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Meal preparation can be a difficult task for people with ME/CFS. If possible, try to have some ready-made meals in the freezer or quick meal options for those days when you are very unwell or need to conserve energy for tomorrow's activities. We have curated a list of ready-made meals options below for pickup or delivery to your home. Easy Meals Meal preparation can be a difficult task for people with ME/CFS. If possible, try to have some ready-made meals in the freezer or quick meal options for those days when you are very unwell or need to conserve energy for tomorrow's activities. Consider cooking in bulk and freezing meal-sized portions. We have curated a list of ready-made meals options below for pickup or delivery to your home, or purchase at your supermarket. Not many would be affordable on a tight budget, but perhaps you can share with your whānau, in case they are in a position to purchase some meals for you from time to time. We hope to add supermarket bought easy-prep meal options as well soon. Please note that we made our best efforts to ensure the details were accurate when added, but we may have missed updating some details. Please double check information on the suppliers website before purchasing and do let us know if you discover an error or can suggest an addition. We are grateful to the following ready-made meal suppliers who have offered discounts for our ME/CFS community. See full details and conditions further below. Several suppliers also have discounts for first time purchases or offer specials regularly. Clean Meals - 10% discount EATL8R - 10% discount Kai 2 You - 10% discount Meal Prep - 10% discount My Kitchen Table - 15% discount Also worth highlighting in the list below: Nourish Oraka, a charity based in Shirley, Christchurch, offers free meals. Meals on Wheels may be an option for you. Ask your GP to refer you. Gluten free and dairy free options are available from Clean Meals, Fit Food, Health Kicks, My Kitchen Table, MYLK Food Store, Primal Kitchen, Richards Real Kitchen. Health Kicks offer low FODMAP options. DISCLAIMER: We have no formal relationship with the business activities listed on this website page. Links to these activities are included for convenience. ME/CFS Canterbury / West Coast is not responsible for the currency or accuracy of content on such websites and the inclusion of such links does not imply endorsement by MECFS Canterbury of the linked website or its provider, products and services offered. Readers are advised to take their own appropriate due diligence steps prior to engaging with the businesses and individuals listed. Meals on Wheels https://www.cab.org.nz/community-directory/KB00033364 Hot, nutritious meals for people who have difficulty preparing their own meals. Freshly made meals with a main and a dessert for 3, 4 or 5 days per week. Meals are subsidised in Canterbury and the West Coast by Health NZ and cost $8.70 each. Clients are invoiced at the end of each month and pay Health NZ Canterbury by monthly direct credit or by automatic payment each week/fortnight. Meals on Wheels (MOW) are available by referral from a General Practice team or other Health Professional for a person that meets the following criteria: unable to prepare a hot meal without assistance due to a medical condition or disability; have no family or whānau assistance readily available; need a delivered meal to maintain good nutrition and independence. Other restrictions may apply. For availability in other regions, visit https://info.health.nz/services-support/support-services/meals-on-wheels or search the CAB website. GLUTEN FREE, LACTOSE FREE, VEGETERIAN, DIABETIC, MINCE, PUREED AND SOFT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Free delivery around noon each work day by volunteers, to Christchurch, Lincoln, Kaiapoi, Rangiora, Ashburton, Greymouth, Reefton, Hokitika, and some rural areas. Discount Offered - Nourish Oraka https://www.facebook.com/nourishoraka Free meals made from ingredients sourced from Kairos Food Rescue. This community group in Shirley, Christchurch, prepares free meals with ingredients sourced from Kairos Food Rescue, with the menu changing each week. All meals / soups are labelled with ingredients and allergens. GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS SOMETIMES AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Pickup only from store at 27 Acheson Ave, Shirley at limited times - usually Monday 1:30 to 2:30 and 5-6pm. Discount Offered - BBQuick https://bbquick.co.nz Real food, made properly — no shortcuts. Freshly made frozen full-sized meals, soups and desserts. Pricing starts at $14.49 per meal. Ready-to-go packs or