NEWS & UPDATES
Latest news from the Cerebral Palsy Society
30 Jan 2026
Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected by the dramatic and traumatic weather in parts of the country during January.
Our team mourns with the rest of Aotearoa New Zealand for the precious lives that were lost and the impact of the devastating events that have happened in recent weeks.
We also join with Aotearoa New Zealand in thanking those that stepped up to help – whether it was their job, they were a volunteer, or they were supporting whānau, friends or neighbours.
We send strength, comfort, and aroha to everyone impacted during this incredibly difficult time.
For those of our members who have returned to school this week or will do so next week – we wish you all the best for the year ahead. Parents, be sure to reach out to our Member Support team if there is anything we can do to support you and your child.
Here at the Cerebral Palsy Society things have kicked off with a hiss and a roar and we are back into the full swing of supporting members, celebrating their success and getting on with our advocacy plans for 2026.
Congratulations to Jade Farrar – MNZM
Congratulations to Cerebral Palsy Society member Jade Farrar!
You may have seen earlier this month that as part of the New Year Honours, Jade was named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his services to people with disabilities and the Pacific community.
Such wonderful, and well deserved, recognition!
Jade established PHAB Pasifika – a space for Pacific disabled youth, and among many other things he is currently the chair of the National Leadership Group for Enabling Good Lives (EGL), and serves on the boards of Spectrum Care, Community Living Trust, and Enable New Zealand.
Sporting success
Congratulations on your selection and good luck to the Cerebral Palsy Society members who are representing Aotearoa New Zealand overseas in February.
Badminton New Zealand is sending a six-strong squad to compete in the Para Badminton World Championships in Bahrain from February 8-14.
Among the team is Cerebral Palsy Society members Maia Read and Anna Hika, pictured left to right. They will be joined by two other players who live with Cerebral Palsy – Hōkai Nukurangi – Andrew Fairweather and Rishikesh Venu.
Earlier this month Table Tennis New Zealand announced the Para athletes selected to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the ITTF World Para Future Gold Coast from February 16–18.
Among the team of eight are three members of the Cerebral Palsy Society – Liam Hogan, Bhakti Patel and Joshua Rae, pictured left to right.
Congratulations! We wish you all the best for the tournaments and look forward to hearing how you get on!
getMoving – new venue, new time, spaces available!
Great news! Changes are coming to our awesome getMoving class.
getMoving is a weekly specialised and customised exercise class for 6 to 21-year-olds in Auckland.
Classes are free thanks to generous funding from Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa and are run by Mike Hynard and the team at Functional Adaptive Movement™Ltd (FAM™).
New venue:
As of Wednesday, February 11 getMoving is shifting from its current Auckland City venue to Knox Fitness, 562 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn.
New time:
AND as of Wednesday, February 11 the time is changing. Classes will be held from 4pm-5pm (instead of 3.30pm-4.30pm).
Spaces available!
We have spaces for more members to join, so if you, or your child, are aged 6-21, and the new location and time work for you, please get in touch with our Member Support and Programmes Coordinator Theo – theo@cpsociety.org.nz
getMoving runs until the end of June, so get in quick to grab your spot.
Have your say – Draft Carers’ Strategy Action Plan
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is seeking feedback on the draft Carers’ Strategy Action Plan which sets out government actions to support family, whānau, aiga or individual carers.
The MSD has developed the plan in partnership with the Carers Alliance and an Advisory Group of organisations representing the needs of carers.
The CP Society, part of the Carers Alliance, strongly encourages members, their carers and whānau to submit their feedback. Every submission will count towards actions to be included in the programme of work which will be developed for all government agencies involved.
There are several ways to submit your feedback – sending a quick email, attending online or in person workshops or answering a quick survey.
Consultation closes on March 12.
Have your say – Total Mobility
The Government has announced changes to funding settings for the Total Mobility scheme, administered by the Ministry of Transport. It has also launched public consultation seeking feedback on proposals to strengthen the scheme.
Total Mobility currently subsidises 75% of taxi fares for disabled people and older people for which public transport is inaccessible. From July 1, 2026 this subsidy will reduce to 65%.
The Government is also investing $10 million to provide councils with immediate financial relief.
Consultation closes on March 22. There’s more information and a discussion document with a range of options on the Ministry’s website.
School and Year Start-up Payment
Do you care for someone else’s child and need a helping hand with the upcoming pre-school and school-related costs at the start of the year?
Work and Income’s School and Year Start-up Payment helps people caring for someone else’s child with costs like clothing, school fees and stationery.
You can apply for the once-a-year payment every year between mid-January and the end of February.
Coffee Group news
Our Coffee Groups are a great way to connect with other members, socialise and make friends.
A companion, support worker and/or family member is welcome to accompany members to these groups. Up to $15 worth of refreshments per person is provided compliments of the Cerebral Palsy Society.
The first coffee groups of 2026 will be held in March – coffee groups will not be held in February.
