Southern Cross, BLVNZ partner

Southern Cross, BLVNZ partner | Insurance Business New Zealand

Insurance News

Southern Cross, BLVNZ partner

The partnership provides safety and confidence for the blind

Insurance News

By
Halee Andrea Alcaraz

Southern Cross Pet Insurance (SCPI) has entered into an agreement with Blind Low Vision NZ (BLVNZ) to help protect and fund guide dogs supporting their clients to live more independently.

Starting this month, SCPI is insuring all new puppies in the Blind Low Vision NZ Guide Dog network to relieve some of the financial pressures faced by the organization, CEO Anthony McPhail said.

In an announcement of the new partnership, McPhail said he himself has low vision, noting that he understands the challenges faced by other people with low vision daily, especially those who do not have access to a Blind Low Vision NZ guide dog.

“It’s about offering a sense of safety, confidence in moving around and being able to engage more fully in what others consider a ‘normal’ healthy life,” McPhail said.

“My personal circumstances are not what drove us to enter this partnership with BLVNZ, rather we believe it makes complete sense for us to help enable more New Zealanders access support they need,” he added.

The initiative was announced during Pawgust, one of the key fundraising months of BLNZ.

In a statement, BLNZ CEO Andrea Midgen said keeping dogs healthy and in their best condition is “very important” as they are trained to be matched to the company’s clients.

Guide dogs from BLVNZ empower people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision by providing them with freedom and independence to get around safely and confidently.

Here are some of the benefits of having BLNZ guide dogs:

Clients get a guide dog and equipment for free
One-to-one training with a professional guide dog mobility instructor
Customized instructional programme for individual needs
Follow-up and support for the guide dog team’s life
Access to financial support in case of veterinary emergencies
Talks between BLVNZ and clients for a successor when a guide dog is ready to retire

McPhail does not have a guide dog himself, but he said he was delighted that the partnership with BLVNZ will improve other people’s lives.

He said that although his life with low vision is not without challenges, the condition has not prevented him from doing most of the things he wants to do.

“It’s great to be part of an initiative which will afford someone else the opportunity to live that way too,” McPhail said.