Vision impairment affects tens of thousands of New Zealanders — from diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration to congenital conditions and blindness. Vision and eye health grants fund clinical services, assistive technology, community support, and blind sport. This guide covers the key funding sources.
Blind Low Vision NZ (formerly Blind Foundation) provides:
- Rehabilitation services for people with vision impairment
- Assistive technology and daily living support
- Employment support for blind and low vision workers
- Library services (braille and audio)
- Children's services
Blind Low Vision NZ is a key partner for vision health grant applications.
Te Whatu Ora funds eye health through:
- DHB ophthalmology: Clinical eye care and surgery
- Diabetic retinopathy screening: National screening programme
- Cataract surgery: Publicly funded lens replacement
- Retinal services: Macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease treatment
Vision health charities in NZ:
- Glaucoma NZ: Glaucoma awareness and detection
- Macular Degeneration NZ: Macular degeneration support and research
- Diabetes NZ: Diabetic eye disease prevention
- Age-related macular degeneration: Emerging funder landscape
Whaikaha funds services for people with disability including vision impairment:
- Disability support services
- Assistive technology
- Employment and community participation
Gaming trusts fund vision and blindness services:
- Four Winds Foundation: Disability and community wellbeing
- Grassroots Trust: Community disability services
- Pub Charity: Community health and disability grants
- Lion Foundation: Community health and disability
Gaming trust vision health applications:
- Assistive technology (magnifiers, CCTV, screen readers)
- Orientation and mobility training equipment
- Braille and large print materials
- Low vision clinic equipment
Lottery Community Wellbeing: Community services for people with vision impairment.
Blind and vision-impaired sport:
- Blind Sport NZ: National blind sport governing body
- Blind cricket: NZ blind cricket team
- Tandem cycling: Vision-impaired athletes with sighted pilots
- Goalball: Paralympic sport for vision-impaired athletes
- Athletics: Vision-impaired track and field
Vision health for underserved communities:
- Diabetic eye disease: Disproportionately affecting Māori and Pacific communities
- Te Puni Kōkiri: Māori eye health equity
- Ministry for Pacific Peoples: Pacific community eye health
- Rural eye health: Access to ophthalmology in rural areas
Māori and Pacific communities have higher rates of diabetic retinopathy — targeted screening and treatment investment is available.
Vision research funders:
- Health Research Council (HRC): Eye disease and vision science
- University eye research: Clinical and basic vision research
- MBIE: Health technology innovation including vision assistive technology
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Population served: Number of people with vision impairment reached
- Equity: Māori, Pacific, and rural communities with highest unmet need
- Clinical outcomes: Vision preservation, improved function, quality of life
- Assistive technology: Devices enabling independence
- Prevention: Diabetic eye screening and early treatment
- Rehabilitation: Orientation, mobility, and daily living skills
- Blind sport: Active and social participation for vision-impaired people
- Cost-effectiveness: Value of vision preservation vs. visual impairment support costs
Tahua's grants management platform helps vision health organisations manage grant applications across Te Whatu Ora, Blind Low Vision NZ, Whaikaha, gaming trusts, and health foundations, tracking clinical outcomes, assistive technology, and community participation.