Keep up with the latest BLENNZ news and updates. Find information about recent developments, announcements, and important changes across our network.
Kia mōhio ki ngā kawepūrongo hou me ngā whakahoutanga o BLENNZ. Kimihia ngā kōrero mō ngā whanaketanga, pānuitanga me ngā huringa nui.
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Homai Station reopens with blind and low vision in mind
Last month Homai Station reopened with a safer way to access the station following the closure of two pedestrian level crossings.
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Unveilling of the three panel Sensory Wall at Homai
After two years of planning, a sensory wall by Manukau Beautification Trust Boomer Shed was opened on 14th February 2025, featuring local cultural elements.
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Refresh of BLENNZ Expanded Core Curriculum for BLENNZ ākonga
With input from across the network, we have been refreshing BLENNZ Expanded Core Curriculum for BLENNZ ākonga.
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BLENNZ Nelson relocation
On the 6th May 2024, BLENNZ Nelson proudly relocated to Āhuru Mōwai, a new Visual Resource Centre shared with Nelson RTLB services and Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education Services.
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DOM focus for Gisborne VRC
Developmental Orientation and Mobility continues to be a specific focus for BLENNZ ākonga in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa Gisborne throughout the 2024 school year.
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Residential ākonga engaging in Box Fit sessions
This year, our Residential ākonga have engaged in Box Fit sessions facilitated by local trainers Lesley and Willie Maipi from Ponoboxfit.
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A year with Auckland South Visual Resource Centre
During term 2, we hosted the Low Vision Workshop for Educators. There was an extremely informative session on the structure of the eye, led by Samatha Simkins.
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Tech Curriculum days in Christchurch
Last term we started by inviting a group of ākonga between the ages of 10 – 12 years to join us for a Tech Fun Day.
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Pukekohe Awhi whānau group
Our Pukekohe Awhi whānau group has taken off!
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DOM team complete the BEL’s training
This year the DOM team completed the BELS training over two sessions based at Homai in Auckland.
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W.H.A.I.O.R.A class Focus on Ability Film Festival 2024 finalist!
Discover how BLENNZ's W.H.A.I.O.R.A class became finalists in the Focus on Ability Film Festival 2024. Vote now to support these talented students showcasing their abilities.
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Curriculum Day - Sporting fun
On 13th June, we held an Expanded Core Curriculum Day at the Edgar Centre with a focus on adapted sports. Ākonga from BLENNZ Invercargill joined us for this fun day.
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Victoria University School of Music therapists present a Music Therapy session to our BLENNZ learners
For the past two years BLENNZ Wellington has invited first-year music therapy students from Victoria University School of Music to our VRC to present a Music Therapy session to a group of younger BLENNZ learners.
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Wharenui Harikoa at the Waikato Museum
BLENNZ Hamilton had the privilege of taking a group of ākonga and whānau to explore the Wharenui Harikoa at the Waikato Museum.
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Change of Leadership at BLENNZ
On Monday 17th June 2024 our school community gathered together to welcome our new BLENNZ Principal/Tumuaki Saul Taylor.
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Training the Teachers
We held an In-Service Day for interested staff on 28th February 2024.
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Low Vision Professional Development workshops
During the month of March, we held two Low Vision Professional Development workshops. One in Tauranga and one in Rotorua.
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Visit by Japanese Professors, lecturers in deaf blind education
The Auckland North Team were privileged have a visit from Professors Shinichi Okazawa and Hiryuki Sugai from Japan.
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A period of change for BLENNZ Napier
The end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024 was a time of change for BLENNZ Napier. After over 20 years service, Renee Jones retired from the position of manager and Marian Bold from her administrator role. Celebrations were had to mark both retirements.
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Braille and Low Vision In-Service workshops
BLENNZ Whangārei Visual Resource Centre invited teachers and learning support assistants to attend our Braille or Low Vision workshops.
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BLENNZ Counsellors
BLENNZ (Blind and Low vision Education Network NZ) provides support for parents by employing suitably experienced and qualified staff known as Counsellors.
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Massey BLENNZ DOM Living Skills Course
This year the DOM team have worked in collaboration with Massey to offer the Living Skills course in Palmerston North and Dunedin.
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Taranaki Inquiry goal and Strategic goal for 2023
This year our Taranaki Inquiry focus was to improve our knowledge and skills in formal and informal assessment with our Complex needs ākonga and use this knowledge to support whanau and the educational team.
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Busy Bees Curriculum Day
Busy Bees Curriculum Day creates opportunities to foster lifelong friendships as well as work on both Expanded Core and NZ Curriculum Goals.
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Immersion course for ākonga (ORS VO VH) in Years 4 – 6
Ākonga (ORS VO VH) in Years 4 – 6 headed off-campus for a bush adventure with Harry from Barefooted NZ.
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BLENNZ Student named head student of Flaxmere College
Congratulations to Jordez Marshall who has just completed her final year at Flaxmere College. Jordez was awarded the honour of being named as Head Girl at the start of 2023 and has excelled in this role.
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Board of Trustees Casual Vacancy
A casual vacancy has occurred on the BLENNZ board of trustees for an elected parent representative. The board has decided to fill the vacancy by selection.
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A Haerenga me Auckland South VRC
2023 started as another eventful year, with a cyclone in week 3, putting a damper on the start of the year. At the end of term 1, we hosted the low vision workshop for educators, which was hugely successful.
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Accessing Kia Roha Sensory room
BLENNZ RTVs have been making use of the sensory room as a place to give early childhood ākonga new experiences and a chance for whānau to meet and get to know each other.
