Deaf man, dog forced from mall

Hamilton has been labelled the worst place in New Zealand for disability discrimination after repeated objections to a partially deaf man’s hearing dogs.

Tokoroa’s Roger Drower and his specially trained hearing dog, Harper, were recently told to leave Te Awa shopping centre at The Base by security staff.

Drower said that despite the Dog Control Act 1996 stating that hearing dogs are entitled to go into any public place and advising security of his rights, they would have none of it.

It comes after an incident in 2013 when Drower and his then hearing dog, Puzzle, were thrown out of a Hamilton fast-food outlet, Wendy’s. Drower said the latest incident left him angered.

‘‘I was ... just walking around doing a bit of window shopping while my wife and daughter were at an appointment, when security told me Harper wasn’t allowed,’’ he said. ‘‘I got out a pamphlet which outlined that under the Dog Control Act and the Human Rights Act we were but this guy just didn’t care.’’

Drower said such discrimination was happening in more and more places but Hamilton was the worst. ‘‘I have had more problems there than anywhere else.’’

Under Schedule 5 of the Dog Control Act, Assistance Dogs NZ, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People NZ, K9 Medical Detection NZ, Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust, NZ Epilepsy Assist Dogs Trust, Perfect Partners Assistance Dogs Trust, Royal NZ Foundation of the Blind Incorporated are all covered.

Centre manager Simon Betts put the incident down to miscommunication and said registered hearing dogs were welcome across The Base.

‘‘We’ve been in contact with Mr Drower to apologise ... he and his dog, Harper, are welcome back at The Base any time.’’