the Pathways programme, and I set myself three goals, which included keeping calm.

I had also lost everything in a house fire so a member of the Whanau Ora team came with me to find a house, helped search with me, and helped me out with furniture and things. She even took me to the doctor who put me on medication for depression and anger.

She helped me to think about my life a lot and realise that I don’t want my kids to be like me.

I’m not a client at Nga Kete anymore and I’m happy with where I’m at. I’m a happier person.

I don’t know what the future holds for me but I’m definitely looking forward to it.

***This client wishes to remain anonymous

What is methamphetamine? Methamphetamine (also called meth, crystal, chalk, and ice, among other terms) is an extremely addictive stimulant drug. People who use methamphetamine long-term may experience anxiety, confusion, insomnia, and mood disturbances and display violent behavior. They may also show symptoms of psychosis, such as paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and delusions.
Source: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/methamphetamine

A former self-described heavy user of methamphetamine tells her story of a harrowing 15-year battle with the substance which ultimately led to intense withdrawals and suicidal thoughts. She is now off the drug and says she’s happy and looking forward to a positive drug-free future.

This is her story:

My husband and I smoked methamphetamine every day for 15 years and we were not nice people.

Although together for more than 20 years, we turned on each other. He’d beat me up and I attacked him too. I was living on a farm, isolated, with my controlling husband who wouldn’t let me see my friends or family and dictated my every move. My children had left home and although they were suspicious, they had no idea we were drug addicts.

We were both employed so we could afford our $700 a week habit and still live comfortably.

As time went on my hatred towards my husband intensified. He was always beating me up and often accusing me of cheating on him. I never did, it was drug paranoia.

Methamphetamine really does change people. It’s an ugly drug that breaks families. It eventually broke ours and several years on, I am still working to repair the damage.

Eventually I’d had enough. This wasn’t the life I wanted. I was fed up with the violence and after my daughter found out I was using I wasn’t allowed to see my grandchildren. That was the final straw.

I stopped smoking methamphetamine. The withdrawals were so intense! I asked my husband to give it up too but he wouldn’t and I decided to leave him.

I came to Invercargill but he followed me. We tried again, but it didn’t work out.

I was scared for my safety after I left him for the second time. People on methamphetamine are so unpredictable and I already knew he was violent and controlling.

I became suicidal. I just didn’t know what to do with myself. I was suffering drug withdrawals so I turned to drinking to fight the intense cravings and I had to get medical help. I was a complete wreck.

I ended up getting into trouble and I was referred to Nga Kete’s restorative justice service, and from there to Whanau Ora and the GP Service at Nga Kete.

A Whanau Ora staff member talked through what was important to me and we established a plan using Pathway. My three goals were to get my own home where I could be independent, to reconcile with my daughter, and to re-connect with my moko and have them living with me. I’m so proud to say I’ve achieved all of these goals.

Appointments were made at Work and Income to get the correct benefit, and Police and Work and Income also assisted in getting me a security system for my new house.

Food parcels from the Salvation Army over a couple of weeks allowed me to put enough money together for smaller things for my home, and furtniture was donated from Whanau Ora and given to me to begin my new independent life. 

My newfound independence gave me a confidence boost and I got a job volunteering with a local business.

I’ve been in my own place for almost a year now and my former husband doesn’t know where I am. I’m really happy to be in Southland. It’s a wonderful place with great community support.

Nga Kete has made a huge difference in my life. I feel like I’ve got good support. I don’t feel like I’m alone anymore. The staff there are just exceptional.

Being off methamphetamine has turned me into a different person. I feel so much better. I don’t feel insecure. Life is just all round better. I’m continuing to seek medical assistance but my future is now looking lovely. I’m happy. I’m positive. I feel safe.

I would advise anyone to seek advice at Nga Kete for anything because the attention you get is just so overwhelming.
 
If you are experiencing harm/problems from methamphetamine please contact:
* 111 in an emergency.
* Phone your General Practitioner for access to Drug and Alcohol Specialist Services or Mental Health Services.
* Nga Kete Addiction Services (03) 214 5260 or free phone 0800 925 242.

