Blind Low Vision NZ

Yesterday, 5 November was International Volunteer Managers Day. At Blind Low Vision NZ, we marked the day by bringing our volunteer leaders together in South Auckland for a day of connection, learning, and shared inspiration. Being in the same room reminded us just how special this mahi is, and how much heart our people bring to it every day. Volunteer Managers and Coordinators uplift others for a living. They create safe, inclusive spaces where volunteers feel valued, supported, and confident to make a difference. They hold people through change, champion community, and help our clients live the lives they choose. In a time where rising costs, busy lives, and constant change make it harder to give time or energy, our volunteer leaders continue to adapt with courage, compassion, and care. That resilience matters, and it deserves to be seen.  To every Volunteer Manager, Coordinator, and leader of volunteers.  Ngā mihi nui. Thank you for the commitment you bring to your communities, your teams, and your volunteers. You keep the heart of volunteering beating. Image One: The audience is treated to a presentation by Heidi Quinn of Volunteering New Zealand | Tūao Aotearoa on the Best Practice Guides and key findings from the State of Volunteering Report in Aotearoa. Image Two: Una Ryan of New Zealand Coaching and Mentoring Centre delivers an empowering session on Having Difficult Conversations. Including practical techniques to help us handle sensitive situations with confidence and care. Image Three: The Wall of Strengths, a wall of colourful Post-it notes where everyone added the skills and values they bring to our volunteer community. #InternationalVolunteerManagersDay #Volunteering #Leadership #Aotearoa #BlindLowVisionNZ #MahiAroha 

As Chief Executive of Blind Low Vision NZ, I hold grave concerns for the future of the Total Mobility card. For people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision, or other disabilities, this card is not a nice-to-have, it is a lifeline. It ensures people can get to work, get to medical appointments on time, buy groceries, and stay connected with friends and whānau. Taking it away or reducing access risks isolating thousands of New Zealanders who already face significant barriers to participation in everyday life. This issue is compounded by New Zealand’s ageing population. Currently, about 16.6 percent of New Zealanders are aged 65 or older, compared with 12.3 percent in 2006, and this number will continue to grow. Older people already make up 85 percent of those who use the scheme, and many live with sight loss. Without affordable and accessible transport, independence is diminished, and disconnection from community life becomes inevitable. We understand that costs have risen sharply, with the scheme increasing from $1.6 million in 2020 to $2.7 million in 2025, and projected to reach $4.7 million by 2030. However, the solution cannot come at the expense of those who rely on this service. We call on decision-makers to protect the dignity and inclusion of all New Zealanders by safeguarding the Total Mobility scheme and ensuring that lived experience guides any changes. Read about how the Total Mobility card review is causing worry in this article by The Post: https://lnkd.in/gdmncYru

Do you know someone who is blind, deafblind, or has low vision who has done something outstanding? You can now nominate them for the RNZFB Board Chair’s Award 2025. This award recognises achievement in any area of life, from the arts to business, from community leadership to personal milestones. The winner will receive: - A framed certificate - A trophy to hold for one year - A prize of $1,000 You can nominate yourself or someone you admire. The person must be blind, deafblind, or have low vision, and live in Aotearoa New Zealand. To nominate someone for the 2025 Chair's Award, send an email to boardsecretary@blindlowvision.org.nz by 5 October 2025. In your email, include: - The name and contact details of the person you are nominating - A few sentences about what makes their achievement special - Your name and contact details If you need support to make a nomination, please call us on 0800 24 33 33. Recent winners of the Chair's Award include Gene Gibson in 2023 and Mark Laurent in 2024.

If you are blind, deafblind or have low vision, getting around your neighbourhood can be a daily challenge. Footpaths blocked by e-scooters. Overhanging branches. Missing tactile paving. These are not just small annoyances. They are barriers to safety, independence and dignity. At Blind Low Vision NZ, we believe public spaces must work for everyone. That means designing streets, parks, and shopfronts that are safe, predictable, and accessible. Guide dogs are life-changing, but they cannot do it all. They cannot move a sandwich board or trim a tree. That is up to all of us. Read our latest article to learn: • Why accessible design matters, • What poor design can cost, • Six simple ways to make your community more inclusive. Because access is not a nice-to-have. It is a right.

Reminder: Thinking of standing for the RNZFB Board? There is still time to register your interest in joining an information evening for potential candidates in the 2025 Board Elections. If enough interest is shown, the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) will host a Zoom session to explain what standing for the Board involves and what to expect as a nominee. Monday 28 July 2025. 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Online via Zoom. This is open to anyone considering standing. You do not need to have made up your mind, just come along to learn more. Register your interest by calling 0800 24 33 33 or emailing boardsecretary@blindlowvision.org.nz.

Are you thinking about governance or leadership in the blind and low vision community? The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) is inviting expressions of interest from people considering standing in the 2025 RNZFB Board Elections. If there is enough interest, an online information evening will be held: Monday 28 July 2025 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm Via Zoom This is a chance to learn more about what the RNZFB Board does and what is involved in standing for election. We welcome interest from across Aotearoa, especially from people who bring lived experience of blindness or low vision, governance skills, or a passion for community leadership. To register your interest, or to ask a question, call 0800 24 33 33 or email boardsecretary@blindlowvision.org.nz

As part of our celebrations for National Volunteer Week 2025, we’re shining a light on some of the incredible people who give their time to Blind Low Vision NZ. Christine volunteers as a copyholder, working closely with one of our Braille proofreaders. Together, they check every word, and every detail to ensure the Braille we produce is accurate and reliable. Christine’s passion for volunteering began at the age of seven, and it’s only grown stronger over the years. Her dedication helps make vital information accessible to people who read by touch. This National Volunteer Week, we’re proud to share her story as a reminder of the care, skill, and heart our volunteers bring to their roles every day. Learn more about Christine, her background, and the valuable service she provides here: https://lnkd.in/gN9Ryg_m Image Description: Christine, in an office wearing a purple jumper with buttons at the shoulder and glasses, smiling for the camera.

This June, as part of The Big Shout-Out, we’re celebrating volunteers like Betty Betham—an inspiring example of service through lived experience. Betty is a Blind Low Vision NZ client and a volunteer leader with the Aka Ora support group for Pasifika and Māori members in Porirua. Her dual perspective gives her a deep understanding of what true support looks like, balancing empathy, respect, and communication to empower others. Her leadership journey began with a few phone calls and has grown into a role of connection, care, and advocacy. Read Betty’s full story and see how volunteers make a real difference across Aotearoa: https://lnkd.in/gXGV6umZ #TheBigShoutOut #Volunteering #CommunityLeadership #Inclusion #BlindLowVisionNZ

This is such a proud moment – a real step forward for inclusive sport in Aotearoa. Blind Football in Wellington isn’t just about the game. It’s about creating space for connection, confidence, and belonging. A huge thank you to our Sport and Leisure Advisor, Jeremy, for leading with heart, and to Wellington Phoenix FC and Lower Hutt AFC for walking alongside us on this journey toward greater accessibility in sport.