Equity and Governance: 75 Years of Blindness Advocacy in New Zealand, 19452020

(Paperback)

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Equity and Governance picks up from where Greg Newbolds previous book, Quest for Equity, left off, and covers the Association of Blind Citizens history since 1995. After briefly reviewing the Associations first 50 years (19451995), the book covers the groups convoluted and eventful history over the subsequent 25 years. The book focuses on what is called the governance revolution, which resulted in consumer-controlled governance of the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blinds board of trustees in 2002. Gaining control over board composition, however, did not, contrary to the expectations of many, end the conflicts between the Association and the Foundation. In fact, in the 18 years since the passage of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act 2002, although relations have for the most part been smooth, tensions at times have been as trying as they were before the passage of the Act. The last 25 years has seen as much activity and passion from within the Association of Blind Citizens as at any time in its history and significant developments have occurred. This book chronicles the intricate matrix of activities and campaigns engaged in by the Association since its 50th Jubilee in 1995.

Author Bio

Greg Newbold is Professor Emeritus in sociology at the University of Canterbury. During his 32-year career at the university he published over 100 articles and ten books, mainly in the field of criminology. However after completing his PhD in 1986 Greg was contracted by the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind to research the costs of blindness, producing a monograph that formed the centrepiece of the Foundations submissions to the Royal Commission on Social Policy 1988. Subsequently he was asked to write the New Zealand Association of the Blind and Partially Blinds history for its 50th Jubilee in 1995. This was published under the title ofQuest for Equityin October that year. The current book has been written to commemorate the Associations 75th anniversary. Written during Greg Newbolds final year at Canterbury University,Equity and Governanceis his 10th book. Greg retired in July 2020 and now lives in the Western Bay of Plenty.