What we do
Allergy New Zealand is a national membership-based, not-for-profit society whose primary role is to provide information, education, and support to the many thousands of New Zealanders living with allergies, including those at risk of anaphylaxis.
We also represent their interests particularly to government, policy makers and the media, provide information and guidance to the health, education and food sectors, and support research.
We have the advice and support of a medical panel, which is made up of allergy specialists, nurses and dietitians (see below). One of these specialists, Associate Professor Rohan Ameratunga at the Auckland Medical School and District Health Board, is the current Medical Panel representative on our Board.
Since 2007, we have been honoured to have Peter Charles Leitch QSM , aka The Mad Butcher, as our Allergy New Zealand Ambassador. Peter has provided an enormous amount of support in fundraising and building our profile.
How we operate
A Board of Directors is elected by members at our Annual General Meeting. Staff at our head office in Auckland include:
Chief Executive
Penny Jorgensen
Communications coordinator
Rebecca Oliver
Membership Services
Julie Dunsmuir
National Support Network
Many members assist Allergy New Zealand on a voluntary basis particularly in providing support through our National Support Network. Regional Coordinators provide support to families in their local areas, using their personal experiences as well as training and resources provided by Allergy New Zealand. Our support network is growing, so click
here to find out who is in your area.
Members
As a membership-based organisation we welcome members and encourage people to join not only in order to receive regular information and access support, but also to support Allergy New Zealand and be a part of one of the leading patient/consumer-based organisations in New Zealand. If you would like to join, click
here.
Membership is open to anyone with an interest in allergy. Allergy New Zealand has more than 1000 members including 15 life members. We also provide complimentary membership on the grounds of hardship, as recommended by GPs and specialists. For a free information pack, which includes a copy of Allergy Today, contact
Membership Service.
Funding
Allergy New Zealand is supported by funding from grants, membership fees,
donations, and fundraising activities including sponsorship. Please note that as a registered charity, Allergy New Zealand has donee organisation status confirmed by Inland Revenue.
Research
Allergy New Zealand has a partnership agreement with the Auckland District Health Board for the purposes of establishing a National Food Allergy Research Programme.
The research programme is led by Assoc. Professor Rohan Ameratunga and the Research Fellow is Christine Crooks.
For more information and/or to support this programme financially, please contact Allergy New Zealand and chief executive
Penny Jorgensen.
History
We began in 1981 as ‘Allergy Awareness’, by people living with allergies, parents and interested health professionals. The organisation was run for many years by hard-working and dedicated volunteers including (to name just a few) Neil and Ivy Hickman, Dr J. Chunn, Carolyn Sutherland, John Datson, Margaret Wong, Joanna Paul, and Natalie Lloyd. Our sincere thanks go to these and the many other volunteers who have been involved, without whom Allergy New Zealand would not exist today.
In 1999, the organisation changed its name to ‘Allergy Awareness Association New Zealand’. In 2001 it became Allergy New Zealand Incorporated. As of 5 April 2007 we are registered with the New Zealand Charities Commission, Registration No: CC10148.
International support
We are a founding member of the international
Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Alliance, a network of national food allergy support organisations across 10 countries including Australia, USA, Canada, UK, Europe and Japan. Food Allergy is a global problem, and through the Alliance we are able to share the latest information and research and work together internationally in all areas which impact on food allergy sufferers.
Medical and Scientific Advisory Panel
Assoc Prof Rohan Ameratunga
Dr Brian Broom
Pauline Brown
Tania Clifton-Smith
Dr Penny Fitzharris
Jenny Heywood
Dr Allen Liang
Anna Richards
Dr Vincent St Aubyn Crump
Dr Richard Steele
