Our heritage
We began in 1890 as the Jubilee Institute for the Blind to provide services to blind and partially sighted people.
For over a hundred years, we have connected members to expert staff and their peers, to gain the training, tools and tips they need to deal with blindness and achieve their potential. These services continue today. See our member services
The first formal services for blind and partially sighted people were a school and residence in Parnell. We also offered sheltered employment, workshops and residential programmes for members.
Towards the end of the twentieth century, a change in philosophical direction towards members' greater integration into the community meant that the workshops, hostels, school and other institutional activities were gradually withdrawn.
The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act 2002 brought about another turning point in our history. We formally became an organisation truly accountable to our members. Our Board of Directors is elected by our blind and partially sighted membership.
To learn more about our fascinating heritage, see our timeline of history
