Eye Health Aotearoa Strategic Plan 2025 –2027
Introduction
- Eye Health Aotearoa Trust is the unified voice that enables collaboration in the Aotearoa New Zealand eye health sector. We advocate for all New Zealanders to have access to quality eye health and wellbeing services to prevent avoidable blindness and vision loss.
- Eye Health Aotearoa strives to drive evidence-based change so that New Zealanders get the eye care they need, when they need it.
- We collaborate to reduce vision loss and prevent avoidable blindness through awareness raising and advocacy campaigns.
- We honour and are guided by the articles of “He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni (Declaration of Independence) 1835” and “Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi, Māori version) 1840”:
- Kawangatanga - Sovereignty/Governorship
- Rangatiratanga - Self-determination
- Oritetanga - Equality in Society.
- We would appreciate your support to make this happen. Please visit our website.
Trustees on the Board represent the following organisations
- Blind Low Vision NZ
- Glaucoma NZ
- Kāpō Māori Aotearoa
- Macular Degeneration New Zealand
- New Zealand Association of Optometrists
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
- Sight Support Trust.
Why eye health care is important
- The total cost of blindness and vision loss in Aotearoa New Zealand was estimated to be $4.03 Billion in 2022 and rising [1].
- 90% of blindness and vision loss is preventable or treatable [2].
- Early detection and timely treatment are paramount.
Vision
A future where all New Zealanders have optimal eye health.
Mission
Prevent avoidable blindness and vision loss by working together to accomplish change that no organisation could achieve alone.
Goals
- Champion a unified advocacy effort to promote better eye health and wellbeing across Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Using an evidence-based approach, we will work with government, policy and decision makers to reduce eye health inequities.
- Increase public awareness of eye health and wellbeing at all life stages.
Actions
Advocate
- Work with the Parliamentary Friends of Eye Health to influence government policy.
- Contribute to existing eye health leadership and governance efforts, for example, the National Eye Health Clinical Network.
- Design inclusive advocacy by capturing multiple perspectives, particularly lived experience of blindness and low vision.
- Advocate to progress recommended actions in the "Eye Care in Aotearoa New Zealand 2022: Eye Care Situation Analysis Tool (ECSAT)” [3].
- Advocate for increased eye health research.
Awareness
- Partner with International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness to celebrate World Sight Day in Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Run regular campaigns to raise awareness and educate communities on the importance of looking after their eyes.
- Promote existing awareness raising activities within the Aotearoa New Zealand eye health sector.
Sustainability
- Utilise best practice to ensure strong governance.
- Grow eye health sector representation.
- Cultivate strong relationships with supporters, donors, partners, and funders to drive growth and secure impactful contributions to our goals.
Footnotes
1. The Economic Cost of Vision Loss in New Zealand 2022. A Report prepared for Blind Low Vision New Zealand by Keith Gordon Ph.D. Available on request. Email [email protected] with subject “Request for research - The Economic Cost of Vision Loss in New Zealand 2022”.
2. Understanding Data and Evidence: Treatable or preventable vision loss. International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).
3. Eye Care in Aotearoa New Zealand 2022: Eye Care Situation Analysis Tool (ECSAT). Available to download from the Eye Health Aotearoa website.