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Subscribe to our Newsletter Sign up to become a member to receive our bi-monthly newsletter. The newsletter includes information about managing and living with ME/CFS, latest research, our activities, plus more. BECOME A MEMBER VIEW OUR NEWSLETTERS Latest News We plan to share key updates about ME/CFS, Long COVID, and our organisation here. If you remember seeing a notice about new guidance or initiative in our newsletter or social media and want to revisit the details, it will be worth checking the updates listed below. 7 Jul 2026 ‘I feel trapped’: 29-year-old Wellington woman hasn’t left upstairs bedroom for four months Paddy Gower Does Stuff: Woman hasn’t left upstairs bedroom for months Read More 23 Jun 2026 2026 Annual Survey – Open Now Your feedback shapes what we do... Read More 21 Jun 2026 Find Support After an ME/CFS or Long Covid Diagnosis in Canterbury and the West Coast Being told you have Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) or Long Covid can feel overwhelming and isolating. Read More 12 Jun 2026 Announcing Winners of the 2026 Crash Wear Merch Design Competition We are excited to announce the three winners of our 2026 Crash Wear Merch Design Competition. Read More 6 May 2026 World ME Day - Press Statement from ANZMES As we approach World ME Day on 12th May, ANZMES have released a powerful national press statement Read More 26 Apr 2026 Check out our display at Tūranga Library for World ME Day A big thank you to the librarians at Tūranga, the central Christchurch City Libraries Library, for helping us to profile ME/CFS for this World ME Day. Read More Load More

We are delighted to announce that physiotherapists who have access to the Allied Healthways website provided by the CDHB now have appropriate advice available in the PhysioFITT guidance for ME/CFS. < Back New guidance from CDHB for physiotherapists 25 Jun 2021 We are delighted to announce that physiotherapists who have access to the Allied Healthways website provided by the CDHB now have appropriate advice available in the PhysioFITT guidance for 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 working with the PhysioFITT programme. 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. Under the PhysioFITT program, physiotherapists assess the clinical context of the patient and deliver a tailored assessment and activity plan appropriate to their health condition(s). Key points made for ME/CFS clients: Avoid exercise tests that may trigger post-exertional malaise (PEM). Check for Orthostatic Intolerance. Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) is not recommended for ME/CFS. Exercise should be used for physical maintenance (core strength, bone density and enjoyment) and be at a level to avoid post-exertional malaise (PEM). If PEM is experienced frequently, consider reducing rather than increasing activity in order to improve overall wellbeing. It may be more helpful to focus on daily activities than formal exercise. Make #movementforlife safe for #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicFatigueSyndrome Previous Next

Crash Wear is a collection designed with the ME/CFS community at heart - whether you live with it, care for someone who does, or advocate for awareness. Wear your story. Support your community. < Back Launch of our Crash Wear merch range 18 Jul 2025 Crash Wear is a collection designed with the ME/CFS community at heart - whether you live with it, care for someone who does, or advocate for awareness. Wear your story. Support your community. We're so excited to launch our official ME/CFS Canterbury merch range! Crash Wear is a collection designed with the ME/CFS community at heart - whether you live with it, care for someone who does, or advocate for awareness. From soft, sensory-friendly loungewear to bold minimalist accessories, every piece makes a quiet but powerful statement. Whether you're pacing in a hoodie, resting with a cup of tea, or advocating from bed with a statement pillowcase, each item helps support our local work for people with ME/CFS and Long Covid right here in Canterbury and West Coast. We receive a small amount from every sale, and 100% of that goes directly to our advocacy, support, and awareness efforts. So, when you buy something, you're helping to make a real difference. Crash Wear - made to be lived in, rested in, and seen in. Wear your story. Support your community. https://mecfscanterbury.digitees.co.nz/ Previous Next

Getting Diagnosed At this stage, there are no specific diagnostic tests available that can be done in a clinical setting to confirm ME/CFS. However, healthcare professionals can make a diagnosis by using the diagnostic criteria, excluding other possible conditions, and ensuring that post-exertional malaise (PEM) is present. VIEW THE DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA Your doctor is likely to refer to the clinical advice for ME/CFS on the Health Pathways website provided by Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand and may: Ask about you and your family’s health history. Ask about anything you have tried that makes the symptoms better or worse. Suggest that you keep a diary of symptoms and activity. Do a physical exam or take blood tests to rule out any illnesses that may cause similar symptoms. We have a lett e r that you can take to your GP to let them know about the new clinical guidelines for ME/CFS on the Health Pathways website. DOWNLOAD A LETTER FOR CANTERBURY GPS DOWNLOAD A LETTER FOR WEST COAST GPS Our Registered Nurse Service is available to support you when you are wondering if you have ME/CFS and are seeking a diagnosis. Our nurses work through the assessment process against the diagnostic criteria with you, and then, with your permission, can share the result with your GP. How we help For a comprehensive list of clinical primers and other resources for health professionals refer to: Link https://m.e.awareness.nz/resources-health-professionals/ PREVIOUS PAGE NEXT PAGE

Newsletters Our newsletter has been published for over 40 years! Currently, there are six issues each year in February, April, June, August, October and December. The newsletter contains updates on the activities of the organisation, information about managing and living with ME/CFS, latest research, plus more. We welcome contributions. Members can elect to receive the newsletter by post and / or by email. VIEW PAST ISSUES SEND US A CONTRIBUTION

