At a special evening function at Government House on Friday 6 December the achievements of six blind/sight-impaired New Zealanders were recognised in the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind's (RNZFB) 2002 Blind Achievers' Awards.

Hosted by RNZFB patron and Governor-General, Dame Silvia Cartwright, the annual awards celebrated the successes of RNZFB members who excelled in their fields of endeavour and featured special guest speakers Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell.

The winners of the Blind Achievers' Awards 2002 came from all over New Zealand to accept an award in one of six categories. They were:

Winner of the Arts Award – Allison Anderson, Auckland Judge - Anneke Borren

Winner of the Academic Award – Mathew Keen, Palmerston North Judge - Ken McIntosh

Winner of the Business/ Employment Award – Sam Chaffey, Christchurch Judge - Mark Blumsky

Winner of the Literature Award – Valerie Richards, Ashburton Judge - Chris Orsman

Winner of the People’s Choice Award – Robert Codre, Tauranga Judge - David Green JP

Winner of the Sport Award – Tim Prendergast, Wellington Judge - Graham Williams

Special commendations were also granted to entrants in the following categories:

Sport: Colin Way, Tauranga

Business/Employment: Simon Cadman, Hamilton and Colin Maynard, Invercargill

People's Choice: George Phiskie, Waipu

Literature: June Stead, Hastings

Academic: Julie Irving, Tauranga

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