Mojo Mathers was born in London and has just become New Zealand's first profoundly deaf MP.  Mojo is a member of the Green Party, having come into politics after campaigning against the construction of a water storage dam on the Waikirikiri river.   This led to her joining the Green party and standing for election in 2005.

Now Mojo has added campaigning for the rights of people with dsiabilities, especially those with hearing impairment to her political aims. We are delighted that in her maiden speech, Mojo mentioned the importance of her education at Mary Hare School, in her early years:

"Mr Speaker, I was two and a half years old and without speech, when teachers at my kindergarten picked up that I was profoundly deaf and I was provided with large aids that I wore in a harness strapped onto my body.

Given this very late start in language development, I would never have caught up with my peers had it not been for two key things.

Firstly, I am fortunate to have an amazing and totally dedicated mother who, once she knew I could not hear, spent many, many hours with me teaching me basic speech and reading skills before I even started school, to ensure that I would not be left behind.

Secondly, I have had the benefit of extensive intervention and support throughout my childhood, including three years at the Mary Hare School for Deaf in England, where class sizes ranged from 6 to 10 pupils and the focus was on high academic achievement."

She went on to say:

"I believe that it is the right of every child with a disability, to have the access to the level of early intervention and quality education that I had, so that every child can reach their potential.''

To read the full speech, click here