Introduction, from the Board

The Board has completed its draft of Blind Citizens NZ’s proposed Strategic Plan 2027-2030. This outlines opportunities for and expectations about how Branches and Geographic and Special Interest Networks will contribute to achieving our collective outcomes.

The Board genuinely wants and needs to hear from Ordinary (voting) Members, Branches, and Geographic and Special Interest Networks. Your feedback and insights are essential to shaping a Strategic Plan that reflects Blind Citizens NZ’s priorities and aspirations.

As the Board will be finalising the document at its August meeting, all feedback must be received at National Office no later than 9am, Monday, 10 August 2026 (contact details are provided at the end of this Focus issue). The Board will consider all responses at its meeting and, from these, decide whether amendments to the draft Strategic Plan are needed.

Once finalised, the Strategic Plan 2027-2030 will be published in our September Focus issue. It will also be a topic for discussion at this year’s AGM and Conference.

Here now is the Draft Strategic Plan, 2027-2030

Draft Strategic Plan – 2027-2030
Purpose

Blind Citizens NZ exists to give voice to the aspirations and lived experiences of blind, deafblind, low vision and vision-impaired people (blind people) living in New Zealand. We aim to achieve this by heightening awareness of our rights and removing the barriers that negate our ability to live in an accessible, equitable, and inclusive society.

Vision

Aotearoa is a nation where blind, deafblind, low vision and vision-impaired people are inspired and supported to live life independently and where we can participate fully.

Note: In the context of this document, the word “blind” includes all people who are blind, deafblind, low vision, vision-impaired, or who use any other blindness term to describe themselves. Additionally, unless otherwise stated, wherever reference is made to Networks, this includes both Geographic and Special Interest Networks.

Values

We value equally the following statements:

• As an organisation, we seek to maximise the self-worth and meaningful engagement of our people – He Tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata.
• Respect for the different ways each of us responds to the challenges of blindness.
• The shared learning and support received from the lived experiences of others.
• Commitment to democratic processes and inclusive practices that ensure our representations have a mandate from our members.
• Commitment to sustained effort in our advocacy.
• Constructive, cooperative, and mutually supportive relationships with other disability organisations;
• The principles of Te Tiriti O Waitangi with particular reference to Kāwanatanga (Governance), Rangatiratanga (Self Determination), Rite Tahi (Equality).
• The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the New Zealand Government’s ratification of it.
• Our history and the role we have played in the lives of blind people since 1945.

Our Aspirations

We aspire to:

• Advocate that blind people are treated respectfully, our dignity is upheld, and that we are treated equitably.
• Develop the capability of blind people and the Blind Citizens NZ Branches and Networks in which we are active.
• Maximise the well-being and independence of our members.
• Improve society’s awareness of issues affecting blind people.
• Strengthen the representation of Blind Citizens NZ as an active member and leader throughout the disability sector, both in New Zealand and internationally.

Our Strategic Imperative

To create a stronger, interconnected Disabled Peoples Organisation which promotes, resources, and fosters the well-being of blind people by increasing their participation in Blind Citizens NZ activities.

We intend to achieve our aspirations and strategic imperative by addressing the following goals, which are to:

• increase and strengthen our membership year on year;
• increase the number of members who are actively participating in National, Branch, and | or Network activities;
• strengthen our Branches and Networks so they can advocate for their members;
• increase the collective capacity of our community to accept roles as leaders within Blind Citizens NZ and beyond;
• promote the voices of blind people, and their whanau, in advocating for an inclusive and fully accessible society.

Organisational procedures

1. Each year, the Board will invite Branches, Networks and Ordinary Members to propose advocacy projects they would like Blind Citizens NZ to prioritise in the coming year. The advocacy project’s invitation will happen alongside the Remits process.

2. Branches and Networks will discuss all shared proposals at their AGM and report their level of support for the identified projects at Blind Citizens NZ’s national AGM and Conference. Branches and Geographic Networks will also be asked to share how they would like to progress advocacy projects at a local level.

3. The Board remains responsible for assessing all feedback from discussions held at Branch, Network, and the national AGM and Conference, when finalising prioritised advocacy projects at its Annual Planning Meeting. The Board reserves the right to prioritise other advocacy work over the proposals received via this process.

4. The Board will provide regular updates on the progress and completion of agreed targets for the chosen advocacy projects. Branches and Networks that have worked on the selected advocacy projects are asked to report on their efforts as a part of their reporting to Blind Citizens NZ’s national AGM and Conference.