Press Release

PRESS RELEASE – National Collective of ME/CFS Organisations Calls for Necessary Inclusion of ME/CFS and Long COVID in New Zealand’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 15 May 2026

The Associated New Zealand Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Society (ANZMES)  is calling on the Ministry of Health to address a critical gap in the draft Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. ANZMES made this submission on behalf of a national collective of ME/CFS organisations which included Complex Chronic Illness Support, Long Covid Support Aotearoa, M.E. Awareness NZ, ME/CFS Canterbury, MEISS Otago and Southland, ME Support NZ, ME Respite, and Tū Pakari (Stand Together). 

In a comprehensive submission, ANZMES revealed that between 150,000 and 200,000 New Zealanders – a population larger than the city of Hamilton – are now living with ME/CFS or post-viral conditions. Despite this scale, the current draft Strategy fails to mention these conditions, leaving one of the country’s largest chronic illness groups without a safe clinical pathway for mental wellbeing.

ANZMES President Fiona Charlton warns that the mental distress, such as anxiety and/or depression, experienced by this community is often a direct result of systemic failure, rather than primary psychiatric illness in origin.

“Mental distress in our community is a rational response to unmanaged physical symptoms, loss of employment, and the trauma of being disbelieved by the very systems designed to help” says Fiona Charlton. “When patients are met with ‘medical gaslighting’ or prescribed harmful treatments,  the resulting trauma is healthcare-induced.”

Key Findings Highlighted in the Submission:

  • A Growing Population: Ministry of Health data suggests 185,000 people currently live with Long COVID.  ANZMES estimates 30-35% of these individuals will meet the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS.
  • Harmful Interventions: Many New Zealanders are still being prescribed outdated treatments that worsen their condition, contrary to international guidelines (NICE 2021; CDC 2021).
  • Access Barriers: For the 25% of patients who are housebound or bedbound, the mental health system is effectively non-existent. Current models require “active participation” that physically exceeds the energy limits of those with Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM).
  • Inequity for Māori: Māori face higher disability burdens and greater barriers to diagnosis, leading to significant diagnostic overshadowing and lack of culturally grounded care.

ANZMES is calling on the Ministry of Health to establish a technical advisory group to co-design implementation modules for the 10-year Strategy. Key recommendations include:

  1. Mandating safe-care guidelines that prohibit harmful interventions like GET.
  2. Developing workforce training on PEM and sensory-sensitive care using existing ANZMES-accredited clinical education.
  3. Ensuring physical accessibility through telehealth, bedside care and low sensory clinical environments for the severely affected.
  4. Recognising healthcare-induced trauma within the Strategy’s trauma-informed care framework.

“To achieve the Strategy’s goals of ‘Access and Choice,’ the Ministry must acknowledge that for a bedbound patient, ‘community care’ must mean bedside care,” says Fiona Charlton. “We cannot allow 200,000 New Zealanders to remain invisible in a strategy meant to ensure the wellbeing of all.”

PRESS RELEASE – World ME Day, ANZMES launches new clinical “Key Red Flags” guide to help GPs recognise ME/CFS earlier and prevent avoidable harm

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The Associated New Zealand Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Society (ANZMES) is marking World ME Day 2026 with a national call to action: Take ME Seriously. This year’s campaign focuses on improving early recognition of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) in primary care through a new, evidence‑based Key Red Flags for GPs resource.

Thousands of New Zealanders live with ME/CFS — a serious, multisystem neuroimmune disease that profoundly affects mobility, cognition, autonomic function, and quality of life. Yet many remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years, leading to preventable deterioration.

ANZMES President Fiona Charlton says the new clinical tool is designed to meet GPs where they are: “Most people with ME/CFS present first — and often only — in primary care. Early recognition is the difference between stabilisation and long‑term disability. Our Key Red Flags guide gives GPs the practical, real‑world indicators they need to identify ME/CFS early, recognise deterioration, and prevent iatrogenic harm.”

