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
Research Significant data gaps for a comprehensive migraine cost-of-illness study
Information Updated article on migraine for primary care health professionals
Advocacy Pharmac consultation on possible brand changes
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.
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
Mara, Auckland
How long have you had migraine and what type of migraine do you have? I had my first migraine attack at around age 12 and continued to suffer episodic migraine attacks during my teens and twenties. After the birth of my second child my migraine attacks became more chronic and
Mart, Porirua
How long have you had migraine and what type of migraine do you have? For 52 years, I get aura migraines. How does migraine disease impact your life? It means I often can’t do my job to the best of my ability, which is massively frustrating as I set myself
Achim, Kāpiti Coast
How long have you had migraine and what type of migraine do you have? I started getting headaches about 25 years ago, maybe once a month. Over the years the headaches developed into migraines and the frequency increased steadily to the current status of about six a week. The headaches
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