pick-n-mix to build your own pack. VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Shipped nationwide from Dunedin with same or next day dispatch. Example shipping fee for 8 meal pack is $14.50 for South Island and $19.50 for North Island delivery. Discount Offered SuperGold Card holders are eligible for $10 off every BBQuick order over $99. Balance by Sim https://balancebysimo.co.nz Ready made meals for a healthy lifestyle by award-winning chef. Freshly made main meals. Subscription or casual pricing starts from $52.00 for minimum of 3 meals per week. GLUTEN FREE, KETO, VEGETARIAN, LOW CARB AND DIABETIC OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Delivered to your door in the Christchurch city area for $7 per delivery. Order by Sunday for Wednesday delivery. Discount Offered - Clean Meals https://cleanmeals.co.nz Eating clean doesn't need to be bland. Freshly made meals, breakfasts, and snacks. Meals are chilled not frozen. Prices start from $15.50 per meal. Subscriptions and one-off orders available. VEGETARIAN, VEGAN, GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE, NUT FREE, SHELLFISH FREE, SOY FREE, SPICY AND BENSON DETOX OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Pickup available in Christchurch. Nationwide delivery to your doorstep on Tuesday afternoon. Rural delivery at own risk. The cut-off time to change your meal selections or place an order for the following week is the previous Thursday at 6pm. Discount Offered Use code MECFS25C for 10% off your order. Crisp and Vale https://crispandvale.co.nz Chef-made heat and eat ready meals. Made fresh and stored frozen. Freshly made frozen meals, sides, soup, and dessert. Main meals start from $20.00 serving 2 to 3 people. Casual orders. GLUTEN FREE AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Pickup in Sydenham. Same day or next day delivery in Christchurch and surrounding suburbs for $12 within 15km radius, or $25 for up to 25 kms, with minimum spend of $60. Discount Offered - EATL8R https://www.eatl8r.co.nz Nutritious meals delivered to you. The Eatl8r menu changes weekly and with the seasons. Meals, soups, desserts with petite size meals starting at $13 and regular size at $15. Ingredient information provided. Delivery Details: Pickup in Waltham or delivered to Christchurch city suburbs for $6 or Canterbury for $11. Deliveries are made on Thursdays. Discount Offered Use code MECFS10 for 10% off your order. Eat https://www.eat.co.nz Home of fresh, ready to heat and eat meals delivered to your door. Freshly made meals, soups, desserts, and baking with regular sized meals (400g) starting from $13.50 and large (500g) from $15. Frozen potluck boxes and Tiddly meals are frozen. VEGETARIAN OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AND TEXTURE MODIFIDED PUREE MEALS ARE AVAILABLE that meet the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation (IDDSI) Level 4 Puree for people who have difficulty swallowing or have digestive problems. Delivery Details: Delivered nationwide from Wellington with a $35 shipping fee to the South Island. Order by 11am for delivery next day. Discount Offered - Farro https://www.farro.co.nz Dinner made deliciously easy. Build your own meal bundle and care package. Family meals, frozen pizzas, sides, soups, sauces, and desserts. Heat and Eat meals start from $14.99, 2-3 serve meals start from $19.99. Also available to purchase are meal bundles and ready-to-cook options. VEGETARIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Delivered from Auckland to Christchurch and surrounding areas for $35. Order by Thursday 10am for delivery on Monday. Discount Offered - Fit Food https://www.fitfood.co.nz Healthier. Easier. Better. Fresh and frozen single serve meals, family meals, meal bases, sides, sauces, breakfast meals, and desserts. Fresh meals starting from $12.00. Frozen meals starting from $14.90. Family meals starting from $37.90. Subscription or casual orders. KETO, GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE, VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Pickup from Rangiora on Monday and Tuesday. Delivery fee within South Island is $12.50. Order by Thursday night for Tuesday delivery. Discount Offered - Freshchef.nz https://freshchef.nz Chef made. Hearty portions are sealed to lock in the freshness & flavour. Freshly made frozen meals and desserts. Meals start from $15.99 with most around $18.49. Order a subscription box or purchase one-off. GLUTEN FREE, VEGAN, VEGETARIAN AND KETO OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. Ingredient information provided. Delivery Details: Pickup in Rangiora or delivered nationwide the next day with shipping starting from $9.90. Free shipping on your