A practical, GP‑friendly tool for early detection

The Key Red Flags for GPs document distils the latest international evidence into a concise, one‑page clinical guide. It highlights the most important “dashboard lights” that signal ME/CFS in mild to moderate presentations — the group most commonly seen in general practice.

The resource focuses on:

  • Post‑Exertional Malaise (PEM) — the cardinal symptom of ME/CFS and the strongest diagnostic indicator.
  • Boom–bust cycling and shrinking functional capacity.
  • Orthostatic intolerance (OI) and POTS‑like symptoms, often mistaken for anxiety.
  • Talk Test failure — a simple in‑consult indicator of exertional intolerance.
  • Cognitive overload and sensory hypersensitivity, frequently subtle but clinically significant.
  • Early functional decline, which is preventable with timely pacing and stabilisation.

The guide also outlines immediate GP actions, including pacing education, orthostatic vitals, low‑stimulus consultations, and avoiding harmful recommendations such as graded exercise or “pushing through.”

A national call for safer, evidence‑based care

ANZMES’ 2026 campaign builds on its ongoing advocacy for improved recognition, updated clinical pathways, and alignment with global best practice. Previous ANZMES statements have highlighted the consequences of outdated treatment protocols, under‑recognition, and lack of specialist services in New Zealand.

“New Zealanders with ME/CFS deserve care that reflects the science,” Charlton says. “This resource is a step toward ensuring every GP in Aotearoa can recognise ME/CFS early, respond safely, and prevent avoidable decline.”

About World ME Day

World ME Day is a global initiative held annually on 12 May to raise awareness of ME/CFS and promote evidence‑based understanding of the disease. This year’s theme, Take ME Seriously, calls on clinicians, policymakers, and the public to recognise ME/CFS as the serious biomedical condition it is.

Access the Key Red Flags resource

The Key Red Flags for GPs document and full World ME Day 2026 campaign materials are available at:
anzmes.org.nz/world-me-day/take-me-seriously-2026

Press Release – ANZMES Launches National “Take ME Seriously” Campaign to Transform ME/CFS Clinical Care in Aotearoa

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Release Date: 5th May 2026

The Associated New Zealand Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Society (ANZMES) is officially marking World ME Day on 12 May 2026 with a national call to action under the global theme “Take ME Seriously”. This year’s campaign is focused on bridging the significant gap between scientific discovery and clinical practice by providing New Zealand’s healthcare professionals with the evidence-based tools they need to recognise and manage Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) safely. With the recent release of breakthrough findings from the world’s largest DNA study, DecodeME, the biomedical reality of this condition is undeniable, yet many New Zealanders continue to face outdated treatment narratives that can lead to permanent clinical harm.

Leading up to World ME Day, ANZMES will launch new clinical resources and have conversations designed to help General Practitioners identify early warning signs such as Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) and orthostatic intolerance. These resources are part of a wider push to promote the World ME Alliance’s Medical Education Hub, a global library of peer-reviewed materials that align local primary care with international best practices. ANZMES President Fiona Charlton emphasises that for too long, ME/CFS has been misidentified as a psychological or deconditioning issue, whereas the current science confirms it as a multisystem hardware failure involving immune dysregulation and mitochondrial dysfunction.

The campaign also highlights the “Know M.E. Clinical Education Programme,” a CME/CPD-accredited training series for hospital teams, nurses, and allied health professionals across Aotearoa. By providing these accredited modules, ANZMES is helping clinicians understand the “Energy Envelope” and the fundamental necessity of pacing as a primary management strategy. Distinguished experts, including Dr. Ros Vallings and Professor Warren Tate, have contributed to this educational push, underscoring that when clinicians are trained to understand the biological markers of the disease, the healthcare system moves from a state of uncertainty to preventing avoidable functional decline.

For the thousands of New Zealanders still waiting for a legitimate diagnosis, the 2026 campaign offers a message of hope and a formalised pathway to support. ANZMES is encouraging the public and the medical community to share these “decoded” facts to spread the science and challenge long-standing misconceptions that have historically hindered patient care. 

