Louise Blockley 
Motor Neurone Disease NZ (MND NZ) is delighted to announce the publication of the first academic paper using data gathered in the 2025 MND Insight Research study from nearly 300 respondents in our MND community. Published in the New Zealand Medical Journal (NZMJ) today, Riluzole use and reasons for non-use in people with Amyotrophic Lateral … Read more
Commonwealth Games silver medalist Blair Cox has sage advice for competitors in the 2026 Master’s Games. “There will always be someone fitter and stronger, but you’re on the start line and still doing it. Be grateful because you are lucky and some aren’t quite as lucky as you,” says Blair. When Blair finished an … Read more
Robyn Pryor didn’t set out to write a book. In 2022, when motor neurone disease (MND) forced her to resign from teaching English at 58, she enrolled in a distance learning paper at Massey University to “occupy her brain”. Her study ignited a passion for creative non-fiction which led Robyn to graduate with a Master … Read more
Motor Neurone Disease NZ is calling for the Government to urgently introduce and fund liquid riluzole for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of motor neurone disease (MND) in New Zealand. MND is a fatal, rapidly progressing neurodegenerative disease that affects the brain and spinal cord with no cure. In … Read more
Helen Casey-MacDuff has a lifelong-artist’s view of the world and as an art educator she encourages others to find their own creative perspective on life. From an early childhood love of art and observing nature on the family farm in Kerepēhi, to painting while sitting beside her terminally ill husband – art is the creative … Read more
Photo: Jackie Keenan (R) rides with her dad, Craig, and sister Hannah When Jackie Keenan’s dad was diagnosed with MND in 2025 she struggled with the inability to apply her natural problem-solving skills to an incurable disease. She soon found an impactful way to ‘do something’. Her story goes way beyond the incredible challenge of … Read more
Relax with a craft beer at a quiz night in the Sprig and Fern Thorndon during November and you’ll be raising funds to make time count for people living with motor neurone disease (MND). Tuesday nights are pub quiz nights at the Sprig and Fern Thorndon. The good folk there have been running quizzes for … Read more
Due to the overwhelming response to our September 2025 webinar, Dr Natalie Gauld and Mark Leggett will present a second webinar for those who were unable to join us in September. We have changed the webinar delivery platform from Teams to Zoom to enable easier access to all. If you register and can’t attend the … Read more