Kāpō Māori Aotearoa New Zealand

09/08/2026

✨ Upcoming Expos: Auckland, Wellington & Christchurch ✨

Kāpō Māori Aotearoa (KMA) are excited to attend the following events over the next few months:

🟣 What’s Outside the Box?: Thursday 13th August 2026, Ākau Tangi Sports Centre, Kilbirnie, Wellington 🟣

Hosted by WellAble this expo is about exploring the possibilities of what comes next in the journey after secondary school. A regionwide expo to help think creatively about what a life for a disabled person could and should be like.

🔴 Next Steps 2026: Tuesday 25th August 2026, Parakiore Recreation Centre, 50 Saint Asaph Street, Christchurch Central 🔴

Next Steps is Te Waipounamu leading disability community expo! Aspire Canterbury brings together over 100 stallholders to one space for all to discover and learn about different opportunities from regional and national based organisations and groups.

🔵 Transition Expo: Wednesday 9th September , Auckland Netball Centre, 7 Allison Ferguson Drive, St. Johns, Auckland 🔵

For the second year in a row, we are happy to be attending the Disability Connect Transition Expo! This expo is for rangtahi from the ages of 12+ to think about and see what is possible beyond secondary school.

22/07/2026

Thank you Eye Health Aotearoa for a wonderful Parliamentary event yesterday.

We loved promoting Parents of Vision Impaired - NZ and connecting with a range of eye health professionals, researchers, and community groups.

Some incredible presentations too, on what is happening in the eye health area ... will post some slides and details later but we just loved this photo of all these hardworking people ❤️

📷: Dr Justin Mora (RANZCO), Barbara Edmonds (Labour's finance spokesperson), Chrissie Cowan (KMA), Dr Esmeralda Lo Tan (UoA), Dr Rebekah Graham (PVI), Renata Watene (NZAO)

Kāpō Māori Aotearoa New Zealand
Barbara Edmonds MP
RANZCO

22/06/2026

🌏 Relaunch of Global Network of Indigenous Peoples with Disabilities 🌏

Earlier this month, Chrissie Cowan (CE of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa NZ) attended the COSP19 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Alongside other Indigenous Leaders from across the world, the Global Network of Indigenous Peoples with Disabilities was relaunched during an event held on Monday 10th June 2026.

This significant relaunch of the network reinforces the need for Indigenous Peoples with Disabilities:

🔵 To have a seat at all tables internationally

🟢 To have impactful change beyond global boarders

🟣 To have a sustainable future for generations to come

Kāpō Māori Aotearoa NZ are proud members of this global movement and are committed to the growth of the network.

To listen and view the launch, follow this link:

This side event will place care at the center of disability and development agendas and will mark an important milestone: the launch of the Global Network of Indigenous Persons with Disabilities, aimed at strengthening their leadership, visibility, and global advocacy.

13/04/2026

✨ CE Chrissie Cowan honoured with Kings New Year Honor ✨

Te Kahui Tumuaki & KMA would like to congratulate Chrissie on receiving a ONZM (Officier of the New Zealand Order of Merit) during the King's New Year Honors. Last week, Chrissie received her medal at Government House alongside her Whānau. We are all immensely proud of her dedication to Māori and their Whānau ❤️

Mrs Chrissie Cowan, of Hastings, ONZM for services to Māori, particularly blind and low vision people

Mrs Chrissie Cowan (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne, Ngāti Porou) is Chief Executive of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa (KMA) and has worked with kāpō (blind and low vision) Māori since the 1990s. She has been co-Chair of Eye Health Aotearoa, Chair of Access Alliance, a member of the Whānau Ora Transformation Group, and a key witness for the Wai 2109 Kāpō Māori claim before the Waitangi Tribunal. She spearheaded a partnership between the Royal Australian New Zealand College of Ophthalmology and KMA to address disparities in Māori eye health. She advocated for the Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill and presented at the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness conference in Kathmandu. Mrs Cowan is on the Aotearoa Independent Monitoring Mechanism for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

17/02/2026

✨✨Karanga Mai, Karanga Mai, Karanga Mai!!! ✨

Blind and Low Vision Education Network of New Zealand (BLENNZ) Board of Trustees: Tangata Whenua Representative

In accordance with Section 5 of the Education Act 1989 Blind and Low Vision Education Network of New Zealand (BLENNZ) / Kāpō Māori Aotearoa are calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the Tangata Whenua representative position on the BLENNZ Board of Trustees.

The term of this position is one year expiring 2027.

Kāpō Māori, parents of kāpō Māori akonga or Māori involved in kāpō Māori education will be considered for this position.

For more information about the Tangata Whenua role, BLENNZ Board of Trustees responsibilities, and the EOI application form, email [email protected]
Completed EOI forms should be emailed to [email protected] Please note in the subject heading ‘EOI - Tangata Whenua representative, BLENNZ Trust Board.’

Closing date for EOI applications is 5.00 pm Friday, 27th March 2026.

Please note that:
🔴 Only applicants who have completed all sections of the EOI application form will be considered.
🔴 The information you provide will be treated as strictly confidential and be used for the purpose of recruiting the Tangata whenua representative.
🔴 Referees should not be a whānau member.
🔴 No late applications will be accepted.

