Blind Low Vision NZ

What Blind Low Vision NZ does

Blind Low Vision NZ is a registered New Zealand charity (Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Incorporated, charity number CC21361) founded in 1890 and headquartered in Newmarket, Auckland. Operating as the country's sole IGDF-accredited provider of guide dog services and its leading vision rehabilitation organisation, it serves an addressable population of approximately 180,000–193,000 New Zealanders who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision — projected to grow to 225,000 by 2028. The organisation delivers services through regional offices (Auckland, Christchurch), a contact centre, community committees, and a healthcare-professional referral pathway, processing roughly 6–9 new referrals per day. Its 501–1,000 employees include Guide Dog Mobility Instructors, Rehabilitation Instructors, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, Adaptive Technology specialists, and Counsellors, supported by a nationwide volunteer network.

The service portfolio spans ten interconnected pillars: Guide Dog Services (IGDF-accredited breeding and training at the Manurewa centre, ~100+ puppies/year, ~one-third qualifying as working dogs, plus the 2025 VLAD programme); an Accessible Library of 36,000+ titles in DAISY audio, Braille, and e-braille, integrated with Amazon Alexa, Dolphin EasyReader (iOS/Android), Aurora Web Portal, and the Accessible Books Consortium (adding 99,500 DAISY titles); Adaptive Technology advisory and a dedicated helpdesk; Getting Around mobility training; Daily Living Skills; Emotional Support counselling; Telefriend peer support; Sport and Leisure; Employment and Youth Pathways (Work Ready programme); and Self-Advocacy resources including the Know Your Rights webinar series and Clearing Our Way accessibility guidelines. In 2025 the organisation also launched a nationwide White Cane Initiative providing free canes to registered members.

Revenue is generated primarily through donations and fundraising (~60% of annual income), supplemented by a tiered "Your Impact / Tō Pāngā" membership programme (Champion, Ambassador, Visionary tiers), ~35 trusts and foundations, Gifts in Wills legacies, corporate partnerships, guide dog sponsorship, and equipment sales via the Vision Store e-commerce partnership with Vision Australia. The guide dog programme receives no government funding, with each dog costing approximately $175,000 to raise, train, and keep in service. The organisation is governed by a Board of Directors and currently operates under a 2024–2028 Strategic Plan.

Name

Blind Low Vision NZ

Legal name

Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Incorporated

Website

https://blindlowvision.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1890

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Blind Low Vision NZ is a registered New Zealand charity founded in 1890 and the country's sole IGDF-accredited guide dog provider, delivering vision rehabilitation, an accessible library, adaptive technology, and emotional support to approximately 180,000 Kiwis who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vision Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Low Vision Rehabilitation (HLAKAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Low Vision & Assistive Vision Devices (Magnifiers, Electronic Video Magnifiers, Wearable Vision Aids) (HLAHAJAN)

Keywords

• Vision rehabilitation services
• Guide dog services
• Adaptive technology training
• Disability support services
• Accessible library services

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Approximately 60% of Blind Low Vision NZ's annual income comes from donations and fundraising activities, including community fundraising events, face-to-face fundraising, PAWGUST fitness challenge, Chores for Paws, corporate donations, and individual regular giving.
2. Membership Programme (Your Impact / Tō Pāngā): Recurring membership programme with tiered monthly or annual donations: Champion ($100/month or $1,200/year), Ambassador ($200/month or $2,400/year), Visionary ($400/month or $4,800/year).
3. Trusts and Foundations: Philanthropic grants and funding from approximately 35 named trusts and foundations supporting specific programmes and services.
4. Gifts in Wills (Legacies): Bequests and legacy gifts from supporters who leave a percentage, residual, or pecuniary gift in their Will. The organisation is registered as Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Incorporated.
5. Guide Dog Sponsorship: Targeted donations specifically for guide dog breeding, raising, and training. Each guide dog costs approximately $175,000 to raise, train, and keep in service, with no government funding received for this programme.
6. Equipment and Product Sales: Sale of adaptive equipment, low vision aids, and assistive technology through the Vision Store (operated in partnership with Vision Australia), with subsidies available through the Pearson Fund for eligible clients.
7. Major Giving and Philanthropy: Substantial one-off donations managed by a dedicated Philanthropy team, directed to specific programme areas including guide dogs, library, employment services, and capital projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Blind Low Vision NZ provides comprehensive vision rehabilitation and support services for people who are blind, deafblind or have low vision across Aotearoa New Zealand. Core offerings include an IGDF-accredited guide dog breeding and training programme, an accessible library of 36,000+ titles in Braille, DAISY audio, and e-braille, adaptive technology training, mobility and daily living skills instruction, counselling, employment pathways, and community support — funded primarily through donations and delivered free of charge to eligible clients.

