Welcome to Arthritis New Zealand

Improving the life of every person in New Zealand affected by arthritis

Arthritis New Zealand facilitates the provision of quality services and programmes, supporting those affected by arthritis through public awareness, information and advice, direct support, promoting the issues affecting people with arthritis and promoting research. From our offices located in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, we provide services throughout the country.

Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability in New Zealand

The World Health Organisation (WHO) global burden of disease study released in 2012 showed musculoskeletal conditions, including arthritis, are leading causes of burden of disease internationally. While not the leading cause of death the increasing rates of osteoarthritis and lower back pain and the lower age of diagnosis for these conditions means that for individuals, the community and the government these conditions have a huge impact on the life and health of people affected..

There is no cure for arthritis, but it can usually be managed, and most people with arthritis can continue to lead productive and fulfilling lives. For the person who has been diagnosed with arthritis and for the family members who support them Arthritis New Zealand provides information, advice, support and links to others in a similar situation.

Hear from people who understand what you’re going through

Kylie Frost: My road to living again with arthritis

by admin | July 20, 2017 | Kylie Frost, Your community your voice | 0 Comments

Two years ago I left my rheumatologist’s office with nothing more than advice. No further treatment options were available. There was no magic pill to make my pain disappear. Over 30 years of searching for an answer and I finally had a diagnosis. I had a name –...

Sarah S: The ‘you’re too young to have arthritis’ guide to exercise

by admin | July 20, 2017 | Sarah S, Your community your voice | 0 Comments

If you’ve had arthritis a while, the chances are that someone (or perhaps many people) have reminded you of the importance of exercise for managing arthritis. The medical professionals are right about that – exercise is a helpful tool for pain management. In fact,...

Gezellig: Tips for getting through flare-ups

by admin | July 7, 2017 | Gezellig, Your community your voice | 0 Comments

I’ve been struggling all week to come up with a topic for this blog post. I haven’t felt particularly inspired or creative and have been struggling just to manage day-to-day life. I’ve put it down to the fact that my arthritis has been flaring a bit this week, nothing...

Erin: Arthritis arrives

by admin | July 7, 2017 | Erin, Your community your voice | 0 Comments

I was walking to my car when I dropped my keys. I stood staring at them. I was alone on the large expanse of grass at university. No one was around to help. Now what? Arthritis arrives I was only seven years old when I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis...

Olivia: Life-changing words

by admin | July 7, 2017 | Olivia, Your community your voice | 0 Comments

“That is all I want in life: for this pain to seem purposeful.” - Elizabeth Wurtzel "Your daughter has systemic lupus erythematosus." It was six simple words, strung together in a sentence that would dramatically change a young family’s life, as they nervously sat in...

Hotriggeredkiwi: Day’s dawning

by admin | July 7, 2017 | HotriggeredKiwi, Your community your voice | 0 Comments

Another long week at work with 50-plus hours on the clock... again, the extrication of self out of an extremely warm, soft and cosy bed on this cold autumnal morning is a toughie. I have to wake up anyway, even if only to silence the alarm that is yet to go off at...

#24HrTim: Life on two wheels

by admin | July 7, 2017 | Tim, Your community your voice | 0 Comments

Big day yesterday started my mental conditioning. In endurance sports, you can train the physical side with hours and k's in the saddle, but that can never prepare you for the many things you will mentally have to deal with. The hardest part to train and maintain is...

Tonya: A day in my shoes

by admin | July 7, 2017 | Tonya, Your community your voice | 0 Comments

Wednesday, 7 a.m. 1 spoon. Miss 10 stumbles into the room and snuggles in for our morning cuddle, followed by Miss 8. It’s our favourite way to start the day, and it reminds these two they’re loved, despite my limitations. 7.15 a.m. 5 spoons. I’ve had a quick...

Kate: Mind full or mindful?

by admin | July 7, 2017 | Kate, Your community your voice | 0 Comments

Is your mind full or are you being mindful? There is a big difference and since figuring out this difference, my mind and body have been so much more in sync. I wake up every morning, count 10 deep breaths then slowly assess my body from my head to my toes. I ask...

Val: Life my way

by admin | July 7, 2017 | Valma, Your community your voice | 0 Comments

Self-help She was young, she was pretty and she was smiling. There I sit – not so young, not so pretty and definitely not smiling. All the same, I’m going to hang onto her every word, because you see, I found this lady inside my computer trapped in a self-help video....

Sera: Arthritis (noun): A disease causing painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints.

by admin | July 7, 2017 | Sera, Your community your voice | 0 Comments

arthritis ɑːˈθrʌɪtɪs/ noun A disease causing painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints. That word goes round and round and round in my head like an old record. Arthritis – it's such a funny word to say out loud – arf-right-izzz. I think the more you say it the...

Jane Messer: An Arthritis Educator’s personal experience of living with arthritis

by admin | July 7, 2017 | Jane Messer, Your community your voice | 0 Comments

Working alone at night as a young junior nurse on an orthopaedic ward was the start of it all. We nurses often had to turn heavy patients in plaster casts on our own and this did nothing to support our joint health. A back injury I sustained (and neglected) as part of...

