Group Meetings and Events We host a range of different events around our region, both online and in-person. Sometimes we invite expert speakers, other times we may have a topic for discussion or gather to do an activity together. Events Calendar You may wish to follow us on Facebook , or join us as a Member , to be notified of our upcoming events. Group Meetings Our group meetings may have an educational, support, or social focus for people affected by ME/CFS and long COVID. These group meetings are a good opportunity to share information and connect with other people who understand life with a chronic illness. Non-members are welcome to attend. Meetings and social catchups are currently held in Christchurch, Rangiora, Timaru, Westport, Greymouth, Hokitika, and also, online. See the calendar above and the location details below for more information. Christchurch In-Person These are held on the last Wednesday of each month from 1pm to 3pm. A highlight for attendees is connecting afterwards from 2pm to 3pm with a cup of tea, and dairy and gluten free refreshments. We meet at the lovely Mary Potter Community Centre in St Albans. See Location Rangiora In-Person These are held on the third Wednesday of every second month from 1pm to 3pm (Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov). From 2pm to 3pm we have afternoon together, with dairy and gluten free options. We usually meet in The Skurr Centre, 156 Ashley Street, Rangiora Showgrounds, Rangiora. See Location Timaru In-Person These are held on the third Wednesday of every second month from 1pm to 3pm (Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec). From 2pm to 3pm we have afternoon together, with dairy and gluten free options. We usually meet in the Timaru Library, Community Room, 56 Sophia St, Timaru. See Location Online Meeting (Zoom) These are held on the second Wednesday of each month from 12 noon to 1pm. See the event calendar below for more details. These online meetings can be a great option for people who are unable to attend the in-person meetings, for various reasons such as being bed-bound, house-bound, or living outside of Christchurch. Register Online Hokitika In-Person These are planned for the first Tuesday of every third month from 10 am to 11.30am. Morning tea with dairy and gluten free options provided at 11 am. We usually meet in WestREAP, 72 Tudor Street, Hokitika See Location Online Craft (Zoom) These are held every Thursday at 11am to noon. Join any week, at any time. This is a friendly online social space to connect and chat while you make progress on a creative project. Register Online West Coast Catchups Social catchups in a café are sometimes self-organised by the community in Westport, Greymouth, and Hokitika. Find out the latest by joining the Facebook group for people with ME/CFS and long COVID in the West Coast. Join Group Education for Health Professionals We are able to facilitate and deliver education events for health professionals from time to time. Please get in touch if this is of interest. CONTACT US Event Resources Following each event, we share information and summaries in our newsletter, by email to our members, and also in our Facebook group. This ensures that people who were interested but could not attend the event, can get familiar with the information. If a recording of an educational presentations was made, we share this on our YouTube channel, along with any handouts. GO TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Thank you to the individuals and funders who have supported our journey since we became a charity in 1985. < Back It’s our 40th Ruby Anniversary! 1 Nov 2025 Thank you to the individuals and funders who have supported our journey since we became a charity in 1985. People often tell us that our charity is the only health service that has understood their life with debilitating chronic illness and provided appropriate clinical, lifestyle, social and other supports. I was overwhelmed, unsure where to start, and felt like no one really understood what I was going through. The support I received here changed that. You helped me feel seen and supported at a time when I was struggling to advocate for myself. A response in our 2025 Survey. We welcome donations to mark this occasion and to enable us to continue to support our vulnerable chronically ill community over our 41st year. Are you able to join our Ruby Crew ? In the last year alone... 277 people enrolled in our Registered Nurse Service to receive support for diagnosis, symptom management, and advocacy. 74 people supported by our advocates to explore the financial assistance available to them from Work and Income NZ. 45 group meetings held around our region to provide connections and education. 574 members: people receiving our updates or engaging with our services in some way. 631 subscribers of our newsletter, including professionals. 8 educational events and material delivered for professionals supporting our community. $0 received from the government’s health budget. We invite you to share this campaign to spread the word. Thank you! Ways to donate: Visit www.givealittle.co.nz/org/mecfs-group-canterbury-inc Use our donation form to pay by debit, credit card, or Google Pay www.mecfscanterbury.nz/donation-form Purchase something from our Crash Wear Merchandise range www.mecfscanterbury.digitees.co.nz Visit www.mecfscanterbury.nz/donate for other ways to contribute For more information about us visit www.mecfscanterbury.nz/how-we-help Link to Disclaimer: www.mecfscanterbury.nz/about-us/disclaimer Previous Next