Product overview

Blind Low Vision NZ is New Zealand's leading provider of vision rehabilitation services offering a comprehensive portfolio of support for people who are blind, deafblind or have low vision across all life stages. The core service portfolio centres on five interconnected pillars: (1) Accessible Library with over 36,000 titles accessible via Alexa, EasyReader app, and Aurora Web Portal; (2) Guide Dog Services including IGDF-accredited breeding, training, and VLAD assistance dogs; (3) Adaptive Technology training and the Vision Store partnership with Vision Australia for equipment procurement; (4) Mobility and Daily Living Skills training for independent living; and (5) Employment and Youth Pathways with the Work Ready programme. Additional services include Emotional Support counselling, Community and Support networks (Telefriend, support groups), Sport and Leisure activities, Self-Advocacy resources, and the Know Your Rights Webinar Series. The organisation also provides the Kōrero client newsletter, Re:VISION podcast, and publishes the Clearing Our Way accessibility guidelines for built and digital environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accessible Library A digital and physical library providing over 36,000 accessible titles in DAISY audio, Braille (UEB/Uncontracted English), and e-braille (BRF) formats. Accessible via Alexa smart speakers, the Dolphin EasyReader app on iOS and Android, and the Aurora Web Portal, with an additional 99,500 DAISY books accessible through the Accessible Books Consortium.
• Guide Dog Services Full-service IGDF-accredited guide dog programme covering selective breeding, the STEP puppy development programme, six-month intensive training, and placement of professionally trained guide dogs for people who are blind, deafblind or have low vision across New Zealand.
• Vision Loss Assistance Dogs (VLAD) A complementary assistance dog programme for clients whose needs are supported by a dog that helps with confidence, balance, public visibility, and mobility tasks but does not meet full guide dog working standards.
• Adaptive Technology Assessment, training, and ongoing telephone helpdesk support for adaptive technology including screen readers, screen magnifiers, electronic Braille devices, and built-in accessibility features on iOS, Android, and other platforms.
• Getting Around (Mobility Training) Mobility training covering white cane skills, public transport use, guiding techniques, and guide dog handling, delivered by Orientation and Mobility specialists to enable safe and independent navigation.
• Daily Living Skills Training and support for independent living including household organisation, meal preparation, Braille literacy, and use of assistive devices for everyday tasks.
• Community and Support Community connection services including Telefriend peer support, regional support groups, hobbies and activities, and volunteer-led programmes across New Zealand.
• Emotional Support