Chrissie Cowan, ONZM
Chief Executive
Kāpō Māori Aotearoa

20/10/2025

🔴 NOTICE OF KĀPŌ MĀORI AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND INC. AGM 🔴
Date: Saturday 15th November 2025
Time: 10:00am to 12:30pm
Venue: Copthorne Hotel Auckland City, 150 Anzac Avenue, Auckland City (In-Person) & Via Live Stream (Tāngata (Financial) Members ONLY)

Tēnā koutou katoa,

On behalf of Te Kahui Tumuaki, we would like to announce the upcoming AGM on Saturday 15th November 2025 from 10am to 12:30pm. This AGM will be held in conjunction with the Hui Taumata 2025 and online for Tāngata (Financial) Members ONLY. As a reminder, per new charities laws, we are required to hold Annual General Meetings instead of our Biennial General Meetings. The agenda will be as follows:

🔴 Karakia
🔴 Mihimihi
🔴Roll Call/Apologies
🔴 Minutes from Annual General Meeting 15th November 2024
🔴 Matters Arising from Annual General Meeting 15th November 2024
🔴 Presidents Report 2024 – 2025
🔴 Financial Reports
🔴Resolution & Remits
🔴 Tāngata Membership Annual Fee
🔴 Te Kahui Tumuaki Election Result 2025
🔴 General Business

If there are any questions or you are unable to join us, please contact myself via email: [email protected]

Ngā mihi nui,

Nigel Ngahiwi
President of Te Kahui Tumuaki
Kāpō Māori Aotearoa NZ

09/10/2025

👁💙 Happy World Sight Day: “Be eye smart! Book your eye check today!” 👁💙

Today we celebrate World Sight Day and spread the message of making eye care accessible, available, and affordable for everyone. Kāpō Māori Aotearoa advocates with Eye Health Aotearoa for fair, equitable access to quality eye healthcare and prevention for Māori and all New Zealanders in Aotearoa.

CE of KMA and co-chair of Eye Health Aotearoa Chrissie Cowan was the MC for the Parliamentary Friends of Eye Health event hosted by Eye Health Aotearoa at parliament. The Tuesday evening event highlighted:

💙 The importance of early detection and timely intervention
👁 The social and economic costs of untreated eye conditions
💙 And the bringing together of MPs, clinicians, researchers, stakeholders, and community leaders to drive cross-party action on eye health.

Check out our partners who were also at the event: RANZCO Parents of Vision Impaired - NZ. For more information, please check out the Eye Health Aotearoa website: https://www.eyehealthaotearoa.org.nz/

29/09/2025

🔴 Te Kahui Tumuaki Elections 2025: Nominations Closed 🔴

Te Kahui Tumuaki nominations have now closed. Thank you to all those who have expressed an interest and have put there names forward.

If you have any concerns or questions, please email the Board Secretary (Tarewa): [email protected] . Alternatively you can call the Kāpō Māori Aotearoa Freephone, 0800 770 990 and request a call-back from Tarewa.

22/09/2025

🚑🌿 Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) senior doctors strike 🚑🌿

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) senior doctors and dentists employed by Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Strike are planning to strike for 48 hours, from 12:01am on Tuesday 23 September to 11.59pm on Wednesday 24 September.These strikes are to take place at all Health NZ Hospitals and services where ASMS members are employed. Hospitals and Emergency departments will remain open to ensure availability of critical health services.

What does this mean for you?
🔹 All Hospital Emergency Departments (EDS) will remain open throughout the strike periods but people should go if absolutely necessary
🔹 Contingency plans are in place. Life preserving services (LPS) support will be provided throughout the strike. These are determined on local level and in place for 🔹 Health NZ hospitals and services impacted.
🔹 In spite of best planning for patient discharge in advance of the strike, acute wards will likely be full with patients needing in-hospital care.
🔹 People with planned care appointments that are impacted by strikes will be contacted directly to reschedule for the next available opportunity.
🔹 Unless contacted and told otherwise people should continue to attend their appointments during the strike period.

For more information, check out the Health NZ|Te Whatu Ora website:

Find information on any current industrial action underway.

19/09/2025

🔴 Reminder: Te Kahui Tumuaki Elections 2025 & Announcement of Additional Position 🔴

Reminder: Te Kahui Tumuaki Elections 2025 & Announcement of Additional Position

This is a notice to all Tāngata (financial) Members that nominations are now open for the 2025 Te Kahui Tumuaki Board Elections. We are pleased to announce the addition of another board position, bringing the total number of Board positions to four:

🔹 President
🔹 Vice President
🔹 Executive Member
🔹 Executive Member

To be nominated or to nominate, the written support of two Tangata (financial) members is required. To validate the nomination, the signed consent of the Nominee is also required. Once the completed nomination form has been received by the Returning Officer, an acknowledgement will be emailed to the Nominee and Nominators. Nominees will be interviewed by the Nominations Committee to progress to the next stage. These interviews will occur as soon as the nomination form has been submitted and validated by the Nominations Committee.

If you are interested to be nominated or to nominate yourself, please email the Board Secretary (Tarewa): [email protected] . Alternatively you can call the Kāpō Māori Aotearoa Freephone, 0800 770 990 and request a call-back from Tarewa.

Nominations close Monday 29th September 2025. Candidates will be announced Wednesday 1st October 2025