first order. Discount Offered - Health Kicks https://healthkicks.nz When life happens. We have you covered. Fresh lunch and dinner meals changing each week. Plans start from $70.00 per week for 5 meals. Order meal packs by subscription or one-time purchase. MOST MEALS ARE GLUTEN AND DAIRY FREE. VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Order by Monday evening for delivery in Christchurch, Timaru and Ashburton on the following Monday. Shipping within Christchurch around $7. Do not deliver to rural addresses. Discount Offered - Healthy Kiwi Dinners https://www.healthykiwidinners.co.nz/ Roast dinners and more that bring comfort, warmth and satisfaction. Frozen and fresh meals, salads, sandwiches, soup and desserts. Fresh meals from $14 and available in three different sizes. Frozen meals are $14 each. Bulk pricing specials. Order by phone. GLUTEN FREE AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Pickup in Woolston or delivered to Christchurch area only for around $8 on minimum order of $30. Discount Offered - Just Good Food https://justgoodfood.co.nz Want natural, home-made meals without the fuss of making it? Frozen meals and desserts. Regular meals $12.00, large mains $14.00, Desserts are $10.00. Ingredient information provided. Delivery Details: Christchurch delivery only with $5 fee for minimum order of $40. Free delivery for orders over $100. Order by 2pm Tuesday for delivery Thursday. Discount Offered - Kai 2 You https://www.kai2you.co.nz Ready to heat and eat meals. Made with love. Fresh meals, frozen pies and sausage rolls, soups, scones and desserts. Regular meals from $15, petite meals $11, soup $5. No subscriptions. New menu every week. Gift vouchers are available. Ingredient information available. Delivery Details: Pickup in Papanui or delivered to greater Christchurch with $6-$8 per delivery, based on a minimum order value of $30. Discount Offered Use code MECF10 for 10% off. Supergold card holders get 14% off with code super14. MYLK Food Store https://mylkfoodstore.com From my little kitchen to yours. Handcrafted nutritious meals ready in minutes. Freshly made meals, soups, sides and desserts. Soups start from $9, main dishes from $9.90 (single 200g size). Menu changes each week. One-off orders. Gift vouchers available. GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE AND VEGATERIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Delivered from Napier to the South Island for $25. Cannot deliver to rural addresses. Order before 4pm on Tuesday for delivery following Tuesday. Discount Offered - Meal Box https://www.mealbox.nz Chef crafted meals. Save time and energy. Freshly made main meals that are flash frozen, and breakfasts. Main Meals from $15.99 each. Breakfast add ons are $9.00. Purchase one-time or on subscription. KETO, LOW CALORIE AND PROTEIN+ OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Ingredients information provided. Delivery Details: South Island shipping cost is $29.99, and North Island is $14.99. Minimum of 5 meals need to be ordered. Next day delivery. Discount Offered - Meal Prep https://mealprep.nz High-protein meals—no prep, no stress. Just heat, eat, and enjoy! Freshly made breakfast meals, lunch and dinners. Lunch and dinner from $14.90. Care packages and gift vouchers available. DAIRY FREE, VEGAN, PLANT BASED AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Delivered to the South Island within two days for $28. Discount Offered Use code MECFS10 for 10% off first order of 3 different meals above $50. Not available on subscriptions or meal plans. My Food Bag – Ready Made Meals https://www.myfoodbag.co.nz/ready-made-meals Award winning. Fresh, Ready-Made Meals. Freshly made meals, soups and dessert. 18 meals to choose from every week including homestyle favourites and healthy options. Order in bulk from 4, 6, 9 or 12 meals per week. Pricing starts from $72 for 4 meals ($18 per plate). Purchase on subscription or one-off order. Ingredient information provided. Delivery Details: New Zealand wide delivery $15. Delivered to your door on Saturday, Sunday or Monday depending on your area. Discount Offered - My Kitchen Table https://mykitchentable.nz Chef quality meals proudly made fresh and frozen in Nelson. Freshly made frozen meals, soups and meal boxes. Soups from $9.99 each, single mains from $12.99 and double from $19.99. Meal Boxes start from $89.00. Also available in selected Fresh Choice and New World supermarkets. GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE, VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Delivered from Nelson to Canterbury and West Coast $14.90 per order. Orders made by noon are normally delivered the next day. Discount Offered Use code MECFS15 