Blind Citizens NZ 2026 Scheduled Election

From Rose Wilkinson, Returning Officer

Two Board Member positions are up for election in this year’s Blind Citizens NZ Board election. The current terms for these positions end at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting and Conference (9–10 October). The positions currently held by Andrea Courtney and Paula Waby are the ones open for election.

Call for nominations

Rule 14 Elections, clause 14.2 directs Blind Citizens NZ in its election procedures. This is the first of two notices publicising this year’s scheduled election and the call for nominations. Only those members who comply with the criteria provided in Rule 14.1 are eligible to participate in the election, i.e. you are unable to stand for election if you:

▪ are an employee of, or contractor to Blind Citizens NZ;
▪ have been removed as a Board Member following a process under this Constitution or any Bylaw.
▪ are disqualified under any of the factors for disqualification outlined in the Charities Act 2005 or the Act, or who is found to have breached any qualifying criteria for office in this Constitution.

Of note is that:

▪ people currently in these positions are eligible for re-election;
▪ the term of office for each of the two positions is three years;
▪ successful candidates will commence their term immediately following the conclusion of this year’s Annual General Meeting and Conference (9-10 October);
▪ the election of the two positions happens at the same time by a ballot of all eligible Ordinary (voting) Members;
▪ nomination forms and | or email nomination procedures are available upon request from the National Office.

 

Anyone standing for election is encouraged to take the time to become familiar with the duties and responsibilities of Blind Citizens NZ’s Board Members. This information identifies the much-needed skills, experience and knowledge for a Blind Citizens NZ Board Member. Details that identify specific skills and expertise required of candidates in this year’s election will be published in our June Focus Issue. Contact details for the National Office are at the end of this Focus issue.

Ordinary financial (voting) Members who are listed as financial on the Member Register | Database by 21 August 2026, held at the National Office, are eligible to take part in the 2026 election of Board Members.

Nominations require two people to support the candidate, i.e. one to move and another to second the nomination. There are two ways nominations can be completed and submitted, i.e. using the paper form or the email process.

If using the paper form, signatures of all three members involved in the nomination are required. Email procedures similarly require the same people to confirm their respective roles in the nomination process. If choosing the email procedure, you are required to contact the Returning Officer at our National Office before commencing this process. This is important, as there are instructions unique to the email procedure that must be followed. The email procedure mirrors, as closely as possible, requirements for the paper-based option.

The closing date for nominations is 4pm, 21 August 2026. Candidates are required to provide their CV at the same time as their nomination is submitted to the Returning Officer. Nominations and CVs should be sent to the Returning Officer at one of the following:

Post: Blind Citizens NZ, PO Box 7144, Newtown, Wellington 6242;
Fax: 04-389-0030;
Email: election@blindcitizensnz.org.nz

Once nominations close, if only the maximum number needed for the two positions is received, no election will be required. Those candidates will be elected unopposed. If we receive more nominations than positions, an election will be held. If we receive fewer nominations than required, a vacancy will occur. In that case, the process in Rule 14.4 (Filling Elected Board Member Vacancies) will apply.

Voting in the election

Ballot material (names of people standing for election, information they have provided about themselves, etc.) will be sent to all Ordinary Members recorded as financial on the Member Register | Database at National Office as at 21 August 2026. No later than 11 September 2026, ballot material will be distributed in the voting member’s preferred format.

When does voting close? Completed ballots (votes cast by voting members) must be received at the National Office no later than 4.00 pm, 29 September 2026. Vote counting will take place no later than 6 October 2026.

Ways to get election information for Blind Citizens NZ’s elections: there are several options available for members to participate in the election process. Election (ballot) material about candidates standing for election is available in large print, audio, Braille, by email, and via our National Information Line bulletin on TellMe.

Choose your preferred voting option: When voting in Blind Citizens NZ elections, you can choose one of three options. It is important to remember that the way you vote can be different from the way you choose to receive your election (ballot) material. You can cast your vote using the large print form, the Braille-card option, or TellMe.

TellMe gives voters a fully independent, confidential, and empowering way to vote. You can listen to information about the candidates and cast your vote without assistance.

TellMe means you are in control and ensure your vote is received on time. There’s no worrying about postal delays or whether your ballot will arrive before voting closes. If you’d like to learn more about using TellMe to cast your vote, please contact our National Office (details at the end of this Focus issue).