We are Able

We’re a not-for-profit organisation working towards a more inclusive Aotearoa. We believe everyone should be able to access news, entertainment and culture. Funded by NZ On Air, we’re Aotearoa’s leading provider of media access services, including captioning services, subtitling and audio description.

A black-and-white photo of Able's CEO, Dan Buckingham

Our vision & mission

Our vision is for a New Zealand where everyone has equal access to audiovisual media.That includes the 880,000+ members of the Deaf or hard of hearing community, the 180,000+ people who are blind or have low vision, and those who rely on subtitles to help improve literacy or navigate English as a second language.

Our mission is how we’re achieving our vision; through our work as New Zealand’s leading provider of captions, subtitles and audio description.We provide our services for Television (TVNZ, Warner Bros. Discovery, Sky Open), film, film festivals and government. Led by a passionate team of wordsmiths and linguists, we have a unique focus on local content and authentic New Zealand voices.

A history of media
accessibility in New Zealand

A black and white photograph of a TV

1960

New Zealand's first official television transmission.

A black and white photograph of a TV
An illustration demonstrating teletext from the 1990s

1981

Funding for Teletext and captions raised through Telethon.

An illustration demonstrating teletext from the 1990s
TVNZ building

1980s

Teletext and captions are first launched on TVNZ.

TVNZ building
Access Services logo

1991

Introduction of live news captions.

Access Services logo
Coronation St 2011

2011

Audio description (AD) pilot begins.

Coronation St 2011
Person standing in front of an audio describing microphone

2011

AD officially launches.

Person standing in front of an audio describing microphone
An example of an Able newsletter

2013

Able is born as an independent charitable trust.

An example of an Able newsletter
A closed caption sticker placed on a glass door

2014

Channels carrrying captions expand even further, to include Sky and MediaWorks.

A closed caption sticker placed on a glass door
Collage of shows streaming on TVNZ

2016

Captions are introduced to TVNZ OnDemand.

Collage of shows streaming on TVNZ
TVNZ Breakfast logo and presenters

2020

Thanks to a funding boost from NZ On Air, captioned and audio described output increases, including the introduction of live captions on TVNZ's Breakfast.

TVNZ Breakfast logo and presenters
The Three logo

2022

In partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, Able launched live captions and audio description on Channel Three!

The Three logo
Two team members look at a laptop - one is animated; one is pensive.

2023

Thanks to funding from The Ministry of Culture & Heritage, Able launched Earcatch in Aotearoa - an app to enable blind and low-vision New Zealanders to stream content on TVNZ+.

Two team members look at a laptop - one is animated; one is pensive.
A captioner live-captions in a beautifully lit room.

2023

The list of content that Able makes accessible continues to grow. Over the past three years alone, we have achieved an increase of 61% in caption production and an increase of 181% in audio-description production for free-to-air TV!

A captioner live-captions in a beautifully lit room.

1960

1981

1980s

1991

2011

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2013

2014

2016

2020

2022

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2023

Our commercial services

  • Need fast, accurate and cost-effective captioning services for TV commercials on TVNZ 1, TVNZ 2, Three, Duke and online?

  • Need movie, film festival, website, social media or YouTube captioning services?

  • Need world-class audio description, to help make your content accessible to the 10% of the population who is blind or has low vision?

Our People

Dan has brown hair and blue eyes, and smiles at the camera against a seafoam green background.
6 / 6

Dan Buckingham

Chief Executive

Shrutika Gunanayagam has short dark hair and brown eyes. She smiles as she stands in front of a bright green background.
1 / 6

Shrutika Gunanayagam

Operations Manager

A woman with shoulder-length black hair is wearing a black top underneath a purple jacket, smiling at the camera.
2 / 6

Jean Teng

Communications & Engagement Manager

Picture of Virginia Philp (who was part of AD's inception) smiling. She has shoulder length brown hair and brown eyes.
3 / 6

Virginia Philp

Team Leader - Audio Describers

Steffi has long brown hair and blue eyes. She smiles, looking off to the side, against a purple backdrop.
4 / 6

Steffi Dryden

Team Leader - Caption Producers

Phoebe has long brown hair, bangs and is smiling. She's wearing a black long-sleeve top.
5 / 6

Phoebe Upton

Team Leader - Caption Editors

Here at Able we're proud of our skilled and tight-knit team, who share a passion for creating a more accessible Aotearoa. Get to know us more.

Want to find out more about media accessibility?

We'd love to hear from you.