for 15% off. Not available on specials. Pasta Vera https://pasta.co.nz/product-category/retail-range/ready-meals/ Locally made lasagne, filled pasta, and ready meals. Lasagne, pasta and other meals. Meals from $9.49. VEGETARIAN, VEGAN, GLUTEN FREE AND DAIRY FREE OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Available from selected supermarkets and the factory store in Wigram. Discount Offered - Primal Kitchen https://primalkitchen.co.nz All natural. Grain free. No refined sugar. Soy free. Freshly made meals, frozen meals, meal packs, subscriptions, family packs, snacks and treats. Frozen Meals start from $14.95, frozen subscriptions start from $69.95 per week, Random selection of frozen meals are $15.25. Gift Vouchers available. GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE AND KETO OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Delivered from Porirua, Wellington, to South Island for $35. Order on Friday for delivery on following Tuesday or Thursday. Discount Offered - Richards Real Kitchen https://www.richardsrealkitchen.co.nz Delicious fresh and frozen heat and eat meals in single and family size. Fresh and frozen meals, soups and desserts. Meals from $14 each for a single serve (large by weight, volume and protein), family-sized from $39. One-off orders. Gift vouchers available. GLUTEN FREE, VEGAN, DAIRY FREE AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Fewer processed additives. Delivery Details: Pickup from Wigram or delivery fee from $5 for Christchurch and surrounding areas. Order by 11am for same day delivery. Leave a chilly bin on the doorstep for delivery. Discount Offered - Strength Meals https://strengthmealsco.co.nz/ High protein, macro balanced meals formulated by nutritionist Frozen meals and chilled or canned soups. Soups $5.50 and meals $13.50. VEGETARIAN, VEGAN, GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE, LOW SUGAR OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Only available from Woolworths supermarkets. Discount Offered - Timata https://www.timata.nz Tīmata provides easy access to affordable, nutritious ready-made meals. Fresh meals and desserts purchased in bulk. Six meals for $79.98 ($13.33 each) or 8 Meals for $99.98 ($12.50 each). Subscription, with variable weekly options. Timata provides additional supports designed for the Enabled Good Lives disabled community including delivery of medications and groceries, and a platform to connect providers with members. Delivery Details: Free delivery nationwide from Invercargill, excluding rural delivery addresses. Delivered overnight or on the day selected. Discount Offered - Traiteur https://www.traiteur.co.nz/order/heat-eat Homemade happiness, delivered to you. Heat and eat meals, soups, salads, sweet treats, and butchery meat. Heat and eat meals start from $14.50, soups $10.50, salads from $7.50, weekly menu starts from $21.95. treats from $4.95. One-off orders. VEGETARIAN OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. Delivery Details: Pickup from Papanui or delivery in surrounding neighbourhood on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Discount Offered -

As we approach World ME Day on 12th May, ANZMES have released a powerful national press statement < Back World ME Day - Press Statement from ANZMES 6 May 2026 As we approach World ME Day on 12th May, ANZMES have released a powerful national press statement As we approach World ME Day on 12 th May, ANZMES have released a powerful national press statement calling for people with ME/CFS to be taken seriously, in healthcare, in policy and in everyday life. This year’s theme “Take ME Seriously” reflects what our community has been saying for decades: ME/CFS is a complex, multi-system illness that requires recognition, accurate diagnosis and appropriate support. Thousands of New Zealanders are living with ME/CFS, many are facing barriers to care, understanding and support. This campaign is a call to change that to ensure people with ME/CFS are believed, supported and given access to the care they need. We encourage our community to take a moment to read and share this important release and join us in raising awareness this World ME Day. https://anzmes.org.nz/world-me-day/take-me-seriously-2026/ #TakeMESeriously #WorldMEDay #MECFS #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #EducateME Previous Next

