After more than 35 years, the biennial New Zealand optical industry-run conference Visionz is unlikely to happen in 2018 or for the foreseeable future after the Association of Dispensing Opticians of New Zealand (ADONZ) have opted to go it alone for their 2018 conference.

Up to and including the 2012 event, Visionz used to combine its biennial exhibition with the annual meetings and conferences of both ADONZ and the New Zealand Association of Optometrists (NZAO). NZAO opted to go it alone for both the 2014 and the 2016 events, despite “several months of discussions,” according to New Zealand Optical Wholesalers Association president, Gary Edgar. This left ADONZ as Visionz’ sole partner, leading to a significant drop in attendance, not helped by the NZAO conference being held on the same weekend as the Visionz/ADONZ conferences in 2016.

ADONZ surveyed its members following the 2016 event and wrote to Edgar in June saying its executive committee had decided to hold its conference independently of the NZOWA trade fair in 2018, and would be holding it on 27-29 October, 2018, to ensure it didn’t clash again with NZAO’s 2018 event on 13-15 October in Paihia.

Donald Crichton, ADONZ vice-president, told NZ Optics the main purpose of the ADONZ conference is to provide CPD for its members and hold its AGM. Like NZAO, ADONZ is restricted to a tight timeframe for holding its AGM making it difficult to coordinate what it needs to provide for members with the wants and wishes of other organisations.

It’s also unlikely Visionz will happen again, as it once did, said Crichton. “In other markets the wholesalers have trade shows at neutral times of the year and anyone who wishes to attend is able. The issue with a trade show at the same time as a conference is the lack on contact the delegates have with the wholesalers due to their commitment to attend lectures, leaving precious little time to meet with frame, lens and equipment suppliers.”

NZAO president Callum Milburn concurred with ADONZ, saying it is difficult to simultaneously meet the needs of NZAO, NZOWA and ADONZ. “(It’s) not that the NZAO does not wish to support the industry, suppliers or the companies which make up the NZOWA. Indeed, our members who have buying privileges for their practices give strong support to our local New Zealand suppliers. For many there exist relationships spanning decades and even generations! That said, there is a need for understanding that times change and… as health professionals our members, and by extension our association, must maintain a strong focus on professional matters including professional competence, maintaining evidence-based healthcare standards and keeping informed of new treatment modalities and emerging technologies in order to future-proof the profession and their individual careers.”

The core business of the NZAO is to oversee the professional development of optometry in New Zealand and to explore every opportunity to ensure optometrists are permitted and encouraged to practice to the fullest extent of their scope, he said. “The NZAO also has a mandate to foster collegiality amongst membership, who nowadays practice in such a diversity of settings, be that commercial, hospital or educational.”

That said, Milburn said the NZAO would welcome the establishment of a comprehensive New Zealand trade fair and associated education forum at a date which didn’t conflict with the NZAO’s national conference and would be attractive for all optometrists and DOs to come together, with plenty of time to view and experience the products on offer.

Edgar said he’s disappointed, but NZOWA understands the concerns of NZAO and ADONZ. Though 2018 won’t be happening at this stage, NZOWA will continue to explore other options for the future with its members and the NZAO and ADONZ, he said. “It’s just one of those things. It is a shame. The industry is changing and we have to accept that, but the door is open for discussion as it has been all along.”