Blind Low Vision NZ

Blind Low Vision NZ We provide emotional and practical support, so that people who are blind, deafblind or have low vision can keep working and living independently.

Blind Low Vision NZ Community Guidelines

At Blind Low Vision NZ, we’re proud to foster a supportive, respectful, and inclusive community, both online and offline. We encourage open discussion and value your thoughts, experiences, and feedback. To ensure our spaces remain welcoming and safe for everyone, we ask that all participants follow our community guidelines. Respectful and Inclusive Conduct


We believe in treating everyone with kindness and respect. Please avoid making comments or posts that are:

• Abusive, bullying, or threatening
• Use ablest language
• Racist, sexist, homophobic, or discriminatory in any way
• False, defamatory, or misleading
• Containing profanity or hate speech
• Off-topic, irrelevant, or spam
• Sharing confidential, personal, or sensitive information
Our Online Platforms

We want our online platforms to be safe and enjoyable for everyone. While we encourage discussion, any comments containing profanity, hate speech, bullying, or other inappropriate content will be hidden or removed. If an individual repeatedly posts comments that breach these guidelines, we reserve the right to remove or block that person from our page. We also follow the principles of the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015 (New Zealand) and the policies of each platform we use. Posts that violate these standards will be reported and removed. Privacy and Security
To protect your privacy, please avoid sharing any personal or sensitive information in public comments or messages. For any personal matters or feedback, please contact us directly through our official channels. Representation and Feedback

We welcome constructive feedback and diverse perspectives. However, posts and comments made by members of the public do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Blind Low Vision NZ. If you see content on any of our platforms that you believe violates these guidelines, please report it to us so we can take appropriate action. Thank you for being part of our community and for helping us maintain a safe and respectful environment for everyone.

National Volunteer Week | Wendy’s Story If you've ever walked into a room and instantly felt welcome, you'll understand ...
17/06/2026

National Volunteer Week | Wendy’s Story

If you've ever walked into a room and instantly felt welcome, you'll understand the kind of difference Wendy makes.

Through her volunteering, Wendy helps create spaces where people feel comfortable, included, and connected. Sometimes it's a conversation. Sometimes it's a smile, and other times it's simply taking the time to make someone feel at ease.

Those small moments can mean everything.

This National Volunteer Week, we're celebrating Wendy and the volunteers who help turn communities into places where people belong.

You can read more about Wendy’s volunteering experience on our website.

[Image description]: A graphic on a bright yellow background. At the top is a heading “National Volunteer Week”. Below this, large black text reads “Meet Wendy!”.

The centre of the graphic features a colour photograph of feature volunteer Wendy, smiling warmly. She has a red knitted poppy is pinned to the front of her shirt.

Below the photograph is a quote from Wendy. The quote reads: “One volunteer, if they're prepared to put the work into it, is really, really, important.”

National Volunteer Week | Darcy’s Story Musician. Fitness enthusiast. Guide dog handler. Community volunteer. Somehow, D...
16/06/2026

National Volunteer Week | Darcy’s Story

Musician. Fitness enthusiast. Guide dog handler. Community volunteer.

Somehow, Darcy still finds time to help lead chair exercise sessions, support local events, and encourage others to get involved.

His philosophy is pretty simple:

"Sometimes the most valuable thing you can offer is just being yourself, being supportive, and showing up."

We think that's pretty good advice.

This National Volunteer Week, we're celebrating Darcy and the positive energy he brings to his local Blind Low Vision NZ community.

You can read more about Darcy’s volunteering experience on our website.

[Image description]: A graphic on a bright yellow background. At the top is a heading “National Volunteer Week”. Below this, large black text reads “Meet Darcy!”.

The centre of the graphic features a colour photograph of Darcy standing outdoors, smiling happily beside his guide dog Marco.

Below the photograph is a quote from Darcy. The quote reads: “Sometimes, the most valuable thing you can offer is just being yourself, being supportive, and just showing up.”

National Volunteer Week | Lara’s Story "I can still remember my first day." Ten years later, Lara is still showing up at...
15/06/2026

National Volunteer Week | Lara’s Story

"I can still remember my first day."

Ten years later, Lara is still showing up at our Guide Dog Development Centre and still loving every minute of it.

Between a busy career and everyday life, she spends her Fridays helping wherever she's needed and enjoying time with the dogs in training.

