The Dunedin based early childhood education centre was one of hundreds of community, educational and business organisations around the country which supported deaf children with cochlear implants and hearing aids, by wearing bright animal print shirts and wild animal onesies.
The cause is close to the hearts of staff and pupils at Ako Childcare Centre because one of their pupils, Paige Clarke (3), is one of the many children around the country with hearing difficulties.
Loud Shirt Day is the annual appeal of The Hearing House and the Southern Cochlear Implant Paediatric Programme - two charities dedicated to enabling deaf children with cochlear implants or hearing aids to listen and speak like their hearing peers.
Neither charity charges for its services.
The Hearing House is based in Auckland and provides services to families living north of Turangi, and the Southern Cochlear Implant Programme is based in Christchurch and provides services to families in the rest of the country.
Loud Shirt Day donations go to the region in which they were raised.
Last year, more than $220,000 was raised in New Zealand.