Spectrum of Severity The severity of ME/CFS is on a spectrum. The level of symptoms and severity experienced by each person with ME/CFS is unique and is likely to fluctuate over time. Some people do improve or go into remission for periods of time. Often those who are most severely unwell are those who were not given the advice to rest and pace activites when first unwell. Historically, four general terms are used to categorise the wide spectrum of disease severity and functional impairment seen in ME/CFS: Mild, Moderate, Severe, Very Severe. It’s worth noting that a ‘Mild’ level of severity may be close to a 50% reduction in functionality – certainly not a ‘mild’ impact for the person living with it. For others who are in the Mild catgory, they may be able to live a fairly normal life if they avoid exceeding their activity limits. Mild Mobile and able to self-care. May be working or attending school, but often with accommodations and by reducing other domestic and social activities. Severe Mostly homebound. Limited activities of daily living (e.g., self-care, showering, dressing). Severe cognitive difficulties. May be wheelchair dependent. Moderate Reduced mobility and restricted activities of daily living. Requires frequent rest periods and typically not working or attending school. Very Severe Bedbound. Unable to carry out most activities of daily living for themselves. Often extreme sensory sensitivity to light, sound, touch, etc. May need total care Quality of Life ME/CFS is a disabling illness that affects daily life. Studies that look at the Health-Related Quality of Life index (HRQoL) consider five dimensions: Mobility Self-care Usual activities Pain/discomfort Anxiety/depression Results of studies for people with ME/CFS confirm a significantly lower quality of life than the population mean and the lowest of all the compared conditions. ME/CFS – 0.47 Depression - 0.62 Multiple Sclerosis – 0.67 Breast Cancer – 0.75 General Population – 0.85 Link https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0132421 PREVIOUS PAGE NEXT PAGE

When living with chronic illness it is natural to grieve the losses and find it difficult to cope with at times. < Back Mental Health Awareness Week 5-12 October 2025 5 Oct 2025 When living with chronic illness it is natural to grieve the losses and find it difficult to cope with at times. View our campaign on our facebook Five ways to support mental wellbeing for ME/CFS We need to acknowledge that it is incredibly challenging living with a disabling chronic illness like ME/CFS. It can significantly reduce options and quality of life. It is natural to grieve the losses and to find it difficult to cope with at times, especially for those who are very unwell and not receiving much support. If you live with ME/CFS or long COVID we suggest the following strategies to support your mental wellbeing. If you have whānau affected by ME/CFS, we invite you to let them guide you on how you can support them to explore these strategies. ✦ Prioritise rest. Take regular rest breaks throughout the day. Rest before and after activities. Rest as soon as you notice symptoms increasing. ✦ Simplify. Prioritise what to spend your limited energy on. Find ways to do things that use less energy. ✦ Connect. Allocate time for friendships with people who understand or care. Join an online community of people who can relate to your experiences of chronic illness. ✦ Look for joy. Schedule in small activities or pastimes that you enjoy or that add lightness. ✦ One moment at a time. Acknowledge the challenges. Be patient with yourself. Practice gentle self-care. __________ . Need help now? Call/text 1737 (NZ) for free counselling support. Visit: mecfscanterbury.nz/living-with-me-cfs/mental-wellbeing for support options Disclaimer: https://www.mecfscanterbury.nz/about-us/disclaimer Previous Next

Group Meetings and Events We host a range of different events around our region, both online and in-person. Sometimes we invite expert speakers, other times we may have a topic for discussion or gather to do an activity together. Events Calendar You may wish to follow us on Facebook , or join us as a Member , to be notified of our upcoming events. Group Meetings Our group meetings may have an educational, support, or social focus for people affected by ME/CFS and long COVID. These group meetings are a good opportunity to share information and connect with other people who understand life with a chronic illness. Non-members are welcome to attend. Meetings and social catchups are currently held in Christchurch, Rangiora, Timaru, Westport, Greymouth, Hokitika, and also, online. See the calendar above and the location details below for more information. Christchurch In-Person These are held on the last Wednesday of each month from 1pm to 3pm. A highlight for attendees is connecting afterwards from 2pm to 3pm with a cup of tea, and dairy and gluten free refreshments. We meet at the lovely Mary Potter Community Centre in St Albans. See Location Rangiora In-Person These are held on the third Wednesday of every second