As someone who has seen the difference a guide dog can make in her own family, volunteering is deeply personal for Lara.

We're incredibly grateful she chose to walk through those doors back in 2015.

You can read more about Lara’s volunteering experience on our website.

[Image description]: A graphic on a bright yellow background. At the top is a heading “National Volunteer Week”. Below this, large black text reads “Meet Lara!". The central photograph shows Lara enjoying some time with one of our guide dogs in training. Beneath the photograph is a quote from Lara that reads: "The connections, the embracing, the inclusivity and learning about other people's lives and cultures, it's very life enriching and uplifting..."

We want to wish the All Whites team the best of luck as they step out onto the world stage for the FIFA World Cup! The e...
15/06/2026

We want to wish the All Whites team the best of luck as they step out onto the world stage for the FIFA World Cup! The entire country is behind you. Their first game in the tournament, kicks off at 1pm on Tuesday the 16th of June!

At Blind Low Vision NZ, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience the thrill of the game. If you or someone you know is blind or has low vision, you can still catch every single bit of the live action.

FIFA has created a fantastic Audio Description App specifically designed to make the tournament inclusive and accessible for fans with vision loss. It delivers detailed, live audio narration that captures all the atmosphere and on-field excitement.

The app (which is called "FIFA Audio Description") is completely free and available to download on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. Download it today, pass it on to a friend, and let's all cheer on our team together!

[Image description]: A bright yellow tile letting you know you can download the FIFA Audio description app for free.

National Volunteer Week | Francesca's Story "Volunteering has enriched my life in so many ways." When Francesca started ...
14/06/2026

National Volunteer Week | Francesca's Story

"Volunteering has enriched my life in so many ways."

When Francesca started volunteering, she wanted to make a difference. What she didn't expect was how much she would gain in return.

Friendships, laughter, new experiences, and a stronger connection to her community are just some of the things volunteering has brought into her life.

This National Volunteer Week, 14 to 20 June we're celebrating Francesca and the many volunteers who make our community so welcoming and connected..

You can read more about Francesca’s volunteering experience on our website.

What's something unexpected you've gained from helping others?

[Image description]: A graphic on a bright yellow background. At the top is a heading “National Volunteer Week”. Below this, large black text reads “Meet Francesca!”. There is a photograph of Francesca enjoying a day at the park, smiling for the camera.
Below the photo is a highlighted quote. The quote reads: “It’s a feeling of making a difference, no matter how big or small, and brightening the people and world around you.”

Volunteering New Zealand

Happy Friday Floof everyone! 💛Your weekly pupdate has landed! Check out what our guide dogs in training have been up to ...
12/06/2026

Happy Friday Floof everyone! 💛

Your weekly pupdate has landed! Check out what our guide dogs in training have been up to this week 🐾

[Image one] Winnie and Xavier, two guide dogs in training, sit outside at guide dogs on a wet day, both wearing hooded towels.
[Image two] Jeddah and Jesse, two golden guide dogs in training, rest on the free run outside Guide Dogs, both dogs have their mouths open and are smiling at the camera.
[Image three] Yohan and Zazu, two golden guide dogs in training, sit covered in mud on a patio at Guide Dogs.
[Image four] Six bi***es in season stand at the door to the kitchen at Guide Dogs, waiting for dinner!
[Image five] Florence, a light coloured guide dog in training, stands in front of 3 nyla bones in her room at Guide Dogs. Behind her, a black guide dog in training chews on a nyla bone, florence looks a the camera unamused.
[Image six] Sisters Yakira and Yumi, two guide dogs in training, snuggle together on the same bed at guide dogs.
[Image seven] Winnie, Zazu and Zane, three guide dogs in training, stand together on the free run whilst looking up at the camera.
[Image eight] Yayla, a white guide dog in training, sits on the free run whilst looking at the camera with her tongue out.
[Image nine] Webster, a cream coloured guide dog in training, rests on a field on a sunny day.
[Image ten] Joe, a cream coloured guide dog in training, sits on wooden bridge next to a non guide dog friend, both looking at the camera.

