Issues
Independent Monitoring Mechanism Online Forum, 29-30 March and 5-6 April 2022, Disability Convention: How is New Zealand Doing?
Submitted: Friday, March 25, 2022Categories: General blindness and disability, Issues, News and Events
Independent Monitoring Mechanism Online Forum March 29th-30th and April 5th-6th, 2022 Disability Convention: How is New Zealand Doing? An online forum to find out about how the government is progressing on implementing the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the Disability Convention) will be held Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 March, […]
AstraZeneca Vaccine
Submitted: Tuesday, March 15, 2022Categories: COVID-19
Find out more about the AstraZeneca Vaccine here.
Pfizer Vaccine
Categories: COVID-19Find out more about the Pfizer Vaccine here
How to report your Rapid Antigen Test Results
Submitted: Monday, March 14, 2022Categories: COVID-19
Your RATs should be reported if you test positive or negative. You can do this online or by phone. The information you need is here.
How to use a Rapid Antigen Test
Categories: COVID-19Rapid Antigen Tests can be taken by yourself or under supervision. You’ll find great information here about how to use the RAT.
How to get a Rapid Antigen Test
Categories: COVID-19Rapid Antigen Tests are available to members of the public for free if they develop symptoms or are household contacts of a case. More information here about how to get a RAT.
What happens if you test positive for COVID-19
Submitted: Friday, March 11, 2022Categories: COVID-19
We all need to know what to expect if testing positive for COVID-19 and what this involves. Testing positive is nothing to be embarrassed about — it can happen to anyone. COVID-19 doesn’t care who it infects.
The COVID-19 virus and symptoms
Categories: COVID-19COVID-19 is a disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. It affects your lungs, airways and other organs. Coronaviruses are from a large family of viruses that cause illnesses. The virus has mutated over time as it adapted to humans. This document contains useful information so do have a read.
Wearing a face mask
Categories: COVID-19Wearing a face mask: Face masks are one way we can protect ourselves and others from COVID-19. You will find information here about when you should wear a face mask during Red and Orange, and situations where you do not need to wear one. There are people who are exempt from wearing a face mask […]
Testing for COVID-19
Submitted: Monday, February 28, 2022Categories: COVID-19
You will find information about what happens when you get a COVID-19 test reading the information we have via Audio, Large Print, or if you have a Braille device then the Braille Ready Format will be for you.
COVID-19 Testing
Categories: COVID-19Useful information about getting tested, the different tests used in New Zealand, where you can be tested and remember, testing is free.
Covid-19 Updates
Submitted: Sunday, January 9, 2022Categories: COVID-19, Issues, News and Events
In this COVID-19 Updates (MS Word and PDF), you will find the following important information: Life at Orange. Life at Red. What happens if you test positive for COVID-19? Is your household ready if someone gets COVID-19? Travel within New Zealand
The Delta Variant of COVID-19
Submitted: Monday, September 20, 2021Categories: COVID-19
For information about the Delta Variant of COVID-19, you can access this information via the format that best works for you. We have files for Audio, Large Print, and Braille Ready Format (for use by blind people with a Braille device)
Isolating at home
Submitted: Friday, March 11, 2022Categories: COVID-19
Learn more about when you need to isolate and for how long, and what self-isolation involves.
Help while you’re self-isolating
Categories: COVID-19If you need help while self-isolating including medical and financial assistance, you’ll learn more about what is available and how to access assistance.
Services and Support Contact Details
Submitted: Tuesday, September 21, 2021Categories: COVID-19
Knowing who to contact and how to do so for services and support during COVID-19, is important. Here you will find information ranging from emergencies and medical supplies to others such as about employment-related matters, animal welfare etc. You can select the file that best meets your informational needs from: Audio, Large Print, or Braille […]
Draft 111 Contact Code
Submitted: Thursday, July 30, 2020Categories: Information access, Submissions, Technology
Blind Citizens NZ’s submission on the Draft Copper Withdrawal Code cross-references the Draft Copper Withdrawal Code. Our submission identifies areas the Draft 111 Contact Code should in our view, be strengthened to meet the informational needs of blind people, where failure to do so may contribute to breaches of a person’s human rights.