If you’d like more information about your local coffee group, please call us on 0800 503 603 or email cpsociety@cpsociety.org.nz.
Living with CP articles
If you haven’t caught up with our latest Living with CP articles, be sure to head over to the page on our website.
The latest additions are:
– How to talk about Cerebral Palsy: A guide for parents and caregivers
– How to talk about Cerebral Palsy: A guide from an individual’s perspective
– Buying disability equipment: A practical guide
Research at Auckland University
Cutting-edge tools once reserved for astronauts and data scientists are now reshaping rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy.
Auckland Bioengineering Institute researchers are blending physics, medicine and machine learning to understand how movement breaks down – and how to restore it.
Disability and ableism
When you live with a disability it’s not uncommon to experience ableism.
Our friends at My CP Guide have published a series of articles about successfully confronting and coping with ableism.
The articles are written by a group of people with Cerebral Palsy and their allies and is based on research they carried out.
You can read them here:
Part 1 – www.tinyurl.com/ym9nycbr
Part 2 – www.tinyurl.com/3bzdecz4
Part 3 – www.tinyurl.com/2v3w8wyj
Thank you for the support
The Cerebral Palsy Society relies on donations and grants to help us do the mahi we do for Kiwis living with Cerebral Palsy – Hōkai Nukurangi.
With that in mind, we want to say a massive thank you to the Trusts, Foundations and friends that support us. Most recently:
– The Trusts Community Foundation
Research opportunities
There’s plenty of research going on for you to take part in.
– The United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawai’i is conducting The Impact of Aging with Cerebral Palsy Survey – open to adults with cerebral palsy who are 20-years of age older and/or their caregivers
– Assistive Technology Survey – Intopia invites you to take part in the Assistive Technology Survey 2025, a survey exploring how people across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand use and experience assistive technology
– Free gait training sessions – weekly sessions with Auckland University at the Newmarket campus on their positive-pressure (“anti-gravity”) treadmill.
You can read all about these projects on our Research Opportunities page.
PHAB and PHAB Pasifika
PHAB is an inclusive organisation dedicated to empowering people with disabilities. They provide weekly social experiences for people with disabilities aged 16 and over from Warkworth to Papakura.
PHAB Clubs offer an array of activities designed to enhance social interaction, build skills, and promote independence:
– Weekly social groups
– Holiday programs
– Exercise programs
– Life skills day programs
– Multiple one-off fun events.
PHAB Pasifika is all about giving young people with Pacific Island heritage the confidence to explore their options providing culturally appropriate opportunities for fun, inclusion, and social participation.
Co-designed alongside Pasifika youth, communities, and partners, PHAB Pasifika provides social and recreational opportunities for Pasifika youth and adults, with and without disabilities.
PHAB Pasifika is all about creating fun, safe, and inclusive spaces for Pasifika community members living with disabilities.
PHAB Pasifika runs:
– Social clubs
– Nesian Productions
– Youth development workshops
New members are welcome.
What’s On
Waitangi Day at Manukau Live Steamers Club
Manukau Live Steamers, in Auckland, is holding their annual free Waitangi Day, February 6, at the trains for families with special needs kids.
Free train rides 11am-3pm, free sausage sizzle 12pm-2pm, free fruit and water – BYO water bottles to refill. BYO blankets and chairs.
Club members will be there to assist with getting on and off the trains.
Centre Park, Robertson Rd, Mangere, Auckland.
For information call Lynne 021 959 106 or email ikon@xtra.co.nz
Have a Go Tennis and Games – Papamoa
Held in collaboration with Tennis NZ, Halberg Foundation, Parafed Waikato, Parafed BOP and the Papamoa Tennis Club.
When: Sat 28 Feb from 10am-3pm
Where: Papamoa Tennis Club, Gordon Spratt Reserve, Parton Rd, Papamoa
Lunch included
Open to all ages and abilities, wheelchair users and their families.
Register with tegan@tennis.kiwi
Auckland Arts Festival
Auckland Arts Festival has shared their Accessible Programme for the next Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival taking place from March 5-22.
Their Accessible Programme was co-designed with members of the Deaf and disabled communities from across Tāmaki Makaurau.
$20 accessible tickets and companions go free.
For more information: https://www.aaf.co.nz/accessibility
Halberg Games 2026
Grab your diary! The dates for the Halberg Games are locked in.
It’s all happening from Friday, April 10 – Sunday, April 12 at King’s College, Auckland.
If you’ve been before, you’ll know you’re in for another unforgettable weekend packed with sport, friendship, and celebration.
If you haven’t been before…..you don’t know what you’re missing.
The Halberg Games is open to athletes aged 8-21 with a physical disability or visual impairment.
Registration is open: www.halberg.co.nz/halberg-games/halberg-games
Well, that’s it from me. We wish all our members the best for the year ahead, and please remember, our Member Support team is at the end of the phone or an email if you need to chat, talk through your situation or need some ideas.
Ngā mihi,
Clare Williams
General Manager