An unfortunate sporting injury 20 years ago left Epiraima (Epi) Walker with a severe hearing difficulty, which has led to job loss, a lack of education, relationship breakdowns, depression and a drug and alcohol addiction.

Epi self-referred to Nga Kete to seek help and is now on the road to recovery, and will next week receive his first set of hearing aids. 

This is his story:

My name is Epi Walker and I’m almost completely deaf.

I feel embarrassed telling people that. I actually wear a badge now that says I am hearing impaired. It’s easier than telling people.

I’m always a bit worried how I’ll react to people who don’t realize I can’t hear properly, and I often feel as though I’m being discriminated against.

It all stemmed from an incident on the field in 1994 when I was playing League and took a knock to the head.

That was just the beginning. Gradually my hearing started to deteriorate but I never managed to get the problem sorted. Instead I just left it. I got used to it.

Really I just didn’t feel like I was important enough. Other people were more important than me. So I just soldiered on and learnt to partially lip read.

As the years went by my hearing continued to deteriorate.

I had a career in construction and building but soon my hearing became a problem and my presence on a building site deemed a health and safety issue.

My job wasn’t the only area of my life to suffer. My hearing caused problems in every relationship I had, including with my children who always thought I was ignoring them.

I couldn’t study because I couldn’t hear what was being said, and I struggled to write because I also suffer from dyslexia.

I couldn’t play sport anymore because I couldn’t hear when my team mates were passing me the ball or yelling to me out on the field.

I couldn’t relate to people. They’d think I was dumb because I’d be having a conversation with them but completely off topic.

I couldn’t go to the pub. I’d be having a conversation with someone and the next minute they’d be swearing at me because they thought I was being ignorant.

My hearing meant “couldn’t” in almost every aspect of life.

It had defined me.

I was stressed, I withdrew, and I became depressed. That was when I turned to alcohol and drugs as a suppressant.

It made everything better and it would make me feel calm. It wasn’t an issue until it became a daily habit. It was then I realized my “medicine” had become the problem.

One day I realized ‘mate you can’t keep going like this’ and that’s when I referred myself to Nga Kete.

That changed my life.

Although I came for help with drug and alcohol addiction, I’ve been with the Whanau Ora team as well who have assisted me with future planning, budgeting, and arranging and attending appointments with me at the hearing clinic.

I’m so happy I came here. I feel so inspired when I walk in the door. I’ve only been coming here three months and in two weeks I get hearing aids! They’re also Government funded and so is the fitting.

I’ve also attended three sessions with a hearing loss group and it’s really helped to talk with like-minded people about how we cope with our disability.

I’m doing OK now, and I’m improving every day with my drug and alcohol addiction. I’m also going to the gym which always makes me feel better.

I’m a little apprehensive about the hearing aids because I’ve been like this for so long. I’m a bit scared about what it’s going to be like to have them but I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be the best thing for me. It’s going to change my life.

Once I’ve readjusted to a noisier life, I intend to start searching for employment and perhaps complete further education.

I didn’t feel important enough before but now that I’ve seen the damage it’s actually done to me over the years, and heard of others with similar issues, I can see now I’ve lost a lot of my life because of this.

But I am important. And I’m not embarrassed anymore.

For more information about our Whanau Ora, Addictions, or Disability Services please contact us (03) 214 5260.

​A “silly mistake” led to job loss and mounting bills for Invercargill man Ross Bradshaw, but Nga Kete helped him to get his life back on track, he says.

Mr Bradshaw self-referred to Nga Kete’s Whanau Ora programme for help to update his CV and search for a new job.

“I’d lost my job. I was feeling really down. Financially I’d been struggling. It was tough.”

Mr Bradshaw has been a client at Nga Kete for about two months, and while here has participated in the P.A.T.H. programme to focus on his goals, updated his CV, visited recruitment agencies with Whanau Ora Navigator Doreen Whakamoe, and in three weeks time he will travel and move to Christchurch where he has secured a new job position.

Mr Bradshaw says he’s now on the life journey he wanted to be on and sincerely appreciates the help he has received from Nga Kete and Doreen Whakamoe.

Nga Kete has helped put his life back on track, he says.