NEWS & UPDATES
News from the Cerebral Palsy Society – AGM, Be Green & Be Seen, CP Education Day and more
31 Aug 2026
It’s that time of year when there is a lot going on – a lot for you to get involved in and a lot we need to fill you in on.
So why not grab a cuppa, get comfy and read through this month’s update.
2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Our 2026 AGM will be held on Sunday, October 18 at 2pm.
This year we are holding it virtually and in-person in Grafton, Auckland.
The Notice of AGM was emailed to all members last week. The email included links to the Nomination Form for a position on the Executive Committee and the Resolutions Form.
Standing for a position on the Executive Committee and submitting a Resolution are two of the ways you can get involved and have your say here at the Society.
Please RSVP and let us know if you will be attending online or in-person – email cpsociety@cpsociety.org.nz or phone 0800 503 603 by 4pm, Friday, 16 October.
We’d love to see you there.
Be Green & Be Seen 2026
Our annual Be Green & Be Seen fundraising and awareness campaign is kicking off on October 1 and we’ve got some exciting additions to this year’s campaign!
Keep an eye on your inbox because we’ll be sending you an email with all the information as soon as it’s ready to go. We’re just adding the finishing touches.
You’ll get information about:
– A competition for schools which will put them in the draw for a special visit from a well-known Para Athlete
– A competition for early childhood centres which will put them in the draw for a voucher which we know they will be able to put to good use
– This is CP – a campaign where we would love you to share your CP journey as part of Be Green & Be Seen 2026.
Watch this space – we’ll send out more information as soon it’s all locked in!
In the meantime, get thinking about how you can get your early childhood centre, school, workplace or club involved in a green-themed day to raise awareness and funds for Kiwis living with Cerebral Palsy – Hōkai Nukurangi.
CP Education Day
Registrations are open for the Aotearoa NZ Cerebral Palsy Education Day!
Hosted by The New Zealand Cerebral Palsy Register and the Cerebral Palsy Society, the in-person and online event is being held in Wellington on Saturday, November 14.
The day is for families and people with lived experience of CP and health professionals. It will be an opportunity to hear the latest information on CP research in Aotearoa and overseas, bringing it into everyday life.
Presentations will focus on how activity and participation can help people living with Cerebral Palsy / Hōkai Nukurangi, to achieve what is important to them.
Be sure to register to secure your seat at the event! We’d love to see you there.
Details about the speakers and the timings for the day are on the registration page.
Be in to win! Cost of living with CP survey
Share your thoughts and experiences about the cost of living with CP in Aotearoa and you could win one of two $250 grocery vouchers!
The prize draw is a thank you to people who complete a survey being conducted by an Auckland University PhD candidate as part of research being run in conjunction with the Cerebral Palsy Society and the New Zealand Cerebral Palsy Register.
The research aims to understand the financial and economic impact of Cerebral Palsy on individuals and caregivers. The information the survey produces will be invaluable both for the researchers leading the study and in terms of supporting the Society’s advocacy efforts.
The survey will take you through questions on out-of-pocket expenses, productivity, and quality of life.
In the video below, University of Auckland investigator David Rebosura and CP Society’s Researcher and Member Support Advisor Amy Hogan chat about the importance of the survey.
The survey closes September 30.
If you are part way through the survey, be sure to go back and finish it – you’ll be able to pick up where you left off.
Support CPS this Father’s Day
This Father’s Day, give Dad a gift that keeps giving all year long AND supports the Cerebral Palsy Society.
For a limited time, when you purchase an Entertainment Membership for $75, you’ll receive a second membership free.
Dad will unlock thousands of offers on dining, travel, attractions and experiences across Australia, New Zealand and Bali.
Plus, you’ll receive a FREE $30 eGift Card and go in the draw to WIN a $500 dining eGift Card.
Every Membership sold supports the Cerebral Palsy Society!
Offer ends 5pm, Monday, September 7.
Get yours today: www.tinyurl.com/23p3t6af
getMoving update
There are spaces available for Auckland members aged 6-21 on our getMoving programme.
The specialised exercise classes are held in Mt Albert on Saturdays from 11am-12pm and thanks to generous funding from Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa, this programme is free.
Please contact our team on 0800 503 603 or cpsociety@cpsociety.org.nz if you would like to participate but there are barriers stopping you from signing up. We would love to support more of our members to get involved with getMoving.
We’re delighted to let you know that Member Support and Programme Coordinator Peter Rawlings has taken over as coordinator of getMoving. Peter has been with the Society for a year and a half and also coordinates our coffee groups.
Good in the Hood
If you’re travelling around Auckland’s North Shore, be sure to head into Z Northcross to grab fuel for your car.
While you’re there, grab an orange Good in the Hood token and use it to vote for the Cerebral Palsy Society.