We invite you to watch Nurse Wendy Dragt’s talk about Orthostatic Intolerance (OI) and its Management – now available on our youtube channel < Back Orthostatic Intolerance and its management Presentation 1 Sept 2025 We invite you to watch Nurse Wendy Dragt’s talk about Orthostatic Intolerance (OI) and its Management – now available on our youtube channel We invite you to watch Nurse Wendy Dragt’s talk about Orthostatic Intolerance (OI) and its Management – now available on our youtube channel https://youtu.be/HSj8zcK7XK0 OI is a common symptom in # MECFS, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. There are various types including #POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), #NMH (Neurally Mediated Hypotension) and low Orthostatic Intolerance. This presentation covers: ✦ Definition and background ✦ Patho physiology – what’s going on? ✦ Diagnosis ✦ Management ✦ Resources This recording provides useful information for people with ME/CFS, POTS, or NMH, their health team, and whānau. At 62 minutes long, you may need to take some breaks and watch it over a couple of sessions. Expand the description for the video on YouTube to access the pdf of the slide deck and a timestamped list of the slides, plus more. ___________________________ DISCLAIMER: Please note that ME/CFS Canterbury / West Coast does not recommend any treatments for any individual. Any advice, either explicit or implied, is not intended to replace qualified medical advice. We do not accept any responsibility for any treatment undertaken by readers of any articles or other content, or for any error or omission in connection with any content published on our social media. ME/CFS Canterbury / West Coast is not responsible for the accuracy of content that we link to. The inclusion of such links does not imply endorsement by ME/CFS Canterbury / West Coast. Previous Next

We are looking for another part time Work and Income Advocate to join our team. < Back Work and Income Advocate Vacancy 23 Apr 2026 We are looking for another part time Work and Income Advocate to join our team. We are looking for another part time Work and Income Advocate to join our team. Could you help us to make a difference for people with ME/CFS and long COVID? Or do you know someone who might? ____________________________ About #MECFS : ME/CFS is a serious long-term illness. People living with ME/CFS experience a fluctuating severity of symptoms and are severely impacted in the activities of daily living. Appropriate clinical support and guidance for self-management can improve symptoms and quality of life. ____________________________ About Us: ME/CFS Canterbury / West Coast Charitable Trust is a growing community health organisation and charity. We focus on improving the lives of people living with #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis / #ChronicFatigueSyndrome and #longCOVID and their whānau, by providing information, validation, clinical support, connection, practical support and advocacy. We also provide educational opportunities and guidance about ME/CFS for health professionals. We deliver our services in Canterbury and the West Coast of New Zealand. Visit our website www.mecfscanterbury.nz to find out more. ____________________________ For details about the vacancy: ✦ Ad on TradeMe - https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/jobs/healthcare/community-social-services/canterbury/christchurch-city/part-time/listing/5895976604 ✦ Closing Date: 8am Wednesday 6th May 2026 Previous Next

Your feedback shapes what we do... < Back 2026 Annual Survey – Open Now 24 Jun 2026 Your feedback shapes what we do... Each year we ask our community how we're doing and what would make a difference. This is that. The survey has six optional questions and takes between three and ten minutes, depending on how much you have to say. All questions are optional, answer one or answer all of them. Your feedback helps us to prioritise how we use our limited resources and gives us something concrete to share with funders and supporters. We want to hear what has worked, what hasn't, and what would actually help. Both positive experiences and honest critique are useful to us. All responses are anonymous unless you choose to share your details. ✦ Survey closes: Thursday 16 July 2026 ✦ Take the survey here Ngā mihi, Rose, Greta, Siju, Karen, Tom, and Ruth The Board of ME/CFS Canterbury / West Coast Charitable Trust Previous Next

Join our new facebook group for people affected my ME/CFS and Long Covid living on the West Coast < Back New West Coast Peer Support Group 4 Oct 2025 Join our new facebook group for people affected my ME/CFS and Long Covid living on the West Coast In response to requests from our community on the West Coast, we have created a new Facebook group. We hope the new private group will help people living with ME/CFS and long COVID in the West Coast region to connect and support each other, as well as share information about local events and services. It will also allow us to keep you up to date with our meetings and other initiatives in your region and provides a space for people to self-organise local social catchups. Please request to join the group by visiting www.facebook.com/groups/mecfssupportgroupwestcoast Previous Next

Gillian Watson, an MECFS Canterbury member, recently sat down with Oliver Lewis from stuff.co.nz and detailed her experiences with the ME/CFS. Being told to keep pushing was detrimental. < Back Christchurch chronic fatigue sufferer told it was all in her head 7 Dec 2019 Gillian Watson, an MECFS Canterbury member, recently sat down with Oliver Lewis from stuff.co.nz and detailed her experiences with the ME/CFS. Being told to keep pushing was detrimental. Gillian Watson recently sat down with Oliver Lewis from stuff.co.nz and detailed her experiences with the ME/CFS. "I was told it was all in my head so I kept pushing. Which is the worst thing you can do with Chronic fatigue syndrome. I did a degree in chemical engineering so I am, well I was, a smart cookie. I used to deal with complex analytical data in my work. I went from that to barely being able to budget at home." "Chronic fatigue syndrome isn't necessarily a degenerative disease but it can be if you keep pushing. And I believe that I wouldn't necessarily have the degree of difficulty I have with speaking and my mobility issues today if I'd got that message much sooner." Thank you Gillian for sharing some of your story with this debilitating illness. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/117957344/christchurch-chronic-fatigue-sufferer-told-it-was-all-in-her-head Previous Next