We ask that you please support and follow our 2026 campaign on ANZMES Facebook. over the next week. Sharing our content helps spread our message further and reach our health practitioners across Aotearoa. 

Detailed clinical resources, diagnostic criteria, and localised referral pathways are now available on the ANZMES website to ensure that every healthcare provider in Aotearoa is equipped to take ME seriously: World ME Day 2026 – ANZMES 

Press Release – World ME Alliance Launches Medical Education Hub Featuring Key ANZMES Clinical Resources

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For Immediate release – 28/10/2025

The Associated New Zealand ME Society (ANZMES) is proud to announce that its key clinical resources are featured on the new Medical Education Hub, launched in the last week by the World ME Alliance (WMEA). The WMEA is a global coalition of ME organisations working to improve understanding, diagnosis, and care for people with ME/CFS worldwide.

The hub is a dedicated online resource designed to equip healthcare professionals globally with essential knowledge about ME/CFS. This initial launch is a pilot version, which the WMEA plans to build upon and improve over time, particularly regarding accessibility and language options.

The hub provides a comprehensive library, featuring resources in multiple languages and organised by key categories for healthcare professionals. ANZMES is proud to have its vital resources for Primary Care in ME/CFS and long COVID and Secondary Care for Severe ME/CFS and long COVID featured alongside materials from other internationally renowned sources, including the Bateman Horne Center, CDC, Mayo Clinic, and NICE; setting a clear benchmark for evidence-based guidance.

Collectively, the guidelines and resources on the hub directly address critical gaps in medical education for both primary and secondary care settings. This empowers clinicians worldwide to provide better, more informed care for individuals living with ME/CFS and long COVID.

The Medical Education Hub is now live and accessible to the public and healthcare professionals. The WMEA is actively seeking user feedback to guide future developments.

View the new hub at: worldmealliance.org/medical-education-hub 

Press release – ANZMES publishes critical guide to help doctors navigate ME/CFS research and avoid harmful treatments

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7th October 2025 – For immediate release

ANZMES, the leading National Advisory on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), has published a new resource for healthcare professionals, “A Guide to Navigating Research: Discerning Robust vs. Flawed Science.” This essential article, released in conjunction with a one-page toolkit, is designed to combat a history of misinformation that has led to inadequate care and often harmful treatments for ME/CFS patients.

“Our goal is to arm doctors with the tools they need to critically evaluate health claims and research,” said Fiona Charlton, President of ANZMES. “By highlighting the difference between evidence-based medicine and flawed science, we can help prevent the cycle of misunderstanding and ensure patients receive care that is grounded in a true understanding of ME/CFS as a complex, biological disease.”

The new guide outlines key principles of quality research, including validity, reliability, and the crucial role of replication. It also provides a checklist for healthcare professionals to scrutinize a study’s source, methodology, and conclusions. The toolkit emphasises the importance of avoiding common research biases, such as confirmation bias and multiple testing bias, and advocates for the use of proper diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS research.

To help doctors quickly assess the quality of a study, ANZMES has identified key “red flags” and “green flags.”

Red flags of flawed science include studies with a conflict of interest (eg. funded by a for-profit entity), a lack of ethical oversight, or poor methodology such as the absence of a control group or a high drop-out rate. Research that relies on vague data, shows confirmation bias, and overstates conclusions not supported by the evidence should be viewed with skepticism.

Green flags of robust science signal a study that is transparent about its funding, has undergone a formal ethical review, and uses rigorous methodology, including the use of precise diagnostic criteria. Good research also integrates objective data, acknowledges its limitations, and is published in a peer-reviewed journal. The most trustworthy research is one whose findings have been replicated by independent research teams.

ANZMES urges healthcare professionals to embrace shared decision-making, where well-informed patients and their lived experiences are central to the treatment plan. This collaborative approach is vital for building trust and ensuring the management plan respects the unique needs of individuals with this historically misunderstood condition.

