Consumer Organisation Impacts
Nga Whakaaturanga Hiranga a te Whakahaere Kaihoko
Blind Low Vision NZ provides essential support to consumer organisations through targeted grants, with $741,390 allocated in FY24. This amount equates to 2% of total expenditure for the year.
These grants enable the development of projects and initiatives that support people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. The funding helps consumer groups build capacity, foster advocacy, and deliver peer-to-peer support, ensuring a strong network of services across the community.
In the past year, recipients of these grants have focused on improving communications, strengthening leadership, and expanding their reach to engage a wider audience, while staying true to their core missions. Below are some highlights from this year’s consumer organisation reports.
| Organisation | Amount (* +GST) |
| Albinism NZ | $10,000 |
| Blind Citizens New Zealand* | $210,000 |
| Blind Sport NZ | $70,000 |
| Blindsided NZ | $15,000 |
| Deafblind Association NZ | $75,000 |
| Kāpō Māori Aotearoa | $100,000 |
| Parents of Vision Impaired | $160,000 |
| NZ View | $10,000 |
| Retina NZ* | $40,000 |
| SEYFF | $10,000 |
| The Sight Support Trust | $10,000 |
The summaries below are presented in alphabetical order.
Albinism NZ
In lieu of a full report this year, they’re sharing an About Us section.
Albinism NZ provide resources for families, promote understanding, and advocate for the rights of persons with Albinism. They collaborate with various organisations to advance the interests of the blind and sight-impaired community. Visit the Albinism NZ website (albinism.org.nz) to know more.
Blind Citizens NZ
Blind Citizens NZ has expended its $210K grant, supporting various initiatives, including co-design efforts with Guide Dog Services and advocacy in areas such as public accessibility, education, and employment. Their work continues to positively impact blind people and the wider community, ensuring the voices of blind people remain central to decisions affecting their lives. The organisation produced four issues of their national publication Focus, reaching approximately 1,500 individuals, including MPs. Visit the Blind Citizens NZ website (abcnz.org.nz) to learn more.
Blind Sport NZ
Blind Sport NZ facilitated over 2,000 participants in their programmes, reaching nearly 4,000 people through their Accessible Sports Kits. The organisation provided professional development for 852 coaches and teachers and hosted 73 events. Their online reach grew significantly, with a 94% increase in Facebook interactions. Visit the Blind Sport NZ website (blindsport.kiwi) for more information.
Blindsided NZ
Despite a challenging year, Blindsided NZ made progress in developing a consumer portal and is working towards delivering workshops on vision impairment. While there have been setbacks, they are continuing to build resources and engage their community. Visit the Blindsided NZ website (blindsided.nz) to read more.
Deafblind Association NZ
This year, Deafblind Association NZ formed five new regional networks, exceeding their goal of two per annum. Their work supports the wellbeing of deafblind New Zealanders through peer support, technology exploration, and advocacy. Key activities include fostering relationships with organisations such as BLENNZ, consulting on the definition of deafblindness in Aotearoa, and planning their 2025 Conference to include professional development and leadership opportunities for the community. Visit the Deafblind Association NZ website (deafblindassociation.nz) to learn more.
Kāpō Māori Aotearoa
The $40K grant from BLVNZ supported Kāpō Māori Aotearoa’s annual work programme and their 40th Anniversary Hui Taumata celebration. Achievements include the launch of a “members-only” website, peer support initiatives through their K3 Community Wellness Programme, and strong participation in advocacy through the Wai 2575 disability claim phase. Visit the Kāpō Māori Aotearoa website (kapomaori.com) to learn more
Parents of Vision Impaired (PVI)
PVI has maintained a strong support network for families, organising multiple conferences, delivering newsletters, and connecting parents through peer support workers and local meet-ups. They have also played a significant role in national advocacy, contributing to several policy submissions and collaborating with other organisations to improve outcomes for families. Visit the Parents of Vision Impaired website (pvi.org.nz) for more information.
NZ VIEW (New Zealand Vision Impaired Empowering Women)
NZ VIEW is focused on empowering women with vision impairments across all age groups. The organisation aims to connect with a younger demographic while supporting older members. It recognises the need to balance face-to-face and digital engagement. Although facing challenges in stabilising peer-to-peer support in some regions, NZ VIEW sees an opportunity to shift its focus towards advocacy for women with vision impairments. Financially stable, the organisation is set for a leadership transition in its upcoming AGM.
Retina NZ Inc
Retina NZ focused on providing accessible information, fostering youth development, and offering peer support. They distributed vision screening toolkits to health professionals, conducted lighting assessments, and continued to engage in international advocacy. Their peer support line has been well utilised, helping to connect individuals with similar lived experiences. Visit the Retina NZ website (retina.org.nz) for more information.
SEYFF (Support and Education for Youth, their Family and Friends)
We used our funding to support a variety of activities that helped bring our community together and promote well-being. With weekly fitness classes at the South Auckland recreation centre and bi-monthly events, we kept our members active and connected. We also expanded our reach to Christchurch, where we held events to engage even more people. This has been an exciting step forward for SEYFF, and we’re proud of the progress we’ve made across the country.
The Sight Support Charitable Trust
The Sight Support Charitable Trust has shown resilience in the face of challenges caused by the ongoing impact of COVID-19, particularly for older individuals. The trust continues to provide peer support, advocate for improved vision health systems, and strengthen eye health literacy through collaboration with scientific and medical experts. Moving forward, the trust will focus on recruiting volunteers, forging partnerships, and working on small-scale initiatives to build momentum in 2024/25. The trust looks forward to discussing opportunities for alignment with Blind Low Vision NZ’s strategic goals, particularly around empowering independence, social inclusion, and education.
Visit the Sight Support Charitable Trust website (sightsupport.org.nz) to know more.