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FIZZ Symposium 2026 - "Should sugary drinks be expelled from schools"

Our team had a great experience at the FIZZ Symposium held yesterday, 31 September 2026.  There were participants from a range of backgrounds, all gathered to engage in the important debate around how to mitigate the known harm of excess sugar for young people, something not helped by the current approach of having high sugar drinks available in the school environment.   We need these sorts of advocacy efforts to inform and drive change, and a great lineup had been organised by Dr...

World Diabetes Day is coming along on 14 November 2026

It's time to start thinking about what we are doing for World Diabetes Day WDD on 14 November.   This year is all about promoting early diagnosis and risk reduction, messages we can all get behind.  The earlier diagnosis happens, the sooner treatment can start and the risk of complications is reduced.   There's more information about WDD here.    Risk factors according to WDD are (directly from website here):"Symptoms for type 2 diabetes can be mild o...

Presentation at the IDF-WPR ADC Conference 2026

What amazing mahi from Ruby McGill, advocate for type 1 Diabetes and member of our Board of Trustees (BOT), who shared her incredible knowledge and experience on navigating diabetes at a major international conference last week.   The presentation took the perspective from being "wahine māori - mātauranga, hauora and hapori (knowledge, health and community)" and according to reports was "standing room only" at the IDF-WPR 2026 & ADC in Melbourne, August 2026.  Congratulation...

Everywill, everyone needs a will

September is nearly here and this month has commonly been viewed as 'make-a-will' month.   Why is it important, three great reasons here:  It’s an essential legal document that all adults should have, ensuring distribution of property and protection of those who are important to you in the event you pass away. Peace of mind.  You may not think you own a lot, but you likely have more than you realize, things like your treasures, books, clothes, home, furnishings, v...

Publication - Albuminuria Trajectories following intensive Lifestyle with or without bariatric...

Another paper published from Kanchana Perera et al from the Bariatric youth study providing intensive lifestyle support to a group of youth with or at risk of type 2 diabetes.    See original here Abstract directly from the paper "Aim Albuminuria reflects early renal injury and may precede type 2 diabetes, particularly among Māori and Pacific adolescents in New Zealand who experience a high burden of severe obesity. Evidence for renal benefits of bariatric surgery in adolescents ...

Sugary Drinks in Schools - FIZZ Symposium 2026

This is a must attend event for anyone with an interest in the food environment in schools. We've regularly highlighted FIZZ (Fighting Sugar in Soft-drinks) activities, most recently the BZBGP group Policy Briefing to parliament,  they are working away on a topic that has strong opinions around it, access in schools to drinks with sugar in them.    We know the health impacts of over consumption of sugar in young people, from development of unhealthy habits that can last a lifetime...

Waitematā Local Board supporting community gardening

Shout out to Waitematā Local Board who in a recent article titled "five ways your voices have helped us deliver for Waitematā" talk about community gardens alongside other important community projects and actions.   This Local Board has been one of a number across Tāmaki Makaurau who recognise the importance of food gardening for the city.   In this article they rightly point our the "high cost of living and rising costs of fresh and nutritious groceries, giving peopl...

Diabetes Christchurch 70 years!

Sometimes something really amazing comes along that really gives pause for thought.    In this case, the latest quarterly newsletter - here - from Diabetes Christchurch has come across our desk, packed with so much incredible history that it just has to be shared and enjoyed.  SEVENTY years in the community, and so much has been achieved, so many people worked with, so much support and guidance given and so many hard efforts made to make things better for peopl...

Sugary Drink action in Schools - Policy Briefing from NZBGP

Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa is proud to get behind this important initiative from the NZ Beverage Guidance Panel. We're particularly pleased to see a pragmatic approach being taken, with a range of healthier options being suggested and a definition of what low sugar might look like, ie, any drink with ≥5grams of sugar per 100ml.  Plus of course, not to forget the needs of students with type 1 diabetes who need to have appropriate drinks available to treat hypoglycaemia.   ...

Do you want to support our efforts to prevent diabetes and its complications?

Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa (Charities Commission number CC11085) has been working in the community for over 30 years to reduce the incidence of diabetes, and diabetes complications, especially for those most at risk.   We run a range of programmes, carry out research, design resources, and advocate for improvements.  There is more information on what we do on our website here.To do the work we do, requires ongoing support from our community.   Examples of this inc...

In the News: Nine to Noon interview with Dr Baker, "No logic"

"No logic in it" is one of the comments from our Board Chair, Dr John Baker, who was interviewed on nine to noon - interview here.   He's referring to changes to prescribing that has got the diabetes community very concerned, more here https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/health/595851/pharmac-proposes-removing-priority-access-of-type-2-diabetes-meds-for-maori-pacific.     ...

In the News: John Baker on the retrograde changes to prescribing of key type 2 diabetes medications

A hard hitting article by Jody Hopikinson of Pharmacy Today talks about the proposed changes to the prescribing criteria for key medications for type 2 diabetes (empagliflozin (Jardiance), empagliflozin with metformin (Jardiamet), dulaglutide (Trulicity) and liraglutide (Victoza)).   In the article she interviews Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa Board Chair, Dr John Baker and others who are extremely disappointed in what Dr Baker describes as "a great leap backwards" from Ph...