Access full article and one-page toolkit here:

Press Release: Prescription & Dispensing Rule Changes | Medicines Control Group

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Date – 2nd October 2025

The Associated New Zealand Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Society (ANZMES) has lodged a formal submission with Medicines Control, calling for an urgent review of medication dispensing regulations that are causing significant harm to New Zealanders with chronic illnesses. This action follows a complaint from a community member to one of our ME/CFS organisations that was escalated to Medicines Control by the Health and Disability Commissioner’s office. As the National Advisory it is ANZMES’s responsibility to highlight the public interest in the issue.


The submission, written on behalf of the ME/CFS, Long COVID, and wider chronic illness communities, details how the current “one-size-fits-all” system creates severe financial, logistical, and health burdens for the country’s most vulnerable patients. It highlights the direct clash between rigid, frequent dispensing requirements and the medical realities of living with energy-limiting conditions that leave many housebound and/or bedbound. The member who submitted the original complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner stated “I am disabled and cannot always drive. Not all of us can simply jump in a car to collect our medication.” This emphasises the lived experience of many with ME/CFS and other chronic conditions.


Under current regulations, many controlled drugs essential for managing complex symptoms have a maximum one-month prescription length, with dispensing often fragmented further into weekly lots. This forces patients who were previously stable on three-month prescriptions to now secure a new script every 30 days, tripling their costs and putting their health at serious risk for pharmacy trips.


The submission includes powerful patient testimonies, with one member stating they were refused essential medication one day early, leaving them without it for three days. Many patients, especially those with mobility issues, rely on caregivers or support workers to pick up essential medication who are not available for weekly or monthly pick-ups.


ANZMES is calling for a review of dispensing frequency and prescription length, fees and a patient-centred system that allows for flexible dispensing and clear exceptions for those in severe categories.


“This is not a request for special treatment – we are urging for equitable access to essential healthcare for some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable citizens” states Fiona Charlton, AZNMES President. “We have officially put this case to Medicines Control and await a response that prioritises the well-being of all New Zealanders.”

Press release – ANZMES Submission: draft New Zealand Disability Strategy | Whaikaha

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26th September 2025 – For immediate release

In a formal submission to Whaikaha (Ministry of Disabled People), the Associated New Zealand Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Society (ANZMES) has responded to the draft New Zealand Disability Strategy 2026-2030 as part of the open public consultation, closing 28th September. ANZMES warns the strategy will fail tens of thousands of New Zealanders unless the government addresses fundamental systemic barriers and provides essential support for people with ME/CFS.

Despite meeting the government’s own definition of disability, ME/CFS is classified as a “chronic illness,” rendering patients ineligible for Disability Support Services (DSS). This exclusion also impacts the growing number of New Zealanders with Long COVID, as studies show up to 50% of them meet the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS.

“This strategy’s aspirations for accessibility and equity are just words on a page for our community. We are dealing with a broken, top-down funding model that creates impossible barriers and leaves people to fend for themselves until their health deteriorates completely.” says ANZMES President, Fiona Charlton. 

The submission argues that the core problem is a government funding model based on a predetermined budget rather than a true assessment of need. This forces Whaikaha to create narrow eligibility criteria that exclude conditions like ME/CFS, a situation compounded by the lack of data collection that makes these conditions invisible to policymakers.

“The current approach is an ‘ambulance at the bottom of the cliff’,” Fiona Charlton added. “Providing moderate support early can prevent people from declining to more severe levels, which is more compassionate and more fiscally prudent. The government cannot claim to have an equitable strategy while ignoring a significant portion of the disabled community.”

