Hearing Auckland are proud to have been serving our community for over 93 years. Our founder Kathleen Hurd-Wood started our charity in 1932, and though we've changed our name a few times over the years, our commitment to helping those with hearing loss in NZ has always remained the same. Today would be Kathleen's 139th birthday so we're celebrating her life and legacy.

Kathleen Hurd-Wood was born in Kirikiriroa on 1 August 1886. She married Gervase Alven Hurd-Wood, a man of some means, and following his early death in 1924 she had unusual wealth and independence for a woman of her generation. She dedicated the rest of her life to serving the hearing loss community. She worked on this goal tirelessly until she passed away in 1965. Her interest in helping those with hearing loss came from a ball she attended as a young woman, during which she danced with a young deaf man.

When Hearing Auckland was founded in 1932 we were called "The New Zealand League for the Hard of Hearing". At this time, ear trumpets were still in use and lip-reading classes were a common tool prescribed for those with hearing loss. Our founder Kathleen Hurd-Wood travelled to the USA to learn more about new hearing aid technology, and the League for the Hard of Hearing began performing hearing tests and giving hearing aid advice 15 before audiology clinics were established in public hospitals.

In 2025 we honour the incredible work of our founder Kathleen Hurd-Wood, and all of the many others who have contributed to our organisation over the past 93 years. You may know us as your local hearing clinic 'Hearing Auckland' and not know that we are actually a registered charity dedicated to helping all kiwis access good hearing. We are known these days as "Tamaki Makaurau Hearing Trust". We operate our 'Hearing Auckland' clinic as well as working to support communities who have been traditionally unable to access hearing services. Through our Pathfinder program, Hear Well program, and innovative work exploring remote hearing service technologies, we are honouring our founder Kathleen Hurd-Wood by making hearing care accessible to as many kiwis as possible.

We are proud to be the longest-running hearing care provider in Aotearoa. If you'd like to learn more about our work, get in touch with us today. Do you know someone who's struggling with their hearing and finding it hard to access hearing services? We may be able to help. Our mission is to ensure all kiwis can access good hearing.

To learn more about our work today, our history, or our founder Kathleen Hurd-Wood, come to see us at 8 St Vincent Ave or give us a call on (09) 524 9847.