Event Calendar

Dates for the Diary

  • 1 August, call for applications to sit the Trans-Tasman Certificate of Proficiency in Unified English Braille.
  • 29 August, applications close to sit the Trans-Tasman Certificate of Proficiency in UEB.
  • 17 September, BANZAT Meeting 77.
  • 17 September, BANZAT Meeting 78 AGM.
  • 31 October, advise candidates of their results in the Trans-Tasman Certificate of Proficiency in UEB.
  • 26 November, BANZAT Meeting 79.
  • 4 January 2026, World Braille Day, 217 years since 4 January 1809, birthday of Louis Braille.
  • 23-26 May, Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities, Adelaide.
  • 22-26 June, Mid-term Executive Committee meeting, International Council on English Braille, Boston USA.

Historic Dates

  • 1989, The Braille Authority of New Zealand was established.
  • 1994, The Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind became an associate member of the Braille Authority of North America. In 2016 BANZAT did not seek ongoing associate membership for financial reasons.
  • 29 November 2005, New Zealand adopted Unified English Braille by unanimous resolution of the Braille Authority of New Zealand.
  • 10 August 2010, Meeting 1 of the Braille Authority of New Zealand Aotearoa Trust (BANZAT).
  • 13 September 2011, Meeting 7, BANZAT first Annual General Meeting.
  • 18 September 2012, Meeting 12, BANZAT second Annual General Meeting.
  • 17 September 2013, Meeting 17, BANZAT third Annual General Meeting and launch of the Hall of Honour.
  • 9 September 2014, Meeting 22, BANZAT Fourth Annual General Meeting.
  • 30 June 2015, the first round of applications closed for accreditation as an individual braille producer working in New Zealand.
  • 8 September 2015, Meeting 27, BANZAT Fifth Annual General Meeting, and launch of Policy 7 Accreditation of Braille Producers Working in New Zealand.
  • 6 September 2016, Meeting 32, BANZAT Sixth Annual General Meeting, with launch of pamphlet “Braille Producer Accreditation Information”.
  • 5 September 2017, Meeting 37, BANZAT Seventh Annual General Meeting.
  • 11 September 2018, Meeting 42, BANZAT Eighth Annual General Meeting.
  • 10 September 2019, Meeting 47, BANZAT Ninth Annual General Meeting.
  • 15 September 2020, Meeting 52, BANZAT Tenth Annual General Meeting, held via Zoom because of COVID-19 restrictions.
  • 17 November 2020, BANZAT Tenth anniversary celebration held at BLENNZ, Homai Campus, Manurewa.
  • 14 September 2021, Meeting 57, BANZAT 11th Annual General Meeting, held via Zoom because of COVID-19 restrictions.
  • 13 September 2022, Meeting 62, BANZAT 12th Annual General Meeting, held at BLENNZ and via Zoom.
  • 19 September 2023, Meeting 68, BANZAT 13th Annual General Meeting, held at BLENNZ and via Zoom.
  • 25 September 2024, Meeting 73, BANZAT 14th Annual General Meeting, held at BLENNZ and via Zoom.

Last updated 14 July 2025