To create a truly inclusive and effective strategy, ANZMES urges Whaikaha to take a cross-cutting approach that addresses the specific needs of people with ME/CFS. The first and most critical step is to formally classify ME/CFS as a disability, which will ensure equitable access to essential services such as home help, mobility aids, and financial assistance. This must be supported by the implementation of comprehensive data collection and systematic coding for ME/CFS and Long COVID across health and social systems to inform a new, needs-based budget. Furthermore, the government must eliminate the current “postcode lottery” of care by committing to an urgent nationwide rollout of the Enabling Good Lives model. Support must also extend to investing in flexible employment, mandating disability competence training for key workforces, and developing specialised housing solutions with long-term residential care for the most severely affected individuals.

ANZMES is calling for a fundamental shift from an arbitrary budget to a system that identifies the true scale of need and funds it accordingly.

Press Release – ANZMES Demands Urgent Action on Severe ME Day, Highlighting “Systemic Neglect” of Thousands Bedridden in NZ

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Severe ME Day, the Associated New Zealand Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Society (ANZMES) is issuing an urgent call for government action to address the systemic neglect of New Zealanders living with Severe and Very Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).  ANZMES highlights that an estimated 25% of the 65,000 Kiwis with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)  – over 16,000 people – are housebound or completely bedridden, many requiring 24/7 care simply to survive.

Severe ME is a devastating, multi-systemic neurological illness that can leave individuals unable to tolerate light, sound, or touch. It can rob them of the ability to speak, eat, or perform any basic self-care. Despite the severity and scale of the crisis, these individuals remain largely invisible, trapped within their homes and failed by a healthcare system ill-equipped to meet their needs.

Fiona Charlton, ANZMES president states “Their suffering is compounded by a healthcare system that lacks the necessary expertise and facilities. On Severe ME Day, we are not just asking for awareness, we are demanding tangible commitments from MPs to provide safe, compassionate, and evidence-based care. Inaction is no longer an option.”

ANZMES is calling on policymakers to address this crisis by actioning specific, urgent changes:

  • Fund Dedicated Care: Establish funding for dedicated ME/CFS respite and long-term residential care facilities staffed by healthcare professionals trained by ANZMES in the specific needs of severe ME patients.
  • Mandate Education: Implement mandated ME/CFS education for all healthcare professionals to ensure safe, evidence-based practice and prevent the harm caused by inappropriate advice like Graded Exercise Therapy (GET).
  • Update Disability Policy: Formally include ME/CFS in all national disability support policies and frameworks, as recommended by the United Nations, to ensure access to essential support.
    • United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD. In its 2022 review, the Committee made a recommendation that the New Zealand government should: “Expressly include ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) in disability policy and practice, to ensure access for persons with ME/CFS to health care and disability services”.

As part of the campaign, ANZMES is running an InMEmory Tribute to honour the individuals who have been lost to ME/CFS and to acknowledge those currently living in profound isolation. 

“Every name and country in our tribute represents a life devastated by this illness and a family left to navigate a broken system,” said ANZMES President. “Their lived stories are the reason we fight for a future where no one is left to suffer in silence.”

ANZMES urges the public, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to visit its website Severe ME Day 2025 to access critical resources and learn how they can support the urgent call for action. 

Understanding ME/CFS and long COVID
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a long-term, multi-systemic illness affecting the nervous, endocrine, autonomic, cardiovascular, and immune systems. It is often triggered by a viral illness and involves overwhelming fatigue and other symptoms that range in severity. Patients experience severe fatigue, post-exertional malaise (PEM), unrefreshing sleep, cognitive impairment, and orthostatic intolerance (to list a few). With over 100-200+ potential symptoms, the condition’s impact can vary greatly, making diagnosis and management highly individualised. Roughly 25% of all ME/CFS cases are categorised as mild, 50% as moderate-severe (housebound) and 25% as very severe (bedbound).

Long COVID (LC) is characterised by persistent, unexplained symptoms following infection with COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) lasting more than 12 weeks and not explained by an alternative diagnosis. Both conditions share symptoms such as extreme fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and post-exertional symptom exacerbation (PESE), with up to 50% of long COVID cases fitting the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS.