Theme for this issue is responses in our annual survey. We also highlight some new guides for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Dysautonomia < Back Our August 2026 newsletter is now available! 25 Aug 2026 Theme for this issue is responses in our annual survey. We also highlight some new guides for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Dysautonomia We hope that you find something of interest in our latest newsletter. The newsletter includes the following items: Team updates including a heartfelt farewell to nurse Wendy Dragt Upcoming meetings Introducing our new Board Trustees - Sarah, Roslyn and Geraldine Feedback received in our Annual Survey New guides for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Dysautonomia How to check you are enrolled for the general election and options for voting plus more. 41.4 August 2026 Newsletter - Responses in our Annual Survey .pdf Download PDF • 1.85MB Previous Next

The Allied Healthways website provides allied health professionals with guidance for a range of health conditions and concerns. The website now includes up to date information about ME/CFS. < Back New guidance for ME/CFS from CDHB for allied health professionals 23 Dec 2020 The Allied Healthways website provides allied health professionals with guidance for a range of health conditions and concerns. The website now includes up to date information about ME/CFS. We are grateful to the clinical editors from the Canterbury District Health Board who have worked with us recently to provide up-to-date guidance about ME/CFS for physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, and other allied health professionals. This new guidance is available on the CDHB's Allied Healthways online platform, and will help health professionals to be aware of current understanding of this debilitating illness, and the need to move away from prior advice that is no longer recommended. Key points: Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) is not recommended for ME/CFS and may cause harm. Exercise can be used for physical maintenance (core strength, bone density and enjoyment) but needs to be at a level that avoids post-exertional malaise (PEM). Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is no longer recommended as a treatment for ME/CFS as there is no evidence of specific benefit for ME/CFS. However, counselling may assist patients with adjustment to living with a debilitating chronic illness. Provide support for 'pacing' activities. The aim is to reduce physical and mental activity to a level that can be sustained without triggering post-exertional malaise (PEM). Make #movementforlife safe for #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicFatigueSyndrome Previous Next

Radical Rest Challenge - Nominate a friend or two (or yourself) < Back Give-a-little Day 2nd December 2025 20 Nov 2025 Radical Rest Challenge - Nominate a friend or two (or yourself) This Give-a-Little day, we’re inviting our extended community to slow down... Radically! People living with ME/CFS and Long Covid don’t get to choose to rest. It’s not self care... it’s survival. For many people with ME/CFS, especially the approximately 25% living with Severe ME/CFS, even seemingly small activities cause debilitating symptoms. With a broken energy system at a cellular level, it is critical to #StopRestPace and #PlanPacePrioritise to stabilise symptoms and avoid reducing functionality further. So here’s our #RadicalRestChallenge challenge: ✦ Nominate a friend or two (or yourself) ✦ Radically Rest for 25 minutes – This means no screens, no distractions, just full rest with eyes closed. ✦ Donate $10 to support people in our community living with ME/CFS and Long Covid. If you try the #RadicalRestChallenge but can’t make it through the full 25 minutes that’s ok, It’s harder than it sounds! For every minute you can’t complete, add $1 per minute to your give-a-little donation total. It’s a lighthearted challenge with a serious message: for people with ME/CFS, rest is not optional... it’s essential! Let’s show up for those who can’t - by resting with them or donating for them. ✦ Date: Tuesday 2 nd December 2025 ✦ Where: Visit our give-a-little page https://givealittle.co.nz/org/mecfs-group-canterbury-inc ✦ Challenge: #RadicalRestChallenge #GiveALittleDay Every dollar and every moment of awareness makes a difference. Haven't heard the term before? What is Radical Rest? It means complete, uninterrupted rest. No screens, no conversations, no stimulation. People often opt for earplugs and an eye mask. It's a level of stillness that people with ME/CFS rely on to prevent worsening symptoms and to allow their bodies to try and maintain baseline. Download our Radical Rest Challenge poster to share with others. Previous Next

Paddy Gower Does Stuff: Woman hasn’t left upstairs bedroom for months < Back ‘I feel trapped’: 29-year-old Wellington woman hasn’t left upstairs bedroom for four months 8 Jul 2026 Paddy Gower Does Stuff: Woman hasn’t left upstairs bedroom for months In this article Paddy Gower interviews Elvira Edmonds who has lived with ME/CFS for three years, and over the past year it has left her mostly bedbound, since February she hasn't been able to leave her upstairs bedroom.  Despite this, ME/CFS still isn't recognised by the government as a disability, this means people with ME/CFS can't access care supports available to those with recognised disabilities.  Right now, those with the most severe symptoms are often left with only a few hours of care a day despite needing round the clock support. www.stuff.co.nz ‘I feel trapped’: 29-year-old Wellington woman hasn’t left upstairs bedroom for four months Elvira Edmonds is mostly bed-bound with severe ME. But the disease is not recognised as a disability in New Zealand. Previous Next