Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand

19/08/2026

What does living with Hepatitis B actually look like?

A huge thank you to Helen and Rāwiri for sharing their lived experience in our latest video. They shed light on how Hep B affects whole whānau, and how continuous support from the Hepatitis Foundation and specialised health professionals makes all the difference.

Key takeaways from Helen & Rāwiri:
🔹 Hep B often runs in families—getting checked is an act of care for your whole whānau.
🔹 With the right monitoring and care, you can live a long, healthy life.
🔹 You don't have to navigate it alone.

📽️ Watch their story below.
(Prefer a deeper dive? Check the comments for the full 8-minute version!)

28/07/2026

💙 Remember • Celebrate • Hope 💙

Today, the team at The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand gathered to mark World Hepatitis Day with a special morning inspired by Matariki and our shared vision for the future.

We took time to pause and reflect in three special ways:

🕯️ Remember: We lit a candle and held a moment of silence for the patients who passed away this year. Their journeys remind us why the work we do matters so deeply.

⭐ Celebrate: Each team member wrote down an achievement from the past year on a blue star. We celebrated so much - from patient advocacy videos and research studies to nurse-led pilots, health webinars, and simply working together to build meaningful connections with our patients.

✨ Hope: On a second blue star, we wrote our hopes for the year ahead - advocating for a National Hep B Action Plan, better patient resources, stronger political action, and continuing the push toward a cure.

To all our patients, supporters, and healthcare partners: thank you for being part of our journey. Together, a hepatitis-free future is within reach.

17/06/2026

The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand (HFNZ) was proud to attend and exhibit at Rotorua GPCME 2026, held last week at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua.

Our Hepatitis Nurses were on hand to share the latest hepatitis B (HBV) updates and resources, engaging with GP’s, nurses, practice managers, and the many other healthcare professionals from across the country.

It was a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge, strengthen connections, and raise awareness about Hepatitis B and the work of HFNZ.

Congratulations to the winners of our HFNZ giveaway:

Dr Anne Dibley – Ruatahi Medical Centre, Rotorua.
Dr Sophie Fargher – Mt Eden Medical Centre, Auckland.

Thank-you everyone who stopped by our stand. We look forward to continuing to work together to improve hepatitis B, awareness, education, and care throughout New Zealand.

17/06/2026

🇳🇿 A New Era of Hepatitis B: Eliminating HBV in Aotearoa New Zealand

As we edge closer to the 2030 global elimination goals, the landscape for managing chronic hepatitis B is shifting rapidly. Are we ready for what's next?

Join the Goodfellow Unit on July 21st at 7:30 PM for a vital webinar hosted by Professor Ed Gane, exploring how science, clinical insights, and public health strategy intersect to reshape the future of hepatitis B care in New Zealand.

We will dive deep into three critical pillars of modern management:

🔬 1. The Science of a Cure An update on the latest clinical advancements, including highly anticipated regulatory progress for bepirovirsen—a potential first-in-class treatment aimed at achieving a functional cure.

🏥 2. Delivering Excellence in Primary Care A look at optimising the Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand (HFNZ) model. We'll discuss how primary care providers can seamlessly integrate monitoring and patient management to ensure no one falls through the cracks.

🗺️ 3. The Case for a National Action Plan A collaborative look at the urgent need for a cohesive, nationally funded Hepatitis B Action Plan to streamline diagnosis, improve treatment access, and reduce the burden of liver disease across Aotearoa.

If you are a primary care provider, specialist, or public health advocate, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Discover how these developments intersect to improve patient outcomes and why a coordinated national strategy is essential for the next chapter of viral hepatitis elimination.

🗓️ Date: Tuesday, 21 July
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM NZST
🔗 Register here: https://auckland.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cLMf5QvSQaSH6sjRf--hzA #/registration

11/05/2026

Happy Nurses Day to our Community Heroes!

On May 12th, we celebrate International Nurses Day, and at The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand, we're especially grateful for our amazing community nurses!

They are the backbone of our support system, providing vital care and education to those living with chronic hepatitis B. From in-home visits to clinic coordination, their dedication ensures our patients receive the best possible care.

We can't thank them enough for their hard work, and compassion, and for being a friendly face for many.