You’ll be getting your petrol and doing a good deed at the same time because you’ll be helping us earn a share of the $5,000 Z Northcross has to give away.
Z’s Good in the Hood campaign runs from until September 14 so be sure to fuel up and vote for the CP Society as often as you can.
A huge thank you to Z Northcross for selecting us as one of the charities to benefit from their generosity.
Z Northcross – 847-849 East Coast Rd
Coffee group updates
Our coffee groups are held in Auckland, Whanganui, Masterton, Wellington and Christchurch.
Each Cerebral Palsy Society member who attends is welcome to bring a companion, support worker, or whānau member with them. The Cerebral Palsy Society will provide up to $15 worth of refreshments for each member and for one of their guests.
There are a few Ts & Cs members need to be aware of when attending coffee group, so please check the info on our website:
PLEASE NOTE:
The Christchurch coffee group hosted by Michael has temporary venues coming up for the September and October gatherings.
Tuesday 1st September
Venue: Cafe Jireh
Address: 81 Bickerton St, Wainoni
Time: 1pm to 2.30pm
Tuesday 6th October
Venue: The Clubhouse Cafe
Address: Waimairi Beach Golf Club, 460 Bower Ave, Parklands
Time: 12pm to 1.30pm (Please note the earlier start time)
New e-card suppliers
We’re delighted to welcome the companies and service providers that have come on board as e-Card suppliers in the last month.
getThis&That
– Koru Orthotics Ltd
– Thomas Online
getPhysical
– Integrated Osteopaths
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:
- Trust Waikato
- Kiwi Gaming Foundation
Research opportunities
Here are some research projects that you might like to take part in.
– The Australasian Cerebral Palsy Musculoskeletal Health Network is looking at muscle and bone health in children living with Cerebral Palsy (CP) – Hōkai Nukurangi.
The project aims to find out whether identifying musculoskeletal problems earlier can lead to more timely treatments and reduce the chance of these problems getting worse.
This research is for Auckland-based 4- 12 year olds who are GMFCS III, IV or V and involves four annual visits to Starship hospital.
– Oral health tips for people with cerebral palsy. Students studying towards a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the University of Otago Auckland Dental Clinic have created a questionnaire to see what you know about caring for the oral health of someone who lives with CP. After you’ve completed the questionnaire there is an informative PDF and podcast series providing parents and caregivers with more tips.
– Your experience and perceptions of the accessibility of national parks in Aotearoa New Zealand is the focus of a Massey University research project. You can help by sharing your thoughts in their 10-15 minute survey.
Accessibility and inclusion survey – Queenstown
The Queenstown Lakes District Council is seeking feedback on its Accessibility and Inclusion Survey.
Can you access information, use public spaces and facilities, or have your say on local issues?
The council wants to hear from disabled and neurodivergent people, people with access needs, their whānau, carers, supporters, and anyone with an interest in accessibility and inclusion.
Your experience will help them understand what’s working well, where barriers exist, and what improvements could make the biggest difference.
The survey is open until September 20 and takes 10–20 minutes to complete. Alternative participation options available.
What’s On
Glass Ceiling Arts Collective
There’s lots happening across the Glass Ceiling community:
West Auckland – Beauty and the Beast JR
When: September 3–5
Where: The Glen Eden Playhouse
Tauranga – Welcome to the Jungle
When: September 12
Where: 16th Ave Theatre
Whangārei – Rock of Ages – Youth Edition
When: September 26 – 27
Where: Forum North
Details and ticket info: www.glassceilingartscollective.com/events
Transition expo
Disability Connect is holding its Transition Expo on September 9 from 9am to 2pm. It’s being held at the Auckland Netball Centre, 7 Allison Ferguson Drive, St Johns.
Children aged 12+, young adults and their parents, family and whanau are encouraged to come and find out what is possible for life in the community after school finishes. Disability supports in tertiary education, employer conversations, libraries, transport, sports, arts, banking, day activities, social enterprises and libraries, transport, sports, arts, banking, day activities, social enterprises and services will be present.
For more information go to: www.disabilityconnect.org.nz/annual-transition-expo/
Art therapy invitation
Māpura Studios, in St Lukes, Auckland, is offering free art therapy classes.
Art therapy combines psychotherapy with creative art-making and fosters peer connection and community belonging among other objectives. It uses drawing, painting, clay, and other mediums to help people express feelings that are hard to say with words. No art skill is needed to take part.
For more information phone 09 845 5361 or send an email to info@mapurastudios.org.nz
That’s all for now. We look forward to bringing you more information about the AGM and Be Green & Be Seen in the coming weeks.
Please reach out to our Member Support team if you need anything. Peter and Matthew will be happy to assist you however they can.
Ngā mihi,
The Cerebral Palsy Society team
