Respiratory Community News

Celebrating te wiki o te reo Māori!

During Māori Language Week (14-20 September), Heremana Te Kōpūtōtara (Sailor the Pufferfish) visited kura across Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) alongside his friend and presenter, Hinerongonui Kingi, educating over 400 tamariki on huangō (asthma) and ngā timatanga (asthma triggers). The shows were thanks to a partnership between the Foundation and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission).

During this time, the team at the Foundation also took part in the ‘Māori Language Moment’. The ‘moment’ marked the day and the hour in 1972 that a group of Māori language champions presented a petition on the steps of parliament calling for te reo to be taught in our schools. To recognise this, the Foundation shared a few of our

Kaikorai Valley College bake sale

Kaikorai Valley College student, Maddy Himburg, contacted the Foundation recently about a social justice and human rights project that she, and fellow students were working on for their social studies class. The students wanted to work with a well-established organisation to either volunteer, or raise funds or awareness. As a result, they decided to organise a bake sale (featuring blue cupcakes to represent the Foundation) which raised over $90 in funds! The Foundation welcomes fundraising initiatives throughout the year. If you, or your school or workplace would like to raise funds or awareness for asthma in New Zealand, get in touch with the team at Valley College - we really appreciate it!

Volunteers needed for clinical trials

The New Zealand Respiratory and Sleep Institute (NZRSI) are looking for volunteers to undertake studies with the following respiratory conditions: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, IPF, COPD, or severe asthma.

Clinical research trials are necessary to help better understand, diagnose, treat, or cure certain diseases or conditions. Without clinical trials, many life-saving medicines would not be available today.

It is important to note that these studies have a very strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, so not everyone is guaranteed a place on the trial. There is no cost to participate, travel and accommodation costs (if needed) may also be reimbursed, and all patients will benefit from a thorough medical review - regardless of inclusion in the study, or not. If you are interested, email: research@nzrsi.health.nz for more information.