Arthritis NZ delivers arthritis community education across New Zealand, visiting workplaces, marae, health providers, and community groups to share practical tools, break down stigma, and support people living with arthritis. Whether you or your whānau are living with osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, or another form of joint pain, our sessions are designed to help you feel informed, supported, and empowered.
You might find us at hauora events, expos, language weeks, or local wellbeing days, answering questions, sharing stories, and connecting people with support and resources. Our goal is to make sure no one feels alone in their arthritis journey.
What we can offer
We tailor each session to suit your needs and community. Some of the most requested topics include:
- Understanding arthritis, including gout and osteoarthritis
- Self-management for pain, movement, fatigue and flare-ups
- Gout education and prevention, delivered in culturally respectful ways
- How to support your friends, whānau or colleagues
- Joint care, movement, and workplace tips
Sessions can be short kōrero or interactive workshops, delivered in English, te reo Māori, or Pacific languages with co-presenters where possible.
Māori and Pasifika communities
Ko te whānau te mātāmua – Our work begins with the people
We know that Māori and Pasifika whānau experience arthritis differently. Pain may begin younger, feel more intense, and is often made worse by barriers to diagnosis, care, and support. Our kaupapa is grounded in whanaungatanga as the guiding principle with our four foundations being tautoko, tika, pono, and active belief in whānau oranga.
We’ve sat with kaumātua, tino mātua, church elders, and youth groups to listen, laugh with, and learn together. We’ve heard from people who thought gout was just “something you live with,” and from many who never realised their joint pain was arthritis. We’re here to change that.
- “You explained gout better than my GP ever did.”
- “Now I understand uric acid – those sharp needle crystals finally make sense.”
- “Your presentations uplifted my mana.”
Where we've been
We’ve delivered arthritis community education in:
- Marae-based hui and kaumātua groups
- Church halls and fono
- Language weeks and health expos
- Workplaces, local councils, and community centres
Our team has:
- Run gout workshops with Pacific men, improving health literacy
- Shared arthritis tips with kaumātua to help them stay mobile and connected
- Partnered with Māori and Pacific health providers for workforce training
- Stood alongside whānau at health expos, community days, and Pacific Language Weeks
Kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face) matters. We come to where you gather, creating a safe, familiar space for kōrero, talanoa and learning together.
Want us to visit your group?
If you're part of a Māori, Pasifika, or local community group and would like us to visit, we’d love to hear from you. We welcome invitations from:
- Kaumātua rōpū
- Church ministries or Pacific women's/men’s groups
- Community hui, fono, or health events
- Workplace wellbeing initiatives
Each session is adapted to your group’s needs, focusing on early signs of arthritis, how to reduce pain and stiffness, improve movement, and navigate the health system.
Together, we can help more people live well with arthritis.