ADONZ - Association of Dispensing Opticians of New Zealand

07/10/2026

It’s the ADONZ Annual Wage and Work Survey time!

🟣 The wage survey results are an important tool to help ensure you, as a registered dispensing optician or enrolled student, are compensated fairly for your skills, experience, and the value you bring to the industry.

🟣 Results also help to establish industry standards for compensation, promoting consistency and transparency in the employment market.

🟣 The wage survey demonstrates the value and importance of the Dispensing Optician profession, raising its profile within the healthcare sector and provides valuable data to support negotiations with employers, empowering Dispensing Opticians to advocate for fair compensation.

Please take care to choose the correct survey for you. The surveys are only for employees, not for those who own their own practice. If you’re not sure which one to complete please reply to this email.

2026 ADONZ Wage and Work Survey - Dispensing Opticians – Employees: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XS6ZDMS



2026 ADONZ Wage Survey - Students only: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XR2ZHCM



The surveys are completely anonymous and will remain open for the month of October, closing at 3pm on Friday 30th. Results will be collated and available to view before the end of the year on our website. Thanks for your time!

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

07/10/2026

Introducing Nuance Audio Plus.
Your patients already trust you with their vision. Now there's an opportunity to support their hearing too.

Nuance Audio Plus combines stylish eyewear with built-in hearing technology, designed for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing difficulties. By integrating hearing support into an everyday pair of glasses, Nuance Audio Plus opens the door to new conversations, enhanced patient experiences, and an expanded category within optical practice.

Discover how the next generation of hearing glasses can complement your eyewear offering.



ADONZ Premium Partnership

06/10/2026

21/09/2026

🏆 Congratulations to the 2026 ADONZ Directors Award – Pene Fox!

At our 2026 Conference, we were delighted to present the Directors Award to Pene Fox, recognising her outstanding contribution to the advancement of Dispensing Opticians.

Pene has dedicated more than two decades to optical dispensing, working across dispensing, practice management, industry and education. Throughout her career, she has been a passionate mentor and educator, supporting countless students working towards their Dispensing Optician qualification.

Her ongoing contribution through the OPTIBLOCKS Committee, overseas examining and teaching final-year optometry students reflects her commitment to education and to the future of our profession.

The Directors Award recognises service to education, improving awareness of the profession, representation within the optical industry, or outstanding service to ADONZ and its members - and Pene embodies these values through her knowledge, generosity, leadership and passion for dispensing.

Congratulations, Pene, and thank you for everything you continue to give to our profession. 👏

18/09/2026

A special shout out to two fantastic reps, Rae Long from MSO and Paul Beswick from Dynamic Eyewear!

They have been voted by members as this years favourites!

Thank you both for your continued support. It’s always pleasure seeing your smiling faces 😎

17/09/2026

Hoyalux iD MySense are HOYA’s first progressive spectacle lenses designed to take your Visual Sensory Intelligence* into account, your unique way of seeing.

Learn more and discover the difference.

*Visual Sensory Intelligence is defined by HOYA as the individual ways people perceive and respond to visual stimuli based on their personal experiences and sensory needs. The Visual Sensory Intelligence includes patients' clarity requirements, gaze refocusing pattern and posture.​

ADONZ Premium Partnership

11/09/2026

A huge thank you to Dr Grant Hannaford and Thao Hannaford for your expertise, hard work and dedication to advancing opticianry education in New Zealand.

We are delighted to have Grant join us at the ADONZ National Conference this weekend and really appreciate the opportunity to hear about the work being undertaken to support the future of our profession.

The development of education that evolves alongside the changing scope and needs of dispensing opticians is incredibly important, and we recognise the significant time, knowledge and commitment that goes into making this happen.

Thank you, Grant and Thao, for your continued commitment to the profession and to supporting the next generation of New Zealand opticians. We look forward to seeing where this work takes us. 👏

Dr Grant Hannaford is currently at the ADONZ - Association of Dispensing Opticians of New Zealand annual conference. This morning ADONZ announced the Advanced Diploma in Opticianry with an early exit for a Certificate IV in Ophthalmic Optics & Dispensing program (ODOB approval pending). AAOO was approached by Optiblocks to create a qualification to address formal training for the existing and future expanded scope of practice of dispensing opticians in New Zealand.

Opticianry is regulated in New Zealand and we have been quietly working towards achieving the goals of the profession with the commitment of best practice to support the local population with their eye care needs. With rapid innovations and advancements in optometry and opticianry, education should be evolving in tandem.

The development of the program has support from the New Zealand Association of Optometrists, the University of Auckland, Hoya NZ, EssilorLuxottica NZ and the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board. AAOO is excited to be delivering world class education to New Zealand.

Full press release can be found at https://aaoo.net.au/media/

08/09/2026

The second panel discussing business ownership will feature Laura M (our very own Association President), Vanessa (our very own Executive Committee Member), Pene (our very own OptiBlocks Committee Member), and Laura W (our very own Association Member) host by Michelle (our very own CE Committee Member)

What a selection of business women!

Saturday 12th September, Distinction Hotel & Convention Centre, Palmerston North

07/09/2026

Our first panel discussion will see Roger,
Glenn, Stuart, Steve & Gary chat about trouble shooting. This valuable panel covers both DO and lab perspectives.

Saturday 12th September, Distinction Hotel &
Conference Centre, Palmerston North

04/09/2026

Join Rebecca from Autism New Zealand who will be taking us through simple, effective tools and strategies to reduce stress, build trust & support meaningful interactions for positive, neuro-affirming experiences and outcomes for autistic people of all ages.

Saturday 12th September, Distinction Hotel & Conference Centre, Palmerston North