Submission to RUB Consultation
Submitted: Sunday, November 22, 2020Categories: Submissions, Transport
This submission responds to the Requirements for Urban Buses in New Zealand (RUB), for consistent urban bus quality (2020) Draft for consultation. Our submission identifies areas the RUB 2020 Draft for consultation should in our view be strengthened to recognise (and meet) the diverse needs of users of public transport, which includes blind people. We suggest oversights […]
Inquiry into the 2020 General Election and Referendums
Submitted: Tuesday, April 20, 2021Categories: Democracy, Information access, Submissions
Blind Citizens NZ provides feedback to the Inquiry into the 2020 General Election – our response focuses primarily on achieving outcomes that enable blind people to cast their vote independently, with dignity and confidence.
Submission to RNZFB Board Strategic Plan 2020
Submitted: Wednesday, February 26, 2020Categories: Blindness services, Submissions
Interim feedback to consultation by the RNZFB and Blind Foundation in relation to its Strategic Plan.
Isolation advice for COVID-19 Contacts
Submitted: Tuesday, September 21, 2021Categories: COVID-19
As we unite to combat COVID-19, there will be times people will be asked to isolate. This is to keep the community safe, and will happen when you are in contact with a COVID-19 case. What you need to do depends on your risk of passing the virus to others. Information available here talks about […]
Places of Interest
Submitted: Monday, September 20, 2021Categories: COVID-19
When there is a COVID-19 outbreak in the community, the Ministry of Health will update their website and identify locations where confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been. These are known as ‘Locations of interest’. You can find out how to stay abreast of this information from either the Audio or Large Print files provided here.
NZ COVID Tracer App
Categories: COVID-19The NZ COVID Tracer app helps you protect yourself, your whānau, and your community by enabling faster contact tracing. You’ll find information here in Large Print, Audio, and Braille Ready Format File for blind people with a Braille device. You will also read about the Bluetooth Tracer App video which is audio described for blind […]
Masks and Face Coverings
Categories: COVID-19This document is intended to give clear guidance on the wearing of face coverings in public settings. Guidance is targeted at the three main groups of people affected by the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Protection Framework) Order 2021 requirement for the use of face coverings and includes consideration of people who have a physical or […]
Access Alliance – Accessibility Legislation
Submitted: Monday, July 27, 2020Categories: Access Alliance, Issues
Framework to accelerate progress towards accessibility in Aotearoa New Zealand Here is news of the framework to accelerate progress towards accessibility in Aotearoa New Zealand. You can read the full Cabinet Paper from the Chair of the Cabinet Social Wellbeing Committee Hon Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for Disability Issues – there is an MS Word file […]
COVID-19 March 2020-December 2020
Submitted: Friday, March 20, 2020Categories: COVID-19
The following COVID-19 information is being reviewed for accuracy We will endeavour to provide regular COVID-19 updates to help keep you informed. This includes where necessary, redirecting you to official websites. This means information you need, is always up-to-date. There is a dedicated Healthline 0800 number for COVID-19 health advice and information. The Healthline is […]
Petition re E-Scooters
Submitted: Thursday, October 24, 2019Categories: Building and environment, News and Events
Before we get to the crux of this communication, please note there is a pictogram and then content that explains why we are seeking support for this petition. Here first is a description of the pictogram. The top two thirds of the oblong are bright gold with black lettering and symbols, towards the left are […]
International White Cane Day
Submitted: Monday, October 14, 2019Categories: General blindness and disability, Issues, News and Events
Blind Citizens NZ urges, Central and Local Government to support International White Cane Day and to better meet the needs of everyone. Additionally, for everyone to acknowledge where there are obstacles and remove them, and support White Cane Day awareness activities happening around the country today. Here now, is our media release…
Employment Animation
Submitted: Monday, December 3, 2018Categories: Employment
Visual Blind Bob, a yellow circle with stick arms and legs, wearing sunglasses and with a white cane slung across his back, aims a grey grappling hook upwards. He fires the hook in a diagonal direction and rapidly shoots skyward, landing on a small ledge at the top of a tall pole. Audio Even if […]
Blind Citizens NZ Accessibility Campaign – Transport Animation
Submitted: Sunday, December 2, 2018Categories: News and Events, Transport
Visual Blind Bob, a yellow circle with stick arms and legs, wearing sunglasses and with a white cane slung across his back, zooms diagonally downwards while holding on to grappling hook. The wire extends as far as a bus stop sign mounted on a pole. Bob lets go of the hook and drops down on […]