Handhub: Give yourself a hand

by admin | July 5, 2017 | Hand Hub, Your community your voice | 0 Comments

Hand therapists treat people with hand, thumb and wrist arthritis on a daily basis and our clinic is no different. I often bring to mind a comment I heard in 2010 at the Christchurch opening of the Bone and Joint Decade. A local rheumatologist described arthritis...

Daniel Umaga: Gout can be treated and managed

by admin | July 4, 2017 | Daniel Umaga, Your community your voice | 0 Comments

I didn’t really know much about gout but after reading up on it and speaking with some of our Arthritis Educators, it was great to learn that gout can be treated and that there are many ways to manage the pain. I have family members who suffer from gout and it breaks...

Athena Dennis: Blogging 101: Beginner’s checklist

by admin | June 14, 2017 | Blogging and social media marketing tips 101, Your community your voice | 0 Comments

Here is a checklist of things to consider adding to your posts to make them more relevant, lively and interesting to the reader. Although this checklist isn't prescriptive, it is advice. We encourage you to let your creative juices flow and be the free-wheeling...

Athena Dennis: Writing for Arthritis New Zealand: Blogger guidelines

by admin | June 14, 2017 | Blogging and social media marketing tips 101, Your community your voice | 0 Comments

Kia ora! So you would like to join our blogging community at Arthritis New Zealand? We’re so happy to have you on-board. Your thoughts, opinions and experience of either having arthritis or helping those with arthritis will be immeasurably helpful to other people. He...

Daniel Umaga: Raising awareness of gout in Pacific communities

by admin | June 13, 2017 | Arthritis NZ Volunteers, Daniel Umaga, Information and support, Staff, Your community your voice | 0 Comments

Poet/Rapper/Writer/Raconteur “Tourettes” waxes lyrical about Ankylosing Spondylitis this month at Auckland theatre show

Your Heart Looks Like A Vagina, is a one man show by Dominic "Tourettes" Hoey. The show combines poetry, comedy and theatre, to tell Dominic's real life journey from developing Ankylosing Spondylitis (a rare form of arthritis), being bedridden, to eventually...

Peer Support – July

Arthritis NZ Christchurch: Monthly Peer Support Network Garden Hotel & Restaurant, Christchurch Fri 18 Aug 2017, 10:30am–12:00pm Arthritis NZ Invercargill Peer Support Group Southland Museum and Art Gallery, Invercargill Tue 9 May at 1:00pm – Tue 12 Dec at...

Exercise Classes – July

Exercise Classes - July

New health service helps people with osteoarthritis

A new online programme available in your area is helping people manage their osteoarthritis and share with others who have the condition.

The programme, called MOA (Managing OsteoArthritis), provides access to an online community and a personal health coach. People can also track their mood or symptoms, keep a food and exercise diary, and access other information and resources via the web and mobile app.

“More please” – New arthritis specialist is welcome, but not enough

Palmerston North Hospital has employed a new rheumatologist, bringing much-needed relief to patients suffering from chronic pain. MidCentral District Health Board confirmed a female rheumatologist would be starting in late July.

Arthritis won’t slow down trail-blazing marathon runner Nicola Wearne

Fresh from a marathon at the top of the world, extreme athlete Nicola Wearne is already dreaming about her next adventure. The Tauranga mother of two, who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age 38, has just completed the Everest Marathon, a “brutal” run from...

Group Clinics/Seminars – July

Understanding and Managing Arthritis Pain Community House, 60 Ridgway St, Whanganui, Manawatu / Whanganui Wednesday 5 July 2017 1:30pm – 3:00pm Arthritis and Emergency Preparedness St Andrew's Church, Gisborne Wed 19 Jul at 10:30am Caring for...

Discussion meetings: Members and supporters review

A taskforce of member representatives has been formed to review the role and function of our Regional Liaison Groups, as agreed by the 2016 AGM. The taskforce will consider the ongoing decline in membership numbers; the small number of people interested in joining...

Health supplements should be safe and effective

Arthritis New Zealand says health supplements like Arborvitae, which has been blocked from entering New Zealand, must be safe for the country as well as effective for the individual. Arborvitae is made in Australia and marketed as an arthritis pain reliever and health...

Exercise classes – June

Arthritis? Try water-based exercise Physical Medicine Building, Gate 3, Burwood Hospital Mairehau Road, Christchurch. Sign up for a 10 week course. Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning 20 June, 4.30-5.30pm. Christchurch Hydrotherapy Classes Burwood Hospital, Christchurch...

Help us influence government this election year

As it’s an election year, Arthritis New Zealand are interested in gaining community feedback about the issues that you think are important.

Please let us know what issues you would like to see brought to the attention of politicians in 2017 by completing this online survey.

Your feedback is vital to ensuring that we establish arthritis as an important health priority in the future. We have suggested some issues that may be relevant to you in the survey.

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