Disclaimer: These organisations, social groups, and individuals mentioned, are independently run, and not monitored by ANZMES.
Auckland
ME Support
ME Support is a charity that provides free support to people (and their families/carers) with ME/CFS and related conditions, including Long-COVID.
Website: https://www.mesupport.org.nz/
Phone: 0800 632 553
Email: info@mesupport.org.nz
Facebook: ME/CFS Support Group NZ: https://www.facebook.com/groups/110616075638479/(Please note: This group accepts members from all over New Zealand)
Online Support Groups: ME Support hosts both informal social groups and structured groups with guest speakers. These groups are run twice a month – on the first Thursday of the month at 6:30pm-7:30pm, and the third Thursday of the month at 1pm-2pm. Please see their Facebook events page for updated details and information: https://www.facebook.com/groups/110616075638479/events
Face to Face Support Groups: ME Support hosts monthly face-to-face groups for members in West, Central, East, and South Auckland. They hope to add a North Auckland group soon. Please see their Facebook events page for updated details and information: https://www.facebook.com/groups/110616075638479/events
Youth Support Group: ME Support hosts an online youth support group space fortnightly on Wednesday evenings on Discord (an onling meeting platform). This group is for members aged 17 and under. Please contact ME Support by email for more information on info@mesupport.org.nz
For more information about ME Support’s online and face-to-face support groups, you can contact them by email on info@mesupport.org.nz
Rest Assured Respite Charitable Trust
Provide practical support to those with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia (FM). The long term aim of the trust is to provide a place of respite for those with the illnesses. In the interim we operate two opshops and offer a MEal Support Programme, MEntor Programme and Craft Group. restassuredrespitetrust.org/
Bay of Plenty, Lakes, Waikato, Wellington, Nelson, National
Complex Chronic Illness Support (CCIS) Inc. Head Office
Contact: Miranda Whitwell – CEO
Website: www.ccisupport.org.nz
Email: info@ccisupport.co.nz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mecfsbop
Phone: 0800 224 787 or 07 281 1481
Phone or Text: 022 658 0251
Services:
Health and Wellness Facilitators
We have qualified Health and Wellness Facilitators who work 1:1 with members and the community to provide support, mentoring, advice, counselling, and advocacy.
Support Group Meetings
The online support group meetings offer the opportunity for members to learn more about the conditions they have and connect with our Health and Wellness Facilitators, and to share ideas and support with one another.
Social Groups
The CCI Support social groups are available in person in the Bay of Plenty, Lakes, Waikato and Wellington.
Online we have a Nelson/Marlborough Support group, Mens, Doing it alone, Mums, Supporters and many other social groups.
Workshops
Regular Meditation and Mindfulness workshops are being held, as well as in person (Bay of Plenty) and online Restorative Movement Workshops. We also run supporters’ workshops for those who support people living with ME/CFS, Long COVID and Fibromyalgia
Towards Wellness Programme
The CCI Support Towards Wellness Programme offers the best of research-based knowledge into an easy-to-understand package to help people living with complex chronic illness begin to find their next steps towards wellness.
Private Facebook Group
A great way to meet people throughout New Zealand, that are travelling the same journey as you. For support, encouragement and information.
Newsletters
CCI Support creates and distributes a comprehensive newsletter to our members, including up-to-date research, information, strategies, techniques, wellness stories, plus links to events and meetings.