COVID developing to ME/CFS

Using data from a long COVID research initiative run by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), the incidence of ME/CFS is now considered 15 times higher than pre-pandemic levels, and that people with a history of COVID are almost eight times as likely to develop the chronic condition. 

Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) 

Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM), also referred to as post-exertional symptom exacerbation (PESE) in the context of long COVID, is a debilitating response to normal, every-day activities in people with ME/CFS. For individuals with severe-very severe ME/CFS or LC, this can be triggered by sensory overload, such as exposure to light or even simple conversations. Repeated episodes of PEM can exacerbate these already severe symptoms, and even minimal exertion can lead to significant setbacks for the patient’s health and wellbeing.

About ANZMES
The Associated New Zealand ME Society is the National Advisory on ME/CFS. Established in 1980, ANZMES has been at the forefront of research, representation, and education for ME/CFS in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The organisation’s expertise comes from its reputable medical team of advisors, which includes a world renowned expert and MNZM recipient, a fellow of the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) and a network of academic researchers, clinicians, and representatives from the ME community.

The organisation is a registered provider of continuing medical education with the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) and is dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by ME/CFS, long COVID, and associated conditions.

ANZMES is a founding member of the World ME Alliance, and a member of the Neurological Alliance NZ,  NZ Carers Alliance, long COVID Alliance, Disabled Persons Assembly NZ (DPA), and Access Matters. ANZMES is affiliated with: Aotearoa COVID Action, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes Aotearoa New Zealand.

The organisation’s vision is to live in a world where Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), long COVID (and associated conditions) are recognised, supported, diagnosed early, treated effectively, and cured.

The vision focuses the organisation’s mission as the trusted leader to fund and generate robust Aotearoa research, represent the global voice, and educate through best practice to improve outcomes.

The vision and mission drive the organisation’s purpose as the leading National Advisory to produce and deliver quality, reputable, authoritative, evidence-based information, data, research, and education. We represent the needs of the community to ensure best outcomes are the primary focus of healthcare, legislation, and services that affect people living with ME, long COVID, fibromyalgia, and dysautonomia.

Press Release – ANZMES Urges Rejection of the Regulatory Standards Bill: “A Threat to Public Health and Equity”

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Release Date: 23rd June 2025

The Associated New Zealand Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Society (ANZMES) has lodged a formal submission opposing the Regulatory Standards Bill currently before the Finance and Expenditure Committee, warning that the legislation poses serious threats to public health, equity, and democratic governance.

While framed as a mechanism for improving legislation, ANZMES argues that the Bill prioritises corporate interests and economic efficiency at the expense of community wellbeing, Māori rights under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the government’s ability to protect its citizens.

“This Bill would codify neglect, lock in inequities, and diminish the government’s ability to act in the public interest,” said ANZMES President, Fiona Charlton.

Key concerns raised by ANZMES include:

  • Erosion of Public Health Protections: The Bill’s failure to include a public harm principle and its introduction of ‘takings’ provisions could deter life-saving regulations such as tobacco control, healthy housing, and pandemic preparedness.
  • Undermining Te Tiriti o Waitangi: The Bill promotes a narrow and universalist interpretation of “equality before the law” that disregards the Crown’s obligations to Māori. This risks dismantling targeted programmes essential for reducing health inequities.
  • Impact on the ME/CFS Community: With over 65,000 New Zealanders living with ME/CFS, ANZMES highlights how the Bill’s rigid economic framing would entrench the existing exclusion from disability supports, reduce funding for biomedical research, and block future policy progress.
  • Increased Bureaucratic Burden: For individuals with chronic illnesses like ME/CFS—many of whom experience cognitive and physical crashes following exertion—the Bill’s additional regulatory requirements would impose impossible barriers to engagement and justice.
  • Post-Viral Illness and Long COVID: With ME/CFS often triggered by viral infections, the Bill’s chilling effect on public health interventions could fuel a rise in disabling post-viral conditions and increase long-term health costs to the nation.

