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Hon Anand Satyanand

Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni.

It was with great pleasure that I accepted the invitation to be Patron of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind, following my appointment as Governor-General in 2006.

This is because of the support the Foundation provides to about 11,600 blind, deafblind and vision-impaired New Zealanders, who vary in age from newborns to those aged 100 years and older.

The Foundation connects with every community in New Zealand by directly supporting those who are blind, deafblind or vision-impaired and their family, friends and whānau, and by educating the wider community on the challenges its members face.

Blindness can affect anyone, at any time. And so the Foundation works assiduously to ensure that those who are blind, deafblind or vision-impaired have the same opportunities and choices as other New Zealanders to participate in society.

The Foundation's services vary depending on each individual's needs. These include specialist assessments, orientation and mobility training for adults and children, communication and adaptive technology instruction, guide dog services, talking book and braille library services and vocational services. It also provides services that are specific to the needs of Māori and Pacific communities.

The ability of those who are vision-impaired to succeed also relies on living within a community that understands their needs. Educating the wider community, including workplaces, schools and families, and lobbying governments for improvements to policies and facilities, is an important part of the Foundation's mandate.

Since its establishment in 1890, the Foundation has improved the lives of many thousands of New Zealanders who are blind, deafblind or vision-impaired, evolving to meet their changing needs. I congratulate all who have been involved in the Foundation's work and I look forward to my ongoing involvement with the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind over the next few years.

No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa.

Hon Anand Satyanand, PCNZM, QSO
Governor-General of New Zealand