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 guide dog puppies bred per year at the Guide Dogs Breeding Centre, with approximately one-third successfully becoming working guide dogs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vision AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlind Low Vision NZ entered into a partnership with Vision Australia to provide a dedicated online webshop, the Vision Store, for New Zealand-based clients to purchase adaptive equipment and technology. The Vision Store operates at shop.visionaustralia.org.nz with NZD pricing inclusive of 15% GST, Pearson Fund subsidies for eligible clients, and a product range tailored for New Zealand customers.
• Royal CaninminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoyal Canin is a proud supporter of Blind Low Vision NZ Guide Dogs, providing sponsorship for the guide dog breeding and training programme. Displayed as 'Proudly supported by Royal Canin' on guide dog programme materials.
• SafewillminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafewill, an Australia-based online Will-writing service with expertise in Australian and New Zealand law, partnered with Blind Low Vision NZ to offer online Wills at half price ($80) to supporters, friends, and family of the organisation. The partnership supports Blind Low Vision NZ's Gifts in Wills legacy giving programme.
• Parents of Vision Impaired NZ Inc (PVI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPVI is a non-profit organisation of parents committed to supporting other parents of children who are blind or vision impaired (often with additional complications). Blind Low Vision NZ works closely with PVI to provide comprehensive services for children and families. PVI's mission is 'Supporting and Empowering Parents and Whānau'. Executive Officer: Rebekah Graham.
• Blind and Low Vision Education Network NZ (BLENNZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBLENNZ is a national network of educational services for children and young people who are blind, deafblind or have low vision in New Zealand. Blind Low Vision NZ works closely with BLENNZ for the transition of students into adult services. Contact: 0800 BLENNZ (0800 253 669) or [email protected].
• Accessible Books ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Accessible Books Consortium provides Blind Low Vision NZ library services access to 99,500 additional DAISY books. This is accessible via Alexa smart speakers and the library services, significantly expanding the accessible reading materials available to New Zealanders with print disabilities.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind): CNIB is Canada's leading national organization serving people who are blind or partially sighted, delivering rehabilitation, accessible library services, and advocacy — a near-direct international parallel to BLVNZ's mandate and service breadth.
• Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB): RNIB is the UK's national sight loss charity, providing a directly comparable integrated portfolio of vision rehabilitation, advocacy, accessible information, and employment/technology support — the closest international counterpart to BLVNZ's national-charity model.
• National Federation of the Blind (NFB): NFB is the US's largest membership organization of the blind, focused on advocacy, education, and self-determination — comparable to BLVNZ as a national blindness charity with strong advocacy and member-driven service orientation.
• American Foundation for the Blind (AFB): AFB is a US national organization focused on advocacy, research, and accessible information for blind/low vision Americans — comparable to BLVNZ in its national non-profit disability mandate, though with a research/policy emphasis rather than direct service delivery.
• Sightsavers: Sightsavers is an international disability/eye-health NGO operating in low- and middle-income countries, focused on avoidable blindness and inclusive education — comparable to BLVNZ as a major eye-health/disability charity but with a global development remit.

Direct peers

• Vision Australia: Vision Australia is BLVNZ's explicit strategic partner (operating the Vision Store for NZ) and Australia's largest national blindness/low-vision provider, offering rehabilitation, employment, AT, guide dogs, and advocacy — directly mirroring BLVNZ's service model in a neighbouring market.
• Guide Dogs NSW/ACT: Guide Dogs NSW/ACT provides IGDF-style guide dog breeding, training, and mobility services across Australia — directly comparable to BLVNZ Guide Dogs in scope, accreditation profile, and end-to-end service model.
• Guide Dogs of America: Guide Dogs of America is a US-based IGDF-accredited guide dog school providing breeding, training, and client services — a direct functional peer to BLVNZ Guide Dogs in the international guide dog federation ecosystem.

Others

• Humanware: HumanWare is a global manufacturer of assistive technology for people who are blind or low vision (Braille displays, video magnifiers) — listed as a NZ supplier partner and directly comparable to BLVNZ's adaptive technology distribution and AT Helpdesk functions.

Regional players

• Perkins School for the Blind: Perkins is a US-based educational and service organization for the blind/deafblind providing rehabilitation and accessible literacy — comparable to BLVNZ's education-and-family, deafblind, and Braille literacy functions across the lifespan.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubebuzzsprout.com/842887
• Xx.com/BlindLowVision
• Facebookfacebook.com/BlindLowVisionNZ

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Blind Low Vision NZ