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BEL’s Tamariki course
The BELS team organised an immersion course for tamariki with low vision from three to five years. A cooking activity was offered using the process method.
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Tim Bray Production Supporting inclusivity in the Arts
Each term, BLENNZ Auckland North/West are given a number of free seats for the Tim Bray show at The Pumphouse in Takapuna.
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PLD workshops for working with visually impaired akonga
It was great to be able to host PLD in March in the Christchurch VRC. A variety of teachers, teacher-aides, LSCs and SENCO were invited to participate and learn more about how to support our visually impaired akonga.
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Personalised Assessment in the National Assessment Service (NAS)
NAS has been adapting service delivery in response to the different needs of ākonga, whānau and teams across the country.
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DOM and RTV collaborating using the Wise Walker resource
In Palmerston North, RTV and DOM are collaborating to develop a resource that can be used by RTVs to support DOM programmes in preparation for a learner’s community goals.
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Regional days
Professional Development for the Regional Teams took place again in Term 2. Four workshops were held around the country for the teaching team to introduce the draft of Te Mataiaho, the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum.
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Weather events in the Gisborne area
For the past two terms of this school year, BLENNZ Tūranganui-a-Kiwa Gisborne has spent many hours reconnecting with tamariki, rangatahi, parents and whānau and school/kura communities.
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Celebrating our BLENNZ volunteers
Please join us in celebrating the mahi they do to support our network. Their support is essential and so much appreciated.
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Akonga explore their understanding of their visual impairment
Recently, four ākonga and their RTVs met at the Tauranga VRC to explore their understanding of their visual impairments.
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In-service day at Dunedin Visual Resource Centre
We were thrilled to hold an in-service in March for teachers and teacher aides from primary and secondary schools throughout the Otago region.
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Graduation ceremony for Transition ākonga from 2021 and 2022
After a two year hiatus Transition was finally able to have a graduation ceremony for ākonga from 2021 and 2022.
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Ever-Growing
During Term 4 a talented group of BLENNZ ākonga came together for our Songwriters Rock Immersion course.
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VRC Co-ordinators sharing information
This year we have been part of the Curriculum Voices Group and Implementation and Design Working Group of Te Mātaiaho, which is the New Zealand Curriculum refresh.
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BLENNZ Tūranganui a Kiwa Gisborne VRC team changes
The centre has undergone a transition period throughout the 2022 school year. Families, schools and kura were made aware of the transition across the two terms.
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Full Inclusion in School Athletics Day
Laura was able to participate fully and be included in all the activities on the whole school athletics day.
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Expanded Core Curriculum group Te Roopu Auaha – The Creative Group
Pukekohe VRC established a new Expanded Core Curriculum group this year called Te Roopu Auaha – The Creative Group.
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NAS visit to Dunedin
In September we had a visit from the National Assessment Service (NAS) team, who saw most of our ORS Vision Only ākonga as well as some of our moderate learners.
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Resource Centre team Inquiry
Our Taranaki Team Inquiry focus this year was to engage in ongoing professional development delivered by the NAS team.
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Celebrating a student who attended the Halberg games
A celebration for Kahn, from BLENNZ Napier, has been to attend the October Halberg games in Palmerston North.
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Covid successes: Hybrid Developmental Orientation and Mobility Programming
Covid has meant that ‘hybrid’ – in person and via zoom – Specialist programming has become a creative way to support learners and their teams.
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BELS Professional Education Programmes
BELS held two Professional Education Programmes this year for kaiako who support early childhood ākonga and their whānau. The feedback from kaiako has been outstanding.
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Auckland South’s 2022 Journey
2022 started with restricted service delivery and then ASVRC had a minor fire. Things started to feel more normal from the start of term 2, with everyone happy to see us face to face.
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New Visual Resource Centre at Scott Point School
Auckland North Visual Resource Centre moved into its permanent location at Scott Point School, Hobsonville in June.
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Developmental Orientation and Mobility on Campus course
At the end of term 2, BLENNZ Tauranga were fortunate to run the four-day Developmental Orientation and Mobility on Campus course for 10 RTVs.
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BLENNZ Wellington 2022
What a changeable world we have been walking in, pai kare! It’s been a great chance to be innovative though, and find new ways to get great outcomes for Ākonga.
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BLENNZ working in collaboration with Parafed Northland and Blind Sport NZ
This year the Resource Teachers of Vision have been working collaboratively with Parafed Northland and Blind Sport New Zealand to increase both our own and whānau knowledge of accessible sporting opportunities available for our ākonga.
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Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)
The idea behind this initiative is to bring greater awareness and understanding to the importance of provide inclusive solutions to ensure access for everyone.
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Hamilton VRC – Blind Sport equipment kits
Their teachers are able to borrow these kits to use with their whole class, which means that our ākonga are using accessible equipment alongside their peers.
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BLENNZ Christchurch Whānau Group
We have continued to evolve our whānau-based practice to provide connections between families, music and active exploration and movement and online links to resources that can be used while at home.
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NAS visit to Invercargill VRC
After being postponed twice, our NAS visit went ahead in February. This was a relief for everyone organising it and for ākonga and whānau who had waited patiently.
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Highest Needs Review
The Government is conducting a review of the services provided to learners with the highest learning needs. The review’s online portal is now live and will remain open until 31 March 2022.
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The University of Auckland’s School of Psychology seeks research participants
Nidhi Aggarwal, a PhD candidate in Psychology (under the supervision of Dr Barry Hughes), is looking for visually impaired participants to contribute to our investigation.
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2021 Highlights for Gisborne VRC
This was a wonderful opportunity for families and local services to connect and provide some great professional development for the RTV and Teachers Aides working with akonga.
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