Notice of Blind Citizens NZ 2025 Scheduled Election

From Rose Wilkinson, Returning Officer

Three positions are due for election in this year’s Blind Citizens NZ Board election i.e. National President and two Members-at-Large. The terms of office for all three positions conclude at the end of this year’s Annual General Meeting and Conference (3-4 October).

The two Member-at-Large positions for election are held by Chrissy Fern and Martine Abel-Williamson and the National President’s is held by Jonathan Godfrey.

Call for nominations

Rule 10 Elections, clause 10.1, 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. Of note is that :

  • people currently in these positions are eligible for re-election;
  • the term of office for each of the three positions is three years;
  • successful candidates will commence their term immediately following the conclusion of this year’s Annual General Meeting and Conference (3-4 October);
  • the election of all three 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 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 Board Member of Blind Citizens NZ. Additionally, 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 National Office are at the end of this Focus issue.

Here are details about timelines and the procedure for the election of all positions. To be eligible for nomination for any position, you must:

a. live in New Zealand; and

b. for at least 24 months of the past five years up to and including 14 August 2025, have been a (financial) Ordinary Member of Blind Citizens NZ.

Nominations require two people to support you i.e. one to move and another to second your nomination.

There are two ways nominations can be completed and submitted. You can use a 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.

Ordinary Members, financial as of 14 August 2025, are eligible to stand for election to these three positions.

The closing date for nominations is 4pm Thursday 14 August 2025. 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:

Once nominations close, if the maximum number of nominations for the three positions is received, no election will be needed. Candidates will be declared elected unopposed. Should nominations exceed the number of positions being elected, an election will then be held.

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 database at National Office as at 4pm, Thursday 14 August 2025. No later than Thursday 5 September 2025, 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 National Office no later than 4.00 pm, Tuesday 23 September 2025. Vote counting will take place no later than Wednesday 1 October 2025.

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.

For many reasons, we encourage members to try TellMe. This offers a truly independent, confidential, and empowering voting experience. It means you can independently do all the things you need to do in an election – you hear about the candidates standing for election, and you cast your vote.

Casting your vote using TellMe means you are in control. It also gives you certainty that your vote will be received by the due date and time. You no longer need to worry about whether your postal ballot will reach its destination in time to be counted. We point out that there is no guarantee your postal vote will arrive by the close of voting. If you would like to know more about using TellMe and casting your vote using this option, please contact our National Office.

If you are in any doubt about what your preferred communication option is to receive information and vote in Blind Citizens NZ’s election, please contact our National Office to check.