ANZMES calls for the complete rejection of the Regulatory Standards Bill, asserting that New Zealand needs compassionate, evidence-based regulation—not a framework that puts profits over people.

“This Bill won’t fix the system—it will freeze it in dysfunction,” said Charlton. “We need legislation that protects and uplifts our most vulnerable, not policies that entrench neglect.”

Ends.

For media inquiries, please contact, Angela Cayford:  

info@anzmes.org.nz | 03 471 6203

ANZMES Announces Third Year of Grant and Scholarship Programme to Propel ME/CFS and Long COVID Research in 2025

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Photo Credit: Pixabay/user_id:143740 – jarmoluk-laboratory-2815641_1280.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ANZMES, Aotearoa’s National Advisory on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), is proud to announce the launch of its 2025 Grant and Scholarship Programme for postgraduate students and academic researchers. The programme is aimed at supporting students who are interested in researching ME/CFS and long COVID. Marking the third consecutive year of this vital initiative, the programme continues its dedicated support for groundbreaking research into ME/CFS and the overlapping challenges of Long COVID within New Zealand.  

ME/CFS is a debilitating chronic condition involving overwhelming ongoing fatigue. Although millions of people suffer with the illness worldwide there is remarkably little research or funding available. 

ANZMES urges postgraduate students and academic researchers across Aotearoa to consider applying for the 2025 Grant and Scholarship Programme.

Fiona Charlton, ANZMES President, states, “As we enter the third year of our Programme, we are incredibly encouraged by the calibre of research from our previous recipients. The funding we are offering can provide crucial support for innovative projects, helping to pay for fees, study, living, or laboratory expenses, and ultimately improving the lives of those affected by these conditions.”

The 2024 recipients included:

  • Associate Professor Mona Jeffreys and Kahurangi Dey from Victoria University of Wellington, who were awarded a $25,000 grant for their project, “Exploring the Prevalence and Determinants of Food Insecurity in People with ME/CFS and/or Long COVID.” Their work also aims to contribute to an ME/CFS Registry in New Zealand.  
  • Melissa Blanc from Auckland University of Technology, received a $5,000 scholarship for her systematic review titled, “Exercise in ME/CFS Patients: Helpful or Harmful?” This research addresses the ongoing debate surrounding exercise recommendations for ME/CFS patients.  
  • Beth Hobbs from Victoria University of Wellington, was awarded a $5,000 scholarship for her project, “Psychological Support for ME/CFS Patients in Canterbury,” focusing on improving patient outcomes, particularly for those who are housebound.  

The impact of this programme extends beyond a single funding cycle. Illustrating the progression of research fostered by ANZMES, Dr. Nicholas Bowden of the University of Otago, a 2023 grant recipient, has recently had his significant study on the experiences of individuals with ME/CFS in New Zealand submitted for peer review to BMC Public Health. This demonstrates the tangible contributions ANZMES-funded research is making to the broader scientific discourse. Read more here: Study provides data on life with ME | Otago Daily Times Online News

For the 2025 funding round, ANZMES is pleased to offer substantial support for researchers dedicated to advancing our understanding of ME/CFS and its intersection with Long COVID. The programme includes:  

Two grants are being offered for postgraduate studies or academic research in either the Faculty of Science, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, or Faculty of Sport and Exercise Science to contribute towards the costs of laboratory analysis or for a research project on ME/CFS or ME/CFS and long COVID. Up to $25,000 per Grant may be awarded.

Four scholarship awards (up to a value of $5,000 each) will be offered to students to contribute towards the expenses of studying for a postgraduate degree in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Public Health or Humanities/Social Sciences for a student who can demonstrate financial project cost requirements or study expenses and who are conducting study/research on ME/CFS or ME/CFS and Long COVID.

Our funding programme is made possible by the support of our members.

Applicants will be selected by ANZMES on the recommendation of their Scholarships Committee.

Applications for 2025 opened 31 May and close on 31 July 2025.

Further information and application forms are available at:

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