Consumer Events
- Blind Sport New Zealand
- Deafblind NZ Inc
- Guide Dog Society NZ Inc
- Ngāti Kāpō o Aotearoa
- NZ VIEW (New Zealand Vision Impaired Empowering Women)
- Parents of Vision Impaired New Zealand (PVI)
- Retina New Zealand Inc
- SEYFF
- RNZFB complaints policy
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This section in Outlook is dedicated to informing you about the activities you may enjoy and be passionate about. It is to keep you up to date with our consumer organisations - what's been happening and what's coming up. Contact details for each group are on page 22.
Blind Sport New Zealand
Blind Sport has many exciting international events leading up to the 2007 International Blind Sport Association (IBSA) World Championships and 2008 Paralympics. An IBSA Asia/Oceania Development Planning meeting resolved to boost competitive events in the Asian region, increasing opportunities for our members.
Already programmed are the IBSA Junior World Championships for athletics and swimming in June 2004 and the IBSA World Powerlifting Championships next year. Malaysia has the Far Eastern and South Pacific Games for the Disabled (FESPIC) in 2006.
Contact Blind Sport (see page 22) for more information.
Deafblind NZ Inc
Outlook readers will be familiar now with the term deafblind through the annual awareness campaigns on Helen Keller Communication Day. Deafblindness is a unique disability. The combination of low vision and hearing loss can lead to deafblind people feeling isolated from their community.
To help reduce this isolation, Deafblind NZ asks that you and your friends contact our national office (see page 22).
Guide Dog Society NZ Inc
The Guide Dog Society is a consumer group for anyone with an interest in guide dogs, run by its members and separate from RNZFB Guide Dog Services. We offer peer support, social activities and some advocacy. We have a yearly subscription and biannual newsletter. For Harness Talk, our weekly bulletin, or more information, listen to our TIS menu on option 53.
Ngāti Kāpō o Aotearoa
Ngati Kāpō o Aotearoa Inc. introduces our new Tumuaki. Daniel Phillips, Chair; Maaka Tibble, Vice-Chair; Ariki Hamilton, Secretary; Nigel Ngahiwi, Treasurer; Joseph Twomey, Executive Member; Operations Manager, Christine Cowan. Kaiwhakahaere - ki Te Tai Tokerau, Hemoata Timoko; ki Te Puku o te Ika, Ripeka Turu; ki Te Tai Hauauru, Putiputi Twomey; ki Te Tai Ikaroa Rawhiti, Jim Morunga; ki Otautahi - Mary Courtis.
NZ VIEW (New Zealand Vision Impaired Empowering Women)
Our aim is to promote the interests and well being of women who are blind or vision impaired. Our Flying
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Squad, headed by Ina Smart, has expanded membership into Taranaki, where a new branch is being formed early this year. The Flying Squad is also looking at Kapiti Coast and Palmerston North.
For more information, or to become a member and receive our quarterly newsletter, contact Janet Palmer (see page 22).
Parents of Vision Impaired New Zealand (PVI)
PVI has organised a road show so that parents can meet all their children's key service providers in one place. The road show is travelling from Invercargill to Whangarei between mid-March and May. Feedback from last year's conference showed that parents valued a relaxed, informal setting when getting information, leading us to organise the road show.
This is your chance to meet the staff from RNZFB Children's Services; the Vision Education Agency; Resource Teachers Vision; the Association of Blind Citizens; and Ministry of Education and Group Special Education, regarding key staff and the latest equipment. Please check the PVI website or call 0800 312 019 for more details.
Retina New Zealand Inc
Our new postal address is PO Box 17242, Wellington 6033. For help or advice on living with an eyesight problem, talk to one of our Peer Supporters on our new direct dial phone number: 0800 233 833, or phone Elizabeth East, Peer Support Co-ordinator on 04 299 1801. We welcome new members, including people with some sight loss who are not eligible for Foundation membership. Annual subscriptions are $5 (unwaged) and $10 (waged). For more information, please see our contact details on page 22.
SEYFF
SEYFF's final get together for 2003 was held on 20 December at Omana Point, Maraetai. Around 20 supporters and members attended the day's events and even took the chance to mix and mingle with new and old friends. Last month, 30 hopeless romantics gathered for our Valentine's Ball. The dancing and music were great and everyone had a wonderful time.
RNZFB complaints policy
We welcome your feedback, which helps ensure we are providing quality services. We appreciate your compliments and we aim to resolve your concerns or complaints in a professional and understanding manner. If these cannot be sorted out at the source, you may wish to take the matter further by contacting the manager concerned or the complaints coordinator, Adrienne Henderson (DM Quality Assurance), PO Box 2237, Dunedin or ph 03 466 4230.