Pacific Islands people make up 3% of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind membership. Pacific Services are available throughout New Zealand.

To help Pacific people understand blindness and reduce the level of preventable blindness in Pacific communities the RNZFB has produced a series of factsheets in Niuean, Tongan and Samoan about the main eye conditions.

What the service provides

Member Allan Witana in his garden

• Cultural support to ensure that appropriate services are provided to Pacific Island members and their families.
• Needs assessment and service coordination – including internal and external referrals to services.
• Peer support groups for Pacific Island members
• Advocacy (on blindness related issues).
• Liaison with other community based services and Pacific Island communities.
• Blindness Awareness and Prevention
• Public education to increase the awareness of the Pacific Island community.
• Support for families and caregivers of Pacific Island blind and vision-impaired children.
• Pacific Services staff who speak a Pacific Island language (Auckland and Wellington).

Contact us

• Veta Endemann, Manager Pacific Services 09 264 0112.
• Olitta Faapusa, Pacific Services Coordinator 09 264 0114 (South Auckland and Waikato).
• Fatima Akehurst, Pacific Services Coordinator 09 264 0113 (West, East and North Auckland).
• Freda Oloapu, Pacific Services Coordinator 04 380 2147 (Wellington, Manawatu, Taranaki).

Or please phone 0800 24 33 33 and ask for Pacific Services, or email: mailto:pacific.