CCI Support Western Bay of Plenty (Tauranga)
Email: wbop@ccisupport.org.nz
Phone or Text: 027 625 4449
CCI Support Waikato (Hamilton)
Email: waikato@ccisupport.org.nz
Phone or Text: 022 154 7076
CCI Support Eastern Bay of Plenty (Whakatane)
Email: wbop@ccisupport.org.nz
Phone or Text: 027 625 4449
CCI Support Lakes (Rotorua)
Email: wbop@ccisupport.org.nz
Phone or Text: 027 625 4449
CCI Support Wellington
Email: wellington@ccisupport.org.nz
Phone or Text: 027 245 5961
CCI Support Nelson
Email: nelson@ccisupport.org.nz
Phone or Text: 022 500 1670
CCIS National
Email: nz@ccisupport.org.nz
Phone or Text: 022 500 1670
Canterbury and West Coast
MECFS Canterbury
Canterbury Website
Contact: Nicola Stokes (Manager) and Clare Lawrence and Amanda Wyatt (Registered Nurses)
Email: info@mecfscanterbury.nz
Phone: 03 365 5887 or 020 4027 0176
Webpage: www.mecfscanterbury.nz
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mecfssupportgroupcanterbury/
Physical address:
71 Orbell St, Sydenham, Christchurch 8023
Postal Address:
PO Box 10090, Phillipstown, Christchurch 8045
Gisborne – East Coast
Contact: Moira Lewis
Email: moiralewis@xtra.co.nz
Hamilton/Waikato
CCI Support Waikato (Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, and surrounding areas)
Email: waikato@ccisupport.org.nz
Phone or Text: 022 154 7076
Napier / Hawkes Bay
Contact: Sandra Forsyth
Phone: 021 024 765 95
Email: ME.CFS.HawkesBay@gmail.com
Nelson, Blenheim and Marlborough
CCI Support National
Email: nz@ccisupport.org.nz
Phone or Text: 022 500 1670
Otago and Southland
MEISS ‘ME Information and Support Service’ Otago and Southland Inc.’
Area covers – Dunedin, Oamaru and Invercargill
MEISS Otago and Southland Website
Contact: Kerry Lanauze and Heather Wilson
Phone: (03) 471-6169
Email: meiss.support@gmail.com
Meiss Website link
Support group meetings are held in Dunedin on the last Tuesday of the month. They are Zoom meetings at present so those home and bedbound can attend. The link is provided in our newsletter. This zoom meeting is available for anyone in the Otago/Southland region.
Invercargill – Southland
Phone: (03) 471-6169 for inquiries
Support group meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month. Meetings are led by Christine McKercher.
East Otago Support Group – Gore
Contact: Christine McKercher
Phone: (03) 208-0111
East Otago Support Group – Gore
Contact: John Ibbitson
Phone: (03) 208 6966
Oamaru/Waimate
Contact: Suzanne Duffy
Phone: (03) 689-8847
Email: n.s.riviera@xtra.co.nz
Timaru
Contact: Lyn Mason
Phone: (03) 684 7099
NZcare4ME
NZcare4ME is a Facebook support group for carers of young people with ME/CFS and related illnesses. We provide a local (NZ) forum for friendly supportive chat, links to latest research and pathways to help. Some regions have begun their own meet ups
https://www.facebook.com/NZcare4ME/
Palmerston North
Palmerston North ME/FM support group
Contact: Leah Baken
Phone: (06) 3267305
Email: memanawatu@gmail.com
Rotorua/Lakes
CCIS Lakes (Rotorua)
Email: lakes@ccisupport.org.nz
Phone or Text: 020 4017 9091
Taranaki/New Plymouth
Support Group based in New Plymouth
contact: Stacey 0274274783
Email: Stacey – staceace77@hotmail.com
Support Group meetings are held on the 1st of every month from 10am – 11am. Meetings are held at The Kitchen Table Cafe, 30 Hori Street, Vogeltown, New Plymouth.
Wellington and surrounding areas
CCIS Wellington
Email: wellington@ccisupport.org.nz
Phone: 027 245 5961
Whanganui
Social Coffee Group for ME/CFS/Fibro sufferers is being set up
Phone: Linda Deakin 021 148 8553 (anytime for information)
Whakatane
CCIS Eastern Bay of Plenty (Whakatane)
Email: ebop@ccisupport.org.nz
Phone or Text: 020 4017 9092
Contact people in areas where no support group is present, or ‘not necessarily affiliated with a support group’
Timaru – Jean Gee
Phone: (03) 686 1232
Email: grajea15@gmail.com
Timaru – Lyn Mason
Phone: (03) 684 7099
Karamea – Janet Lodge
Email: janliza888@gmail.com
or
Rosemary Christiansen
Phone: (03) 972 3853 10am – 6pm only
Email: rosedawn.c@gmail.com
North Canterbury – Christine Benson
Phone: (03) 314 2340 10am – 6pm only
Email: benlea@actrix.co.nz
Rangiora – Julia Raymer
Email: juliaraymer@orcon.net.nz
Nelson – Miriam Gratton
Phone: 027-243-7124
Email: auntsally01@msn.com
