“The boys’ hearing loss was picked up at newborn screening,” says mum Danielle Cooper. “We tried hearing aids for a period of time, but their access to sound was decreasing. 

“The boys were then implanted with their cochlear implants on consecutive days by Auckland-based ENT surgeon Colin Brown, who was awesome to work with.”

Nine-year-old Emerson Hand approaches life with curiosity, kindness and an infectious enthusiasm that draws people in. Whether he's shooting hoops on the basketball court, mastering new karate moves with his big brother Zach, diving into the world of Pokémon or snacking on his favourite cake, Emerson embraces every opportunity with determination and joy.

This year, Emerson is proud to be The Hearing House's Ambassador for Loud Shirt Day 2026, helping raise awareness and funds for children with hearing differences across New Zealand and Australia.

Emerson became profoundly deaf after contracting bacterial meningitis when he was just 18 months old. Shortly before his second birthday, he received bilateral cochlear implants and began his hearing journey with The Hearing House.

His mother Willa, who is a member of the advisory board at The Hearing House, felt it was important that Emerson learnt to walk in both worlds, and to be able to communicate with his brother. 

“We chose the cochlear pathway because we felt that, for Emerson, being able to access sound through cochlear presented an incredible opportunity,” Willa says. 

The early days were overwhelming, she says.

"We couldn't have done it without The Hearing House,” she says. “We didn't know anything at the start. That early contact with specialists is critical and helped us understand the things we could do to support Emerson.”

Now in Year 4 at his Auckland school, Emerson is thriving. He navigates the world with the support of his cochlear implants, New Zealand Sign Language and the unwavering encouragement of his whānau and friends, both at home and school.

"Through the use of the amazing cochlear implant technology, Emerson can access sound and he’s doing incredibly well,” she says.

As Loud Shirt Day Ambassador, Emerson's story celebrates what is possible when children receive early intervention, whānau and community support and the opportunity to reach their full potential in whatever they choose to do.

Willa is an advocate for the needs of Deaf kids. She is keen to promote the benefits of meeting and engaging with other parents and Deaf mentors, learning about the community and making connections that support their children as they grow.  She is the immediate Past President of the Auckland Parents of Deaf Children, current President of Deaf Children New Zealand and works to ensure parents have the information they need to support their kids to live their best lives.

This year for the second time, Loud Shirt Day is being staged as a trans-Tasman fundraising initiative with The Hearing House joining other First Voice member organisations, including The Shepherd Centre, NextSense, TSH, Hear and Say, and Can:Do 4Kids for the campaign to be celebrated in New Zealand and Australia on Friday, 16 October.