Our Kaupapa Our Vision – Tā Mātou Aronga That every person with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long COVID in Canterbury and the West Coast lives the best quality of life possible Our Mission – Tā Mātou Whainga To improve the wellbeing of people, families and carers affected by ME/CFS and Long COVID by providing information, validation, clinical support, connection, practical support and advocacy. To improve the quality of care available for those affected by ME/CFS and Long COVID by providing education, direction, and support to health professionals and the wider community. Our Values - Ā Mātou Uaratanga Compassion We show compassion to every person affected by ME/CFS, including family and whānau.  Respect We foster partnerships based on mutual trust, treat every person with dignity and always maintain confidentiality.  Equity We are committed to removing health inequities and barriers.  Patient-centred We support our community with services and information based on evidence and experience, assisting each individual to design supports & management protocols that work for them.   Collaboration We work together constructively and creatively recognising each other's strengths, and those of other organisations, to get the best outcomes for our community.  We acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a founding document in New Zealand and demonstrate a commitment and special obligation to its principles. 

Share your voice < Back Associated New Zealand ME Society (ANZMES) Survey 2026 18 Jan 2026 Share your voice ANZMES Survey 2026. “ANZMES is changing. As we transition to a Charitable Trust and look toward the future, we want to ensure our goals align with the reality of what you expect. We are asking for your help to rank our priorities. We would greatly appreciate if you could please take 5–10 minutes to fill out this survey. Your input is important in shaping the future of ANZMES. Responses are due Monday 2nd February 2026 .” ___________________________ This survey includes 10 tick box questions, 2 short answer questions, and space for you to give other feedback. We encourage you to add your voice and provide descriptive feedback in Q.12 to help ANZMES reflect and formulate future planning as the national advisory for ME/CFS. e.g. ✦ What have you been grateful for? ✦ Did you know that ANZMES has developed material for GPs? ✦ How has your GP responded to any ANZMES material that you may have shared? ✦ Are there any improvements that you would like to see to their website? ✦ Have you had any interactions with ANZMES, and if so, how have these been? Find the survey online here Previous Next

Your feedback shapes what we do... < Back 2026 Annual Survey – Open Now 23 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

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

Our Organisation MECFS Canterbury was originally established in 1985 as a society under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908. The society's goals were to support and assist people with ME/CFS in the management of this debilitating illness and with the aim of improving their quality of life. In 2024, our organisation moved to a Charitable Trust model. The society, M.E. /CFS Group (Canterbury) Inc, was wound up and all services, staff and assets were transferred to ME/CFS Canterbury / West Coast Charitable Trust. We continue to be registered as a charity under number CC32072. We currently trade under the names MECFS Canterbury and ME/CFS Canterbury / West Coast. We have grown over the years to become a professional community health and clinical service organisation, providing a range of services and supports for our community. Visit the How we help page to find out more. We serve people in the Canterbury - Waitaha and West Coast - Te Tai Poutini regions in the South Island - Te Waipounamu of Aotearoa New Zealand. These regions include thirteen District Councils. We also support students at the Southern Regional Health School, who may live in any region of the South Island. Our Strategic Plan For 2023-2028 Determine the cooperation opportunities and geographic range of our organisation Enhance the strength of our governance and organisational framework Reach, support and retain more clients and members Support our supporters: health professionals, funders, volunteers, and others Presentations to our AGMs Our Annual General Meetings are held in November of each year. These meetings provide us with an opportunity to share an overview of our service delivery and finances for the year, and to look towards the year ahead. We invite you to watch the videos of our presentation slides from past AGMs. Annual Performance Statements Our audited Financial and Service Statements provide a detailed view of our finances, outputs and activities. If this is your thing, here they are. 2023 STATEMENTS - Not yet audited 2022 STATEMENTS 2021 STATEMENTS

Help a friend with ME/CFS If you know someone who lives with ME/CFS, your help and support can make an important difference to their lives. Ask them what would make things easier for them, and what support they would like. Perhaps prepare a meal, provide quiet company, help with housework or maintenance, or pay a bill. If you invite them to an event, consider how to reduce the energy required of them, provide a quiet space to rest, and be aware that they may need to cancel on the day if they are too unwell. Believe them. Learn about their experience and the illness. Remember to manage the support you give around your own needs. Possible next steps: Support your friend to join us so that they can receive our services. FILL OUT OUR MEMBERSHIP FORM Have any questions? Please reach out to us. CONTACT US Guidance for hosting and gifts:

Tom Harris, a member of MECFS Canterbury, writes for The Spinoff and asks ‘If you get long Covid, who’s going to help?’ < Back Article in The Spinoff discussing support needed for people with long Covid 24 Oct 2021 Tom Harris, a member of MECFS Canterbury, writes for The Spinoff and asks ‘If you get long Covid, who’s going to help?’ Tom Harris, a member of MECFS Canterbury, writes for The Spinoff and asks who will provide funding and care for people with long Covid. Tom shares his experience at being a longhauler – he has ME/CFS, a multi-system neuroimmune disease that is similar to long Covid. He notes that he recently used the MECFS Canterbury nurse service and says it was "the first time in eight years of post-viral illness that I spoke with a medical professional fluent in its [ME/CFS] management." Tom continues "While I have had several very good GPs, the quirks of these illnesses benefit immensely from familiarity and expertise." He suggests that the support he has found may well be the best model for people with long Covid. But that support needs to be funded." Read Tom's article on The Spinoff: https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/25-10-2022/if-you-get-long-covid-whos-going-to-help Previous Next