Community programmes

At Arthritis NZ, arthritis community education is central to how we improve health outcomes across Aotearoa New Zealand. Whether it’s through public events, targeted outreach, or kaupapa Māori-led partnerships, we are committed to increasing understanding of arthritis and its management, particularly among groups most affected, such as Māori, Pacific peoples, and all older adults.

Our team works with marae, churches, workplaces, retirement villages, local councils, and other community organisations to bring accessible, evidence-based education to where it’s needed most. The goal is always the same: reducing the impact of arthritis, enhancing equity, and supporting whānau ora (family wellbeing).

1. Culturally tailored gout education

Gout remains one of the most misunderstood and stigmatised forms of arthritis, despite being highly treatable. Our community outreach teams deliver targeted education on the causes, treatment, and prevention of gout, particularly within Māori and Pacific communities.

We regularly provide:

• Community presentations and workshops on gout and nutrition
• Participation in health expos like Te Rā o te Raukura and Pasifika Festival, where we offer uric acid testing
• Tailored sessions for health professionals, iwi providers, and marae-based clinics
• Ongoing support for local kaupapa such as the West Coast PHO’s gout awareness programme and the Southland community health networks

2. Health checks and holistic outreach

In collaboration with other health organisations, we join mobile clinics and community outreach days to offer joint assessments, uric acid testing, and arthritis education. These kaupapa-driven events strengthen connections with kaumātua and Pacific elders, while encouraging earlier engagement with health services.

This collective model reflects our value of Whānau Oranga — supporting self-determined wellbeing across the wider whānau and community.

3. Residential and retirement village presentations

We’re increasingly working with aged care providers like Summerset to offer arthritis-specific presentations for older adults. These sessions help residents better understand their joint health, explore pain and fatigue management strategies, and stay physically active in ways that work for their bodies.

Our recent visit to Summerset on the Landing is one example, a highly interactive session that ended with everyone on their feet and moving.

4. Regional outreach with Arthritis Assist

In more remote or rural regions, our Arthritis Assist service delivers one-on-one and small group education to those who may struggle to access information or healthcare. These visits often include upskilling for local health workers, distributing translated resources, and connecting people with our wider support network.

In Southland, our team engaged with dozens of individuals and providers, bridging access and building trust through a whānau-centred approach.

Over 750,000 New Zealanders live with arthritis. For many, the condition is invisible, but its impact is far-reaching, affecting employment, mobility, mental health, and family life.

By delivering community-based education, we:

• Reduce stigma and misinformation
• Encourage earlier diagnosis and treatment
• Empower individuals and whānau to manage their condition
• Equip communities to support one another
• Work toward more equitable outcomes across Aotearoa New Zealand

Arthritis community education is not a one-off presentation, it’s an ongoing, evolving kaupapa grounded in Tautoko (support), Pono (honesty), and Tika (doing what’s right).

We welcome opportunities to collaborate with organisations, funders, workplaces, marae, and health providers. Together, we can improve outcomes for those affected by arthritis, particularly in historically underserved communities.

Let’s bring arthritis education into the spaces where people live, learn, and work, and build a future where every New Zealander can live well with arthritis.