At Motor Neurone Disease New Zealand (MND NZ), we are proud to reflect on a year marked by progress, resilience, and unwavering commitment to our community. The release of our 2023/24 Annual Impact Report offers a snapshot of the strides we’ve made, the challenges we’ve faced, and our vision for a brighter future. A New … Read more
Start off your year on a positive note by volunteering on Saturday 22 February 2025 in Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch. Walk to Defeat MND brings communities together to walk in honour, memory, and in support of people affected by MND and raise awareness and much needed funds for research and support. Walks vary between 2-3km, … Read more
Canterbury’s Brent Thompson was diagnosed with MND in August 2013, which he describes as “a wrecking ball through our whole world!” He and his wife Jess had a nine-month old baby girl, and were in the final stages of designing their dream home in Rangiora. Brent also ran his own business, designing and manufacturing aircraft … Read more
The Centre for Brain Research recently celebrated its 15th birthday, marking an incredible milestone for neurological research. The Centre has over 400 researchers working across various fields of brain research, including a dedicated team of 10 researchers focusing specifically on motor neurone disease (MND). Led by Dr. Emma Scotter, the team have published over 20 … Read more
We are delighted to share the Summer issue of MND News with you, a twice-yearly publication by Motor Neurone Disease New Zealand designed to inform and inspire. In this edition, read about Pamela Glading, who has been living with MND for 17 years, who shares how she continues to live a happy life but albeit … Read more
New Zealander Jon Beardmore is on a mission to reconnect the world, and at the same time raise funds and awareness of motor neurone disease (MND) in memory of his dad, Eric, who died in 2022 after living with MND for eight years. While on a trip to the Galapagos Islands in 2023, Jon spotted … Read more
Receiving a motor neurone disease (MND) diagnosis can be a challenging and emotional experience for families. At just 13 years old, Mia Peters captured her experience with MND through a deeply moving piece of writing. Her mother shared, “With my daughter’s permission, I wanted to share a story Mia wrote last year for the … Read more
We’re excited to announce the 2025 Walk to Defeat MND will take place on Saturday, 22 February! Join us in Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch for a day of solidarity and support: Further details will be published soon. Community WalksCan’t make it to an official location? You can organise your own community walk! Whether you’re personally … Read more
This Thursday, 24th October, the Devonport community is hosting a special film screening at The Vic to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease NZ, honouring the memory of Ronnie Harris, who passed away from MND nearly a year ago. Organised by his friends, family, and local supporters, the night will feature one of Ronnie’s favourite … Read more
In August, Dr Natalie Gauld, MND NZ’s Research Advisor travelled to Melbourne to attend the Australia and New Zealand MND Research Symposium. Here, she shares her insights and highlights from the conference. The Australia and New Zealand MND Research Symposium was a two-day jam-packed series of presentations by clever people working hard to find the … Read more
October is International AAC Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), celebrate people who use AAC to communicate, and share the latest tools and technologies in AAC. What is AAC? AAC encompasses a wide range of communication tools and systems that people use to express their thoughts, needs, wants, and … Read more
Meet Karuna, an inspiration with a ready smile showing us that #nothingisordinary. Despite the rapid progression of motor neurone disease, Karuna’s grace, humour, and positivity shine through. Supported by his loving children, Dee and Kriv, Karuna continues to embrace life with the help of remarkable technology like his iPad, which allows him to stay connected … Read more