Master of Audiology student Naketa Philips (Whakatōhea, Rongowhaakta) is part of two very different worlds – the hearing world and the deaf world.
She was born deaf but received a cochlear implant on her right ear at 18 months old.
A customer service job left her unfulfilled. “I wanted to get to know myself. I wanted to know how to connect with the hearing diaspora but wasn’t sure if I should commit to five years to gain an Audiology master’s?”
But she did commit. Naketa enrolled in a Bachelor of Science majoring in Psychology, where she met Professor Suzanne Purdy (TeRarawa, Ngāi Takoto), who suggested that she apply for a Summer Studentship with Auckland Bioengineering Institute, Te Tītoki Mataora and Iwi United Engaged. Naketa’s journey started by learning about inner ear therapeutic treatments with the Translational Ear Physiology Team in the Department of Physiology.
“I was responsible for learning the physiological components of the sheep ear, which is similar to the human ear, and using my life experiences to create a hui connecting the Deaf, Māori, hard of hearing and hearing research communities.”
But things then shifted as Naketa started to turn inward.
“However, I wanted to know what my iwi thought about me being deaf and living in both the hearing and non-hearing worlds. My uncle listened but said there wasn’t a Pūrākau (Traditional Māori Story) about being in both worlds. He said that since cochlear implant technology is so modern, I had mana to create my own Pūrākau of being the bridge between the two.”
Phillips, this Summer, has been given the opportunity to carry on the summer studentship from the year before but has a stronger focus on getting to know the Deaf community better using a kaupapa Māori framework and Pūrākau. “I’ve hosted a workshop with the Deaf Club where we shared personal stories highlighting communication barriers, including the lack of funding to support New Zealand Sign Language; we also have created a Facebook group to help stay connected.”
Naketa also worked as a research assistant for the HRC-funded project called the KIWIASQ (New Zealand’s adaption of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire), where she helped with Tympanometry and Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs) under supervised guidance as part of a wider Kaupapa on child development. “This experience strengthened my clinical skills and gave me insights into the importance of early hearing identification at the age of three”.
It also deepened her sense of purpose and advocacy.
“Through all of this, I have realised how important itis to look after the hearing of our Tamariki (children) early on, but also that being aware of the Deaf community and supporting them with empathy, cultural awareness, and actually taking the time to understand them. Too often, health professionals jump straight to recommending hearing interventions without taking the time to understand the person, their identity, or their connection to Deaf culture.”
Naketa has also been expanding her networks, from joining the Auckland Deaf Society to meeting with tech companies like Kara Technologies, which uses AI avatars to translate text into New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL).
Where to from here? Phillips says she hasn’t thought that far ahead, although she is interested in working with the cochlear implant community and is actively learning NZSL. “Wherever my path leads, I will remain connected to the Deaf community, as it is a core part of who I am,” says Phillips.
