Blind Citizens NZ

28/08/2025

Following on from the July radio show, in the latest edition of No Labels Thomas Bryan speaks to three guests featuring more discussion from the recent DeafBlind Association NZ conference: Dr Sally Britnell, Kevin Prince, and Tom Eats.

Sally talks about her teaching role and the research she has been leading.

Kevin speaks about how he got involved with the DeafBlind Association NZ, becoming the president and what he does in his free time.

Tom who is a recent member of the board talks about how he got involved and his interests.

To learn more about the DeafBlind Association NZ and some of the people on the board, you can listen to the show on the Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM website: https://accessradio.org.nz/shows-podcasts/no-labels/

Or you can listen to this month’s edition of the show or any of the earlier editions of the show via your smart speaker or podcast player.

Thomas Bryan and Mike Gourley in the Wellington Access Radio studio Tune in to Thomas Bryan as he explores the diversity of disability issues, with co-host Mike Gourley. No Labels is a programme about your community with a focus on accessibility for all. The show looks at services which might assist...

19/08/2025

People can now have their say on the New Zealand Disability Strategy with public consultation opening today.

The draft New Zealand Disability Strategy 2026-2030 has been released. Whaikaha - The Ministry of Disabled People carried out targeted engagement with disabled people and organisations to develop the draft and are now consulting with the wider disability community and the public.

You can find the draft Strategy and information on how to give feedback on it, here: https://www.whaikaha.govt.nz/about-us/our-work/new-zealand-disability-strategy-refresh

You can read a press release about the consultation from the Minister for Disability Issues Hon Louise Upston here: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/consultation-refreshed-disability-strategy

Kia hiwa rā kia hiwa rā. Kia kōkiri ake, kia mataara.  He karanga atu ki te ao whānui, ki te ao whaikaha.  Haere mai ōu whakaaro rangatira ki tēnei kaupapa whakahirahira nau mai e te iwi e. 

14/08/2025

A celebration of Allan Jone’s life will be held on Saturday, 16 August, 1pm to 4:30pm, at the Island Bay Bowling Club, Wellington. If you are not able to attend the service, Annette, and the family wish to share the following link for streaming the service.
https://vimeo.com/event/5291403/3f72c38baf

The family has requested that, instead of flowers, donations be made to Mary Potter Hospice. Bank account details for Marry Potter Hospice are
The Mary Potter Hospice Foundation: 01-0537-0020909-05 (if your bank needs a 3-digit suffix, please enter -005).
Here are links to the Mary Potter Hospice webpage Donate - Mary Potter Hospice and https://marypotter.org.nz/support-us/donations/

Late last year Mike Gourley interviewed Allan Jones on No Labels listening to some of his favourite tracks, his love of music, cricket, and his life. In memory of Allan, Wellington Access Radio is repeating the show. You can check it out via your podcast player, smart speaker or online at:

https://accessradio.org.nz/shows-podcasts/no-labels/

Sorry, we couldn’t find that page

05/08/2025

Check out the latest edition of the Blind Citizens NZ Southland Branch's podcast Blind Spot.

As Blind Citizens NZ is celebrating its 80th year, Hannah Crawford speaks to National President Jonathan Godfrey about the organisation that was started up in the wake of World War II by "a bunch of stroppy Aucklanders who didn't like the way the world was for them as blind people and the way they were treated in society".

Carolyn updates you on goings on for the Association of Blind Citizens Southland Branch!

26/07/2025

Congratulations to all involved in the launch of the website, Whaimana - Support My Decisions. Government's 2014-2018 Disability Action Plan, at the recommendation of the DPO Coalition, introduced an action that would ensure disabled people can exercise their legal capacity, including through recognition of supported decision making. It's fabulous to see the outcome. A big thank you to Alex Snedden People First New Zealand who represented the DPO Coalition on the Advisory Group during this time along with other representatives including from Government, and organisations working across aged care, disability advocacy, health, human rights, and mental health experience.

