Wagner NickyROYAL NEW ZEALAND FOUNDATION OF THE BLIND ACT REPEAL BILLSecond ReadingHon NICKY WAGNER (National—Christchurch Central): I move That the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act Repeal Bill be now read a second time. In the last 126 years the Blind Foundation and some of its previous iterations have been looking after low-vision and blind New Zealanders very very successfully. Originally it was the Jubilee Institute for the Blind which was followed by the New Zealand Foundation for the Blind and then the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind. They have all done invaluable work supporting blind and low-vision New Zealanders. It was in the late 1800s that the first formal service began. It was established as a school and a residence in Parnell. It was originally a wooden building but it developed over a long time and the new brick gracious buildings that are still there today were built in 1909-10. During that time it developed its services. It offered sheltered employment a workshop and residential programmes. Through the work of the foundation over nearly 100 years it managed to change the attitude of people and the perceptions of blind people and made it more possible for them to be fully integrated into New Zealand life. As we went on and as the 20th century came it gave up the workshops it closed the schools and other institutional activities were wound up. Today the foundation's aim is to provide services and to support blind people and people with low vision to be self-reliant to live in the community to let them have more choice about their lives and to help them reach their full potential. In anticipation of the Helen Keller Communication Day the foundation recently put out a press release and this is what it said: The Blind Foundation is New Zealand's main provider of practical and emotional support for the thousands of Kiwis who are affected by sight loss enabling them to face the future with confidence. It provides practical support in living independently help with technology ways to continue reading and advice on staying in or looking for work". The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act 2002 signalled a major turning point in the organisation's history. The Act provided the foundation with an option to register as an incorporated society and it was structured in such a way as to become spent if the foundation chose to exercise that option. The foundation registered as an incorporated society on 10 January 2012 and accordingly that Act is now spent. When the foundation approached me later last year seeking advice on repealing the 2002 Act I was really pleased to be able to assist it because we know it wants to journey towards more independence. The foundation seeks to repeal the Act for two main reasons. The first is that it is concerned that keeping the Act on the statute book causes confusion and suggests that the foundation is still a statutory body which of course it is not. Secondly the repeal of the Act will emphasise the foundation's status as an entity that is completely independent from Parliament. I know that the Blind Foundation was very grateful for the supportive approach the members of the Health Committee took as they worked their way through this bill. It also appreciated the opportunity to be able to inform the committee about the work that it has been doing for 126 years. I would like to thank Simon O'Connor who was the chair of that select committee; the Health Committee; and all the members of that committee for the service that they did and for working so well together. The support offered through the foundation ensures that all low-vision or blind New Zealanders are empowered to live independent lives and I am sure all members in the House will join me in thanking the foundation for delivering such an invaluable service for 126 years. I commend this bill to the House."