Love Your Hearing Foundation
At New Zealand Hearing, we work hard to extend our services to all kiwis and our friends on neighbouring islands through the Love Your Hearing Foundation. With over a decade of commitment to the Cook Islands, our humanitarian trips bring essential hearing services to those with little to no access to audiological care.
Our audiologists carefully pack and travel with the necessary equipment, seeing numerous patients during these short trips – conducting hearing tests, identifying candidates for surgery, performing repairs and fitting hearing aids. For many, the experience is life-changing when they can finally hear their families again.
Our efforts are made possible by the generosity of New Zealanders and manufacturers who donate hearing aids and support our fundraising initiatives. The long-term goal of the foundation is to empower local healthcare workers with audiology skills, ensuring communities can continue to thrive with ongoing access to hearing care.
Empowering local care
On ANZAC Day in April 2025, Teresa Burns ran a special wax removal clinic to raise funds for a Vorotek headlight for Nurse Ricki to use at Rarotonga Hospital. As Ricki was visiting at the time, the day served as both a fundraiser and a hands-on training session. Thanks to the generosity of many – including donations from our New Zealand Hearing audiologists – Ricki is now better equipped to carry out safe, effective wax removal back home.
Cook Islands February 2025
This year, a team of four audiologists – Scott Wright, Melanie Mackenzie, Teresa Burns, and Lisa Keen – travelled to the Cook Islands. Over the course of a week, they saw 165 patients and fitted 37 people with hearing aids, while also supporting the programme’s long-term goal to empower local healthcare workers. At Rarotonga Hospital in Avarua, Nurse Ricki received hands-on training and coaching in microsuction wax removal, with equipment and resources provided to support ongoing practice and skill development.
Cook Islands July 2024
Brenna Sincock, Lisa Keen, and Carolyn Till travelled to the Cook Islands, where, in the space of two weeks, they helped 450 patients (271 adults and 179 children) and fitted 91 people with hearing aids! Read more >