On Tuesday evening, Blind Low Vision NZ's Head of Policy and Advocacy, Bronwyn Larkins, spoke with RNZ's Lisa Owen about...
11/06/2026

On Tuesday evening, Blind Low Vision NZ's Head of Policy and Advocacy, Bronwyn Larkins, spoke with RNZ's Lisa Owen about the proposed changes to the Total Mobility Scheme and our Day of Action.

Bronwyn spoke on why Blind Low Vision NZ was taking this stand:

"The Total Mobility scheme is there for people who have no other choice of how to get around. The cost needs to be borne, because if it isn't, it means that people will not be able to go around their everyday life, and to me, inequity is not fair.

"The true cost comes down to those who can afford it least, being asked to pay the most."

Listen to the full interview over on RNZ.

Image Description: Bronwyn Larkins, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Blind Low Vision NZ. She has brown hair, and is wearing red framed glasses and a white blouse with black waistcoat. Bronwyn is smiling warmly for the camera.
There's a bright yellow text box announcing an RNZ interview with Bronwyn and her role.

Give a shout out to someone who has made a difference in your life or community!What ten-letter word starts with a "V" a...
10/06/2026

Give a shout out to someone who has made a difference in your life or community!

What ten-letter word starts with a "V" and describes people who help make our communities stronger, kinder, and more connected?
If you said volunteers, you're 100% correct! June is the month of The Big Shout Out, where we acknowledge and celebrate these superstars.
Our Blind Low Vision NZ volunteers step up for our community in many ways. They drive people to appointments, check in with a friendly phone call, support sports and leisure activities, help run community groups, and simply show up when help is needed. The list goes on...
We're incredibly proud of our volunteer community across Aotearoa. Every day, they help people who are blind, low vision, or deafblind live the life they choose with confidence and independence. Their generosity, care, and commitment make a meaningful difference to the lives of the people they support.
Now it's your turn.

Give a shout out to a volunteer who has made a difference in your life or community.
Tag them in the comments or tell us why they deserve recognition. We'd love to hear their story and help celebrate the amazing people who make our communities better.

Image description: The Big Shout Out logo, a large red speech bubble containing the words "The Big Shout Out". Above it is the question, "Who gives back in your community?" Below the logo is the instruction to tag them in the comments.

Today’s the day! We need everyone calling and emailing Minister Louise Upston this morning. Phone: 07 3765563Email: loui...
09/06/2026

Today’s the day! We need everyone calling and emailing Minister Louise Upston this morning.

Phone: 07 3765563
Email: [email protected]

The proposed changes to the Total Mobility scheme would result in unnecessary additional costs to the disabled community, including people who are blind, deafblind and have low vision. In our current cost of living crisis, this is simply not good enough.

We'll post an example call script in the comments to help you craft your message. Put it in your own words - your own story is the most powerful!

You can find more information on the proposed changes and the Day of Action at the link [in our bio!/in the comments.]

Let’s show the Government our strength in numbers.

Image description: The text "Today's the day. Take action for Total Mobility. Call and email Louise Upston before 11 am today." against a bright yellow background.

07/06/2026

We sat down with the only known councillor in Aotearoa New Zealand who voted against the cuts to the Total Mobility scheme subsidy.

Canterbury Regional Councillor Joe Davies was “shocked” to find he was the only councillor to push back against it.

From the 1st of July, the Total Mobility subsidy is being reduced from 75% to 65%, and local councils are being required to decrease regional fare caps. This mandated decrease for local councils was what Councillor Davies voted against, calling it “an overreach” on the part of the government.

The government has also proposed more changes to the scheme to further cut costs, including capping how many subsidised trips a person can take, and periodic reassessments of eligibility, even for people with permanent disabilities.

Councillor Davies believes there’s still room for Total Mobility to move in the right direction. “I don’t think this is a finished situation yet. There’s still a bit of water to go under the bridge... I hope that we can see some amendments to the process, to the outcome, and turn this into a political issue.”

We commend Councillor Davies for speaking up for the disabled community and for striving to combat inequality.

Have your say on Total Mobility! See our previous post to get involved in the National Day of Action on Wednesday 10 June.

Find the full interview with Joe Davies on our YouTube channel, and download the transcript from our blog on the Blind Low Vision NZ website.

[Video description: Blind Low Vision NZ Community Awareness Lead, Nevé Billing, sits down at a desk for an interview with Environment Canterbury Regional Councillor, Joe Davies.]

Address

Parnell

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+64800243333

Website

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