Medicines are an investment not a burden – new report
A new report on the issues around access to innovative medicines in New Zealand was launched at Parliament on March 3rd by Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, hosted by ACT MP Todd Stephenson. This was attended by several patient group representatives including Fiona Imlach from Migraine Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand. The report was based on […]
Struggled to see a neurologist in New Zealand? Here are some reasons why
Many people with chronic, complex or difficult-to-treat migraine could benefit from being seen by a neurologist. Although GPs can manage many people with migraine, when they’ve gone through the recommended list of treatments and things are still not right, it’s reassuring to have a specialist who can confirm that migraine is the cause, consider alternative […]
Migraine Foundation will be at Pasifika Festival 2026
The Migraine Foundation team is delighted to be a stallholder at the 2026 Pasifika Festival in March. This is the first time we’re attending the event, which is on 14–15 March at Western Springs, Auckland. Thanks to a generous grant from Aoteoroa Gaming Trust, we’ll have our patient trifold brochure available in six languages – […]
Lasmiditan – the migraine drug we didn’t even get to try
The best medications we currently have to treat migraine attacks are the triptans. In Aotearoa New Zealand, we have two of these: sumatriptan and rizatriptan. But although these can be very effective if taken early in an attack, they don’t work for everyone. And some people can’t take them because they constrict blood vessels, which […]
Fremanezumab (Ajovy) now available in New Zealand
The start of 2026 marks further progress for access to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) medications for Kiwis, with the launch of fremanezumab (Ajovy) in New Zealand this month. Ajovy is the fourth anti-CGRP medication now available in New Zealand. Like the other two injectable CGRP monoclonal antibody medications (Emgality and Aimovig), Ajovy is administered by […]
Nurse and pharmacist prescribers can now prescribe new migraine medications
Registered nurse and pharmacist prescribers can now prescribe the new migraine medications galcanezumab (Emgality), erenumab (Aimovig), fremanezumab (Ajovy) and atogepant (Aquipta). All of these are used to prevent migraine and work by targeting calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a neurotransmitter implicated in causing migraine attacks. These medications were added to the lists of prescription medicines for […]
Bringing the migraine voice to Parliament
Last week our two co-founders Sarah and Fiona attended the second Valuing Life Summit, representing our migraine community at the 2-day event held at Parliament. This invite-only summit was organised by Patient Voice Aotearoa and Medicines New Zealand, and brought together patient advocacy groups, MPs, government decision-makers, industry and others to discuss and challenge medicine […]
PTAC recommends fremanezumab (Ajovy) to be funded
In another positive step forward for access to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) medications in New Zealand, the Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC) has recommended fremanezumab (Ajovy) be funded by Pharmac with a high priority for people with chronic and episodic migraine. The high priority recommendation was made at PTAC’s August 2025 meeting. PTAC assessment […]
Strengthening our connection with health professionals at the South GP CME
The South General Practice Conference & Medical Exhibition in August was another valuable opportunity for Migraine Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand to connect with more health professionals working within public health. The 3 day conference was held at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre from 14–17 August 2025 and was attended by 879 doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, […]
Our attendance at the European Migraine and Headache Patient Summit
Written by Sarah Cahill, Migraine Foundation co-founder In June I had the privilege of attending the European Migraine and Headache Alliance (EMHA) Migraine and Headache International Patient Associations Summit (MHIPAS) in Brussels, Belgium. I was one of 40 people involved in migraine advocacy from 29 countries to attend the 3-day conference. It truly was a […]