In the News: Graham King on the major step back for diabetes medication access

Strong advocacy from our Board member, Graham King.   Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa is about improving the care for people with diabetes and Graham has a personal story which gives added power to his voice. In his interview for this article for RNZ by Māori Issues reporter Pokere Paewai, Graham talks about why it is such a significant step backwards with proposed removal of criteria that allow reduced barriers access for those most at risk of complications.      Other vo...

Collaborative Workplaces Pilot study poster NZSSD

For World Diabetes Day 2025, four community based organisations (Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa, MHT Diabetes Trust, Diabetes Christchurch and Diabetes Wellington) collaborated with a range of initiatives, including a workplace toolkit with basic information helpful to workplaces, and an online survey supporting the theme “know more and do more for diabetes at work”.   Marie Torr and Karen Pickering were fortunate enough to attend the NZSSD conference in Napier on beha...

Thank you to Elite Business Systems

Being a small community organisation has a lot of benefits, not least the ability to work right in the heart of the community and be nimble and responsive to do things that other, bigger entities may struggle with.   But there are also a few downsides, like the money we bring in goes as much as possible into delivering actual services that make a difference, which means keeping costs way down for the 'roof over our heads' stuff.    Sometimes you run across a business who goes...

Congratulations Professor Rinki Murphy on your Bob Smith lecture

The NZSSD (New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes) Bob Smith lecture is a real achievement, being awarded to someone at the annual conference who has done extraordinary things in diabetes in Aotearoa.   This year, as it was the 50th anniversary meeting, Bob Smith himself was present, along with some other familiar faces.   There have been some very well known names who gave the Bob Smith lecture over the years, and this year is no exception.    Professor Rink...

NZSSD Conference 2026 - Napier

Wow, another fantastic conference, this year held in Napier. We had two posters and three presentations either by our team or relating to our mahi which was a great showing for our small organisation.   Most important though was the opportunity to work with and network with other people, old friends and new friends as well as catching up on the latest news nationally and from other providers and health services.   In terms of our mahi, first up, congratulations to Kanchana Pe...

Introducing Hollie, making a difference in our schools

Welcome to Hollie, the newest member of our Lifestyle Team.  Hollie has extensive experience and skills in nutrition, diabetes, and school based health promotion. She joins Diana, Trish and Marie in the Otara office where her area of specialty is the GetWize2Health and healthy schools mahi.    Check out what the schools programme offers here.  If you want to contact Hollie you can email her on schools@diabetesfoundationaotearoa  ...

Strategic planning day 2026

The annual strategy planning session for the Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa Board of Trustees (BOT) comes around quicker every year it seems.   This year we again say thank you to Previously Unavailable for making us welcome in their lovely venue, with the bonus of great coffee, all of which was ideal for the discussions that went on among our Trustees as they worked on how our organisation keeps going forwards. This time we had facilitation from Ed Dever, who kept the ent...

Gardens4Health, a getting-ready-for-winter garden party

Well done and thanks to everyone who was part of a fun gardening morning at Sarah Selwyn Retirement home. Much enjoyment had by all, and a great contribution to the prospect of healthy, homegrown food onsite later in the year.   The ladies and one gent wore their fancy hats for a garden party, Gardens4Health style while they were served tea and coffee outdoors.In the garden, new soil and sheep pellets were added to provide the best possible growing conditions and Kylie demonstrated pla...

Introducing Kylie, G4H facilitator West and Central

Kylie Maltman is a one of our fabulous Gardens4Health Facilitators, mainly working in the Auckland West and Central areas.Kylie is a trained chef with a genuine passion for community health and nutrition, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience as a gardener to her work. Kylie also has added bonus of being in the extremely complementary role of being an Education Facilitator with amazing Garden to Table programme in West and Central Auckland, where she supports scho...

Introducing Quinn, G4H Facilitator

Kia ora!   Ko Quinn tōku ingoa and I am ecstatic to be a Garden4Health facilitator along with the rest of our amazing tīma at the Diabetes Foundation. I whakapapa to Calgary Canada but haven’t called it home in a long time. I have been a commercial gardener and landscaper in New Zealand for nearly 8 years now. I started my own company 3 years ago and love watching everyone's garden spaces flourish. I am passionate about sustainable living and teaching people that we are all capable...

Welcome to our new BOT members, Jerry and Pat

We are delighted to report we have two new Board Members joining the amazing team who provide the governance for Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa!     Jerry Koh is a Chartered Accountant who brings his background in stewardship and management, governance as well as risk oversight within the financial services sectors.   Jerry is keen to contribute his skills and life experience to our organisation.    The other new member, is Pat Spellman who returns to t...

In the news: Dr Baker interviewed about Pharmac funding for weight loss medication

Pharmac is considering funding for Wegovy, one of the weight loss medications currently in wide use around the world.    Dr John Baker, chair of the Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa Board of Trustees (BOT), was interviewed this morning - go here to see the interview.   ...

About Just Cook Tika Tunu and Just Cook Healthy Aging in 2026

Just Cook Tika Tunu and Just Cook Healthy Ageing are specially designed, practical, and hands-on programmes designed with a balance of cooking and information to empower any age group from youth right through to older adults to confidently plan and prepare healthy meals for themselves and their whanau. These popular programmes have been being delivered at no cost to participants by trained facilitators for over 12 years now, and usually consist of approximately half a day a week over a period of...