Join us in celebrating! Share your appreciation on social media using and

15/04/2026

Welcome to the team, Nancy Carey! 💙

We are thrilled to introduce our newest Community Hepatitis Nurse, Nancy! 🩺

Many of you in the Waikato region might already recognise Nancy. She’s been a champion for liver health for over 20 years, from running clinical trials to coordinating regional Hep C services. After a short stint in surgical nursing, she’s "returned home" to hepatology to help us support our patients across Aotearoa.

Nancy is a firm believer that every role is an opportunity to meet inspiring people and hone her clinical skills. When she isn’t helping our community, she’s likely in her Hamilton kitchen baking fresh sourdough or spending quality time with her husband, Steve, and their two beloved grandchildren. 🥖👵

Join us in giving Nancy a warm welcome in the comments! 👇

22/12/2025

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday break. From all of us here at The Hepatitis Foundation.

Our office will be closed from 12pm on Friday 19th December and reopen on Monday 5th January 2026. You can contact the team on [email protected] and we will respond on our return.

11/12/2025

🚨 Is the Hepatitis B Vaccine Safe? What You Need to Know. 🚨

Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine recommendation narrowing the agency's hepatitis B immunisation guidance for newborns in the United States the Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand reaffirms its unwavering support for the country’s universal hepatitis B vaccination schedule which has been a cornerstone of New Zealand's public health for over 35 years.

And for good reason:

* 94,000 Kiwis are currently impacted by this dangerous, cancer-causing virus.
* The vaccine is the best prevention against chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
* For babies born to mothers with Hepatitis B, the vaccine within 24 hours of birth is 90% crucial for preventing a lifelong chronic illness.

Professor Ed Gane, Specialist Hepatologist, confirms: "The Hepatitis B vaccine is a crucial investment in the long-term health and prosperity of all New Zealanders."

It’s more than just an injection; it’s a powerful tool for protecting our most vulnerable.

Want the facts about New Zealand's world-leading vaccination program and how it protects your whānau?

👉 Click to read the Foundation's full statement and find out who is eligible for the free vaccine:

Following international reports and political commentary questioning the efficacy and safety of the hepatitis B vaccine, the Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand today reaffirmed its unwavering support

12/11/2025

We have the tools to tackle hepatitis, but without finding the missing thousands of New Zealanders, we can’t achieve elimination.

Did you know nearly 100,000 New Zealanders live with chronic hepatitis B and 60% remain undiagnosed? Most people have no symptoms, so you may not know you have it. Left unmonitored, hepatitis B can lead to liver damage and eventually to liver cancer. Ongoing damage to your liver can be prevented and we can help with ongoing monitoring.

If you can answer ‘Yes’ to any of the below:
- You are over 35 years of age
- You are of Māori, Pacific or Asian ethnicity
- Your mother or close family member has hepatitis B
- You live with someone who has hepatitis B
- You were born outside New Zealand, from a high risk country
- Have had unprotected s*x with a person living with hepatitis
- Have ever injected drugs
- Have received a tattoo using unsterilised equipment

You are more at risk of having contracted hepatitis B.

Let’s get you tested today, call 0800 33 20 10 or ask your GP for a blood test to check. It could save your life.

06/10/2025

Reminder: Join us for our informative webinar tomorrow night at 7pm, where you can learn about reducing the risks of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)/Liver cancer from our Specialist Hepatologist, Dr Alex Lampen-Smith.

Health professionals, this one is for you - come along to our Webinar on October 8th - Healthy livers: Understanding the causes and how to reduce the risk of liver cancer.

Over 400 New Zealanders are diagnosed with primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC), each year. This cancer disproportionately impacts Maori, Pasifika, and Asian communities, as hepatitis B is the main cause. 94,000 people in Aotearoa are living with hepatitis B (HBV), and almost half are undiagnosed. Along with hepatitis B, metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, formally known as NAFLD), alcohol use and hepatitis C are the other main risk factors for liver cancer in Aotearoa.

This webinar will provide an overview of the key risk factors for liver cancer along with liver assessment in primary care, important advice for optimising liver health, liver cancer risk reduction, monitoring and early detection.

Presented by Dr. Alex Lampen-Smith, a Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist at Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty and Specialist Hepatologist for the Hepatitis Foundation of NZ, will guide our discussion.

Join us Wednesday, October 8 - 7-8pm for this evening webinar to learn how you can better support your patients.

REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED
Use the link: https://lnkd.in/g6ggsJ53