Blind Consumer Organisations across Aotearoa, New Zealand are working collaboratively to support Kiwis living with sight loss during the COVID-19 crisis. Together we are committed to connecting with our networks, checking in and offering support where needed.

Unfortunately, due to the ongoing impacts of Covid-19 (Coronavirus), we have made the decision to postpone until further notice all Blind Sport New Zealand events and programmes. This includes both our Wellington and Auckland Youth Programmes.

All 18 Paralympians were acknowledged and celebrated and joined an elite group of Paralympians that have now received their official ‘numbered’ Paralympic pin and certificate. This group now totals 44 following the Celebration Project events in Auckland and Whangarei throughout May. The official Paralympic ‘number’ is a unique number that is bestowed only once a Paralympian has competed at their first Paralympic Games. Athletes are then ordered alphabetically within each Paralympic Games.

A blind Hamilton man is on a mission to grow the sport of goalball, aided by a world-first inflatable goal developed by New Zealand company Packaworld International. Steve Donnelly is the captain of Waikato Goalball Club and well known within the blind and low vision community for his sporting exploits as a New Zealand BlindCaps cricket player. The 47-year old is keen to raise awareness of goalball – a popular sport at the Paralympics – but has struggled to introduce people to the sport because of a lack of local facilities with goals.

Blind Sport New Zealand (BSNZ) have partnered with the Halberg Foundation to create a nine-week multi-sport programme for blind and low vision youth in the Auckland region. This programme, designed for youth aged 5-21 years, kicks off at the end of next month and will run through until the middle of August. The programme has been designed to develop participants’ physical literacy skills and confidence while building new friendships and introducing them to a wide range of fun and exciting sports.