South Island Stroke Study Day 2025
Attend out upcoming study day designed for acute, rehabilitation and community staff who care for stroke patients.
August newsletter 2025
By Stroke Aotearoa
This month, we're calling for your help to support our vital 0800 STROKE helpline for those affected by stroke, their families, friends and loved ones.
A call for help
Stroke can feel like a life-sentence for those who first encounter this debilitating condition. It needn't be.
Every day, donations from kind-hearted people like you change the game to minimise the impacts of this life-changing event.
For many in our community, our 0800 4 STROKE freephone number is something they just can't do without.
The need for this service is great.
This year in New Zealand alone, over 7000 new stroke survivors and their loved ones will struggle to adjust to their new life – often with complex physical and mental challenges.
No one should have to navigate the dizzyingly confusing system of paperwork, community support services, rehabilitation, home care and funding on top of this.
Of the 2,005 Kiwis who were supported by our Stroke Community Navigators over the past twelve months, more than 60% (or 1,214 of them) were able to seek it through our 0800 STROKE free-phone service.
Help really is just a phone-call away and it costs the caller nothing when stroke has cost them so much.
We are one of only a few charities in New Zealand able to take on this huge task and we want to ensure this lifeline remains open. If you would like to help keep our 0800 STROKE line open with a donation today, please click here.
Children dealing with stroke can often feel left in the dark and unheard too.
To this end, we've partnered with the Barnado's WhatsUp team to make sure that help is never too far away for the young in our community as well.
Who you gonna call?
Stroke Aotearoa New Zealand has a free helpline where people affected by stroke, including people who support the stroke-affected community, can access support and guidance.
Busting the burnt toast theory
There are lots of burning questions about stroke. A special meet with WhatsUp Counsellors aimed to equip those at the frontline of youth work with the right answers to sort the facts from the fiction.
Stop stroke in its tracks. Achieve something great.
When you and your friends take action and fundraise for Stroke Aotearoa New Zealand, everybody wins!
This November, there are plenty of ways to show you mean business when it comes to fighting stroke, achieving something awesome and staying fighting fit.
Sign up for a fundraising event today!
We would love you to represent Stroke Aotearoa by taking on Wellington's WAI running festival, cycling the Taupo challenge, or walking or running the Auckland and Queenstown marathons.
Patrick raised $1,191 at Wellington Round the Bays in 2025, and says:
"Stroke has directly impacted my family. Ten years ago, my gran survived a stroke. We’re lucky to still have her around, but it had a huge impact on me."
"For that reason, I was proud to fundraise for Stroke Aotearoa, helping to support other survivors and their families, and raise awareness about what people can do in their everyday lives to reduce the risk of strokes."
Having a loved one affected by stroke was Briar's motivation for cycling 100km in the 2025 Road to Recovery challenge. She says:
"I came across the challenge through social media and Stroke Aotearoa New Zealand’s incredible work. It felt like it was calling me to be part of something so meaningful."
"Supporting Stroke Aotearoa through the challenge was my way of honoring my mum and every stroke survivor in Aotearoa."
Why wait until New Year's to set yourself some goals? Stroke waits for no one.
Noho ora mai, stay well
Jess Winchester
General Manager Marketing and Fundraising | Stroke Aotearoa New Zealand