Bright, colourful shirts were pulled from the back of the closet for Loud Shirt Day.
The annual fundraiser event yesterday encouraged people to wear the shirts as a sign of support for the Hearing House and Southern Cochlear Implant Paediatric Programme. Both organisations helped hearing-impaired children and implant recipients to experience
a greater quality of life. Taking part was Rotorua's National MP Todd McClay. He wore a Cook Islands' designed shirt - a tribute to his days as the Pacific nation's ambassador for the European Union.
"It's very important to take part because there is a growing number of people who have hearing difficulties," Mr McClay said. "It's a very good way for all of New Zealand to be more aware and to think about some of the challenges they face in life.
"We have a very busy constituent office and have a number of people come though with hearing impairments so we do our very best to help them."
