Blind Low Vision NZ

09/10/2026

You don’t have to navigate change alone.

When your vision changes, it can take time to find your confidence in doing things differently.

Sometimes, what helps is having the chance to try, learn and discover what you’re capable of.

And sometimes, it’s meeting people who understand because they’ve been there too.

Connection matters. Being understood matters.

And having the opportunity to build confidence in your own abilities matters.

Because wellbeing is about more than getting through change – it’s about finding your way forward, with people around you who get it.

How do you look after your mental health?

[Image description] Two women ride a tandem bicycle together during a triathlon event.

09/10/2026

A huge thank you to Beau, Park Hyatt Auckland’s beloved resident dog and official Blind Low Vision NZ ambassadog, as he officially hangs up his harness and heads into a well-deserved retirement! 🐾

During his time at the hotel, Beau has been a warm, welcoming presence in the lobby, bringing endless joy to guests, keeping the concierge team company, and raising vital funds and awareness for Blind Low Vision NZ to train life-changing guide dogs.

Thank you, Beau, for your years of dedicated service, hard work, and unconditional love. Enjoy your retirement, you’ve certainly earned it! 🐶

[Image description] A graphic with a solid bright yellow background at the top featuring the text "Thank you Beau!" in a bold, black sans-serif font.
Below the text, a arch-shaped framed photo shows a black Labrador sitting behind a wooden concierge desk. The dog is wearing a red collar with tags and a black harness, resting its front paws on the surface of the desk. On the desk in front of the dog is a wooden sign printed with the word "CONCIERGE" in capital letters. The backdrop behind the dog consists of white acoustic wall panels covered in a pattern of black circular dots.

09/10/2026

Happy Friday. Welcome to the second Friday of Blind Low Vision Month.
It's Floof time!💛
From catching public transport to visiting the local café, everyday life can take you to all sorts of places. As they prepare to become Blind Low Vision NZ Guide Dogs, our dogs experience lots of different places and situations. This helps them grow in confidence and prepares them to safely guide their future handler through everyday life.

[Image 1]: On the train. Front to back - Frank (black Lab retriever, right side ), Dean (yellow Lab retriever, left side), Isha (golden Lab retriever, right side), Huey (black Lab retriever, left side), Roz (black Lab retriever, right side ), Hamish (black Lab retriever, right side), Iona (golden Lab retriever, left side ) and Frances (black in colour, right side).
[Image 2] : Golden Lab retrievers Cooper, Cam and Baker are ready for their road trip in the back of the van.
[Image 3]: Frances and her puppy raiser Livia patiently make their way up the stairs of a busy Auckland Train Station.
[Image 4]: Yellow Lab retriever, Walter strikes a pose at the Pet Expo in front of a Blind Low Vision NZ banner.
[Image 5]: Yayla the yellow Lab retriever gets a swimming lesson at the MPI pool.
[Image 6] Golden Lab retriever Cindy sits in the footwell of the passenger seat of a car. This is generally where our pups travel when not in vans. When lying down, they’re protected from the air bag propelling overhead.
[Image 7]: Isha and Dean place themselves calmly on the floor of a city bus in their guide dog harnesses.
[Image 8]: Cindy gets a sensory walk at Bastion Point. Sensory walks get dogs accustomed to a variety of outdoor environments and stimuli.
[Image 9]: Cindy gets some sun at the beach.
[Image 10]: It's back to the train station as our team makes its way across Te Komititanga Square ion Auckland's C*D.

07/10/2026

Blindness, deafblindness, and low vision looks different for everyone. People may experience changes to their central or peripheral vision, light perception, contrast, colour or other aspects of how they see.

For some people, their vision may remain stable over time. For others, it may change. And what someone can see can also vary depending on their surroundings – such as lighting, glare, contrast or how busy an environment is.

There is no single way to experience blindness or low vision, and no one-size-fits-all approach to accessibility. The images in this post are indicative of and reflect just some of the ways people may experience blindness, deafblindness, and low vision.

This World Sight Day, help us challenge assumptions about how people experience blindness and low vision, and what supports someone who’s blind may or may not need.

[Image 1] A close-up outdoor photo of a child wearing a sun hat. The photo is shown clearly and in focus, with details visible throughout the image. The same photo is used throughout this carousel to demonstrate different vision conditions.
[Image 2] Parts of the photo appear warped and stretched, causing facial features and the brim of the hat to look distorted while other areas remain unchanged.
[Image 3] Most of the photo is blacked out, leaving only a small circular area in the centre visible.
[Image 4] The entire photo appears blurred and out of focus, with reduced sharpness and detail throughout the image.
[Image 5] The centre of the photo is covered by a large dark area, obscuring the main subject while details around the edges remain visible.
[Image 6] Large irregular dark patches appear across the photo, obscuring different parts of the scene and making many details difficult to see.
[Image 7] The outer edges of the photo are darkened, narrowing the visible field of view and drawing focus to the centre of the image.
[Image 8] Semi-transparent spots and shadowy shapes appear throughout the photo, interrupting details across the image.

07/10/2026

Thanks Seven Sharp for coming along to our North Island kids camp last week to see what is possible when young people who are blind, deafblind and low vision have access to all the incredible activities that a typical school camp entails.

06/10/2026

Books, magazines, newspapers and more – in accessible formats.

Our Accessible Library helps people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision keep enjoying the stories they love and stay connected to the information around them.

Because access to information means access to the things you enjoy, the things you want to know and the conversations you want to be part of.

Tell us about your top reads this month!

[Image description] A yellow graphic showing some of our accessible reading formats. An audiobook player, smartphone and digital book are shown beneath the words “More than books”.

05/10/2026

What can access make possible?

It can mean meeting someone for coffee, trying something new, joining a local group or finding people who understand.

Our Community Support service helps people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision connect with others, explore their interests and take part in their communities.

Because having access to the right support can give you more opportunities to connect, participate and choose what matters to you.

What’s your go-to local blind social or sports group? Bring more people into the fold!

[Image description] A yellow graphic promoting our Community Support Groups. The text explains that support groups help people who are blind, deafblind or have low vision connect with others. Below, two people sit at a table in conversation during a group gathering.

04/10/2026

Our Research and Policy Analyst Cain Richardson spoke to 1News on Sunday about where the New Zealand voting system is still lacking.

For people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision, there are accessible options for voting, such as telephone dictation voting, voting in-person with support, or nominating someone to bring your voting papers to your house. However, none of these allow someone to vote with full independence. Blind Low Vision NZ would like the 2029 General Election to include options for voting that maintain one's independence and right to privacy, such as utilising devices that assist one to mark one's own ballot, or online voting.

Registration for the Telephone Dictation Service opens today. You can find out more information about this service on Vote.nz, and register by calling 0800 028 028.

Accessible voting options are expanding, but disabled voters say finding suitable booths, accessing election information and voting independently remain challenges.

02/10/2026

Blind Low Vision NZ's General Manager of Community and inclusion, Dan Shepherd shares his thoughts on emerging smart wearable tech with the help of a couple of future stars.