month from 1pm to 3pm (Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov). From 2pm to 3pm we have afternoon together, with dairy and gluten free options. We usually meet in The Skurr Centre, 156 Ashley Street, Rangiora Showgrounds, Rangiora. See Location Timaru In-Person These are held on the third Wednesday of every second month from 1pm to 3pm (Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec). From 2pm to 3pm we have afternoon together, with dairy and gluten free options. We usually meet in the Timaru Library, Community Room, 56 Sophia St, Timaru. See Location Online Meeting (Zoom) These are held on the second Wednesday of each month from 12 noon to 1pm. See the event calendar below for more details. These online meetings can be a great option for people who are unable to attend the in-person meetings, for various reasons such as being bed-bound, house-bound, or living outside of Christchurch. Register Online Hokitika In-Person These are planned for the first Tuesday of every third month from 10 am to 11.30am. Morning tea with dairy and gluten free options provided at 11 am. We usually meet in WestREAP, 72 Tudor Street, Hokitika See Location Online Craft (Zoom) These are held every Thursday at 11am to noon. Join any week, at any time. This is a friendly online social space to connect and chat while you make progress on a creative project. Register Online West Coast Catchups Social catchups in a café are sometimes self-organised by the community in Westport, Greymouth, and Hokitika. Find out the latest by joining the Facebook group for people with ME/CFS and long COVID in the West Coast. Join Group Education for Health Professionals We are able to facilitate and deliver education events for health professionals from time to time. Please get in touch if this is of interest. CONTACT US Event Resources Following each event, we share information and summaries in our newsletter, by email to our members, and also in our Facebook group. This ensures that people who were interested but could not attend the event, can get familiar with the information. If a recording of an educational presentations was made, we share this on our YouTube channel, along with any handouts. GO TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Fundraise Do you have a birthday, anniversary, or other special occasion coming up? Or want to set yourself a physical challenge and participate in a running, cycling, swimming or triathlon event? Why not ask your whānau and networks to donate to MECFS Canterbury or sponsor your participation and raise some awareness at the same time? Want to host a fundraiser? Talk to us about setting up a fundraising page that links to MECFS Canterbury on sites such as Givealittle. First Name Last Name Email Message Thanks for your interest! Send Tshirts for fundraising events: If you are looking for tshirts that raise awareness of ME/CFS while you are doing your fundraising, we suggest you take a look at the range from M.E. Awareness NZ. SEE ALL M.E. AWARENESS NZ T SHIRTS

Today we want to congratulate the team involved in the establishment of Dysautonomia New Zealand and their progress in becoming a registered charity.   < Back Dysautonomia New Zealand 16 Feb 2026 Today we want to congratulate the team involved in the establishment of Dysautonomia New Zealand and their progress in becoming a registered charity. Today we want to congratulate the team involved in the establishment of Dysautonomia New Zealand and their progress in becoming a registered charity. They hope to fill the gap in response to a clear and ongoing need for greater awareness, support, and understanding of dysautonomia in Aotearoa New Zealand. Visit their website https://www.dysautonomianz.co.nz and sign up to their newsletters or offer your support. ___________________ Dysautonomia is an umbrella term for conditions where the autonomic nervous system (ANS) does not function as it should. The ANS controls automatic body processes like heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and temperature regulation. When it malfunctions, everyday activities such as standing up, eating, or even concentrating can become challenging. Conditions include POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), Orthostatic Hypotension, Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia and more. Previous Next

