Parents of Vision Impaired NZ statement regarding calls by Kāpō Māori Aotearoa for the Royal New Zealand Foundation Of The Blind Board Of Directors to stand down.
Parents of Vision Impaired NZ has had the privilege of working alongside Kāpō Māori Aotearoa over the past several decades.
During this time Parents of Vision Impaired NZ has also noticed the absence of formal measures and mechanisms to ensure diverse representation of the blind sector on the RNZFB (Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind) Board of Directors.
In a letter dated 5 July 2021, Parents of Vision Impaired NZ raised the issue of the lack of representation of blind, deafblind, and low vision children, young people, and their parents/whānau to the RNZFB Board. In this letter we noted our concern regarding the lack of a dedicated child (0-16years), youth (16-25years), and/or parent/whānau representative.
Parents of Vision Impaired NZ is disheartened to learn that not only are children, youth, and parents/whānau excluded from RNZFB Board representation, but so are Māori. It is incredibly disappointing to hear that the RNZFB Board of Directors has no formal measures for representation for tāngata whenua, and no plans to implement any interim or long-term form of formal representation.
Children are entitled to have a voice in matters concerning them. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRoC) specifically notes in Article 23 the rights of disabled children to active participation:
States Parties recognize that a mentally or physically disabled child should enjoy a full and decent life, in conditions which ensure dignity, promote self-reliance and facilitate the child’s active participation in the community.
The UNCRoC also acknowledges the rights and duties of parents in providing direction and support for children to exercise their human rights. Children (or their proxies in the form of a parent or whānau member) are entitled to have a voice and to actively participate in decision-making and governance.
Parents of Vision Impaired NZ has previously called on the RNZFB Board of Directors to do better in order to uphold Article 23 of the UNCRoC and the rights of disabled children to active participation. We stand in solidarity with Kāpō Māori Aotearoa as they exercise their right to fair and equitable representation.
There needs to be a dedicated child voice in the form of parent/whānau representation on the RNZFB Board of Directors AND there needs to be dedicated Māori representation for tāngata kāpō Māori. Any permanent addition to the RNZFB Board of Directors requires constitutional change. However, a temporary solution of co-option would work as an interim process prior to creation of a permanent position via constitutional change. That neither has occurred to date is deeply concerning. The lack of commitment by the RNZFB Board of Directors to equitable representation is most disappointing.
