Supporting Kiwis to live better with migraine
Join our 2026 advocacy campaign
New Zealanders with migraine are being denied public access to medications that are fully funded, standard of care treatments overseas. Your action during 2026 helps give Kiwis with migraine a better future.
What’s New
Education Accessing botulinum toxin treatment for chronic migraine
Education South General Practice conference 2026
Education The broad spectrum of migraine visual aura
Migraine in New Zealand
Globally, treatment and knowledge about migraine have improved in recent years. In New Zealand, we still face many challenges.
The number and variety of treatments for migraine have expanded greatly in past years. People with migraine no longer have to take medications that were developed for other diseases; there are now treatments specifically targeted at migraine. But what are some of the challenges facing people in Aotearoa New Zealand living with migraine? And what data have we captured from our Migraine in Aotearoa New Zealand 2022 survey?
Migraine Voices
Living with migraine disease can be challenging. Those of us with migraine know that it’s more than just a headache. Migraine is a whole body disease that affects everyone differently. Members of the Migraine Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand community share their stories about living with migraine and how there’s hope, even when some days it can feel like a struggle.
Melva, Hamilton
How long have you had migraine and what type of migraine do you have? I had thumping blood rushes when I woke up, and times of visual aura with head pain from when I was about 10 years old. I was X-rayed and given medication in my teens so I
Jackie, Nelson
How long have you had migraine and what type of migraine do you have? I can’t really remember when my migraine attacks first started, maybe around age 14 when I first got my period. I have episodic migraine without aura. How does migraine disease impact your life? Migraine is usually
Amanda K, Auckland
How long have you had migraine and what type of migraine do you have? I don’t think I ever had a migraine in my life before I turned 30. So I suspect it was a hormonal issue. That first major migraine came on quickly, and was massive – vomiting, nausea,
Ella, Wellington
How long have you had migraine and what type of migraine do you have? I started getting episodic migraine when I was 9 years old but managed them quite well throughout school and university. I would have a handful a month and be able to manage them with sleep and
Making an impact for New Zealanders
How do we make a difference for the 733,000 women, men and children living with migraine in New Zealand?
- We connect and support people with migraine.
- We increase awareness of migraine disease and advocate for positive change.
- We create and disseminate robust, evidence-based information about migraine.
- We support and undertake New Zealand-focused research and collaborate with researchers in planning, recruiting and dissemination of findings.
Our supporters and partners