The website Whaimana - Support My Decisions is about Supported Decision-Making. Take the following link to learn more about what is supported decision-making and the many ways this supports people https://www.supportmydecisions.nz/

People First New Zealand
Balance Aotearoa
Disabled Persons Assembly NZ - DPA
Deaf Aotearoa
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People
Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission
NZ Disability Rights

16/07/2025

In the latest edition of the No Labels radio show, Thomas Bryan talks to two guests - both of whom were presenters at this year’s DeafBlind conference.

Maldwyn Greenwood is a highly respected audio-visual professional with over 20 years of technical experience and a deep commitment to accessibility in New Zealand’s AV industry.

Lisa Seerup is the President of the National Hearing Association. She has over 30 years of experience in hearing health and conservation. Her goal is to make NZ the gold standard in Hearing Health with equitable services for all New Zealanders.

You can hear the show on the No Labels page on the Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM website: https://accessradio.org.nz/shows-podcasts/no-labels/

Or you can listen to this month’s edition of the show or any of the earlier editions of the show via your smart speaker or podcast player.

Thomas Bryan and Mike Gourley in the Wellington Access Radio studio Tune in to Thomas Bryan as he explores the diversity of disability issues, with co-host Mike Gourley. No Labels is a programme about your community with a focus on accessibility for all. The show looks at services which might assist...

23/06/2025

Blind Citizens NZ, along with six other disabled people's organisations, is a member of the Disabled People’s Organisations (DPO) Coalition. The DPO Coalition has released Report 2 - Consultation and Engagement of the Disabled Person-Led Monitoring research project. This project, led by the awesome team at Donald Beasley Institute, monitors how well the New Zealand Government is implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in Aotearoa New Zealand. The findings are based on interviews with disability sector leaders, disabled people, family, whānau, aiga and close supporters. It highlights their feelings and perspectives about the Government’s engagement and consultation with the disability community about Whaikaha l Ministry of Disabled People, and the March 2024 changes to disability funding criteria. The findings also articulate participants’ hopes and dreams for the Government’s consultation and engagement processes with the disability community in the future.

Key findings include:

Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People: Disability Sector Leaders highlighted the importance of the ‘Tripartite Partnership’ between disabled people, tākata whaikaha Māori and the Crown. They recognised that this partnership started strong, but had since been reduced in function and influence. They also shared that system transformation should be designed and led by disabled people, rather than just consulting with disabled people about it. When consultation processes did take place, many disabled participants and their whānau and families felt that most decisions had already been made.

Changes to Purchasing Rules and Equipment and Modification Service: Participants highlighted a lack of consultation regarding the 18 March 2024 changes to Purchasing Rules and Equipment and Modification Services (EMS), which negatively impacted many in the disability community. Participants also felt the changes did not consider the needs of people with intersectional identities such as Māori and Pasefika disabled people.

Check out the report to learn more about the hopes, expectations and report recommendations. The report is available in official languages and accessible formats (Te Reo Māori, New Zealand Sign Language, Easy Read, Braille, Large Print, and Audio) from the Donald Beasley Institute’s website: https://www.donaldbeasley.org.nz/projects/disabled-person-led-monitoring-of-the-uncrpd/ (and https://tinyurl.com/22vw7zco)

Deaf Aotearoa
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Disabled Persons Assembly NZ - DPA
People First New Zealand
Access Matters Aotearoa
Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People
Blind Citizens Australia
Blind Low Vision NZ
World Blind Union
Pacific Disability Forum

Donald Beasley Institute conducts inclusive and accessible research that enables disabled people to share with us their experiences of human rights in Aotearoa New Zealand. From the project lead and research assistant to monitors, transcribers, and participants, this project embodies the disability....

17/06/2025

In Thomas Bryan's latest edition of No Labels he speaks with digital accessibility consultant Neil Jarvis.

Neil has lived in Wellington since 2004, when he arrived in New Zealand with his late wife Lisette. He has worked in the accessible information field since the late 80s, including time at what is now known as Blind Low Vision New Zealand.

He represented New Zealand in a variety of international roles, one of which was President of the Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities. Round Table is a trans-Tasman organisation which publishes guidelines to assist organisations to produce accessible information, and which brings together practitioners in the field right across Australasia to share their knowledge.

Today Neil is a digital accessibility consultant, advising organisations on best practice and suitable strategies to grow their capacity for accessibility.

Neil was the recipient of the 2025 Round Table Tammy Axelsen Lifetime Achievement Award. This award was presented to Neil at the annual round Table conference dinner in Melbourne on Monday, 26 May.

You can hear the show on the No Labels page at Wellington Access Radio's website: https://accessradio.org.nz/shows-podcasts/no-labels/

Or you can listen to this month’s edition of the show or any of the earlier editions of the show via your smart speaker or podcast player.

Thomas Bryan and Mike Gourley in the Wellington Access Radio studio Tune in to Thomas Bryan as he explores the diversity of disability issues, with co-host Mike Gourley. No Labels is a programme about your community with a focus on accessibility for all. The show looks at services which might assist...

24/05/2025

Congratulations to Latoa Halatau Pacific Disability Forum and Bridget Snedden Down Syndrome International (Latoa and Bridget are both from New Zealand) on your election to the International Disability Alliance Board.

You can read more about those elected to the IDA Board, which includes the election of Fernando Riaño as Chair. Fernando is Vice President of the World Blind Union of which Blind Citizens NZ is a member.

You can check out more at the following link about the International Disability Alliance

🤝 New OPD-led leadership elected at IDA governance elections 2025–2028! The elections are an example of what meaningful, inclusive democracy looks like:
✅ Leadership by persons with disabilities
✅ Representation through OPDs
✅ Democratically expressed from grassroots to global 🙌

📢 Meet the leadership that reflects the diversity of our movement:
👉 General Assembly
President: Nawaf Kabbara
Vice-Presidents: Sanja Tarczay and Juan Angel De Gouveia
Secretary: Jacqueline Garou

👉Board
Chair: Fernando Riaño Riaño
Treasurer: Lim Puay Tiak
General Board Members: Latoa Halatau-Talagi, Bridget Snedden, Joseph Murray, Bobbi Beth Scroggins, Tim Gadd

🔗 Read here: https://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/blog/ida-general-assembly-elects-new-opd-led-leadership

World Federation of the Deafblind I World Blind Union I Down Syndrome International I Pacific Disability Forum I World Federation of the Deaf I European Disability Forum I African Disability Forum - ADF I RIADIS I I INCLUSION INTERNATIONAL I International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus I International Federation of Hard of Hearing People I World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry I ASEAN Disability Forum

23/05/2025

A nationwide test of the Emergency Mobile Alert system is scheduled for tomorrow Sunday 25 May 2025 between 6pm and 7pm.

Emergency Mobile Alerts are sent when there is a serious threat to life, health, or property - or in the case of the alert this Sunday - for test purposes.

You read more about Emergency Mobile Alerts at:

Find out about Emergency Mobile Alert. Emergency Mobile Alerts keep people safe. Alerts are broadcast to all capable phones from targeted cell towers.

21/05/2025

Check out Thomas Bryan's latest edition of No Labels where the guest is Dr Gillian McCarthy.

Gillian is a Senior Lecturer at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington whose work focuses on user experience in healthcare and accessible design.

Gillian is recognised by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) as a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) and holds a PhD in Design Innovation from Victoria University of Wellington, a BCApSc Hons in Design Studies, and BA in Psychology from the University of Otago. Her research investigates how we can raise awareness of accessibility and implement it more effectively within New Zealand organisations and tertiary education settings.

Check out this edition of the show to learn more about Gillian's role, and some of the programmes offered at Victoria University.

You can hear the show on the No Labels page at Wellington Access Radios website: https://accessradio.org.nz/shows-podcasts/no-labels/

Or you can listen to this month’s edition of the show or any of the earlier editions of the show via your smart speaker or podcast player.

Thomas Bryan and Mike Gourley in the Wellington Access Radio studio Tune in to Thomas Bryan as he explores the diversity of disability issues, with co-host Mike Gourley. No Labels is a programme about your community with a focus on accessibility for all. The show looks at services which might assist...

18/05/2025

Sharing Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People's post about work happening on the refresh of the Government's Disability Strategy.
Disabled Persons Assembly NZ - DPA
Deaf Aotearoa
Muscular Dystrophy Associationn
People First New Zealand