We invite you to watch Nurse Wendy Dragt’s talk about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and its Management – recording now available on our youtube channel. < Back ME/CFS and its Management Presentation 8 May 2025 We invite you to watch Nurse Wendy Dragt’s talk about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and its Management – recording now available on our youtube channel. We invite you to watch Nurse Wendy Dragt’s talk about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and its Management – now available on our youtube channel https://youtu.be/s8MV6lisdmM This presentation covers: ✦ What we know about ME/CFS ✦ The diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS ✦ Impacts and severity spectrum ✦ Key management principles and approaches ✦ How to make a meaningful life This recording provides useful information for people with ME/CFS, their health team, and whānau. At 69 minutes long, you may need to take some breaks and watch it over a couple of sessions. Expand the description for the video on youtube to access the pdf of the slide deck and a timestamped list of the slides, plus more. ___________________________ DISCLAIMER: Please note that ME/CFS Canterbury / West Coast does not recommend any treatments for any individual. Any advice, either explicit or implied, is not intended to replace qualified medical advice. We do not accept any responsibility for any treatment undertaken by readers of any articles or other content, or for any error or omission in connection with any content published on our social media. Previous Next

Complaint Process We are committed to providing appropriate and considerate support and advocacy for people affected by ME/CFS and to providing a positive working environment for our staff. We encourage anyone to get in touch with us to let us know if anything has not gone well so that we can put things right and improve for the future. We welcome this feedback in the form of a formal complaint, or as informal comments. Our definition of a complaint: An expression of dissatisfaction from an individual or a group with the standard of support, service, actions, policy, or position of MECFS Canterbury, or our employees or volunteers. How to complain: In the first instance, please contact the person that the complaint relates to. If the matter cannot be resolved, or if you would prefer, please prepare a written description of your complaint, and send to the Manager, or if the complaint relates to the Manager, send to the Chairperson. You will find our email and postal addresses on the Contact Section of our website. What to include in your complaint: What went wrong When and where it happened Who was involved What you want from your complaint Your name, address, and contact details (telephone and/or email). Unless you wish to remain anonymous and accept that this will result in limitations on our investigation and response. You have the right to expect that: Complaints will be treated with appropriate confidentiality. Information will only be shared with people necessary to complete the investigation into the complaint and to determine our response. You will always be treated with respect. At any point, all parties have the right to have their whānau support and/or supervisors and/or advocate present in any meetings related to the complaint. What happens when you complain? The person you have raised the complaint with will discuss the complaint with you within two working days of them receiving the complaint. Please be aware that the majority of our team work part time, so there may be a delay in your complaint being received. All complaints are reported to the Manager within 24 hours of receipt. For matters involving the Manager, the complaint will be reported to the Chairperson. A formal investigation and response process will be initiated if you or the person contacted require it: We may be in touch again to ascertain further information or facts and are likely to contact any other people involved. We will tell you when we plan to come back to you with a response. An independent mediator will be engaged if needed. We will provide a full and formal response in person and/or by letter if this is appropriate or requested. Our response will detail findings of our investigation and state what actions and changes have been put in place. If the matter is significant, the complaint and response will be tabled at the next Committee meeting in a confidential manner. What happens if I am not satisfied? If we are unable to resolve your complaint, you may take your complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner or Charities Services .

Support the business activities of our chronically ill community We are delighted to showcase some of the businesses and other activities of our chronically ill community. When someone lives with a chronic illness like ME/CFS, a home-based business might be the best option, as it is likely to enable the flexibility to rest when it is needed and to schedule activity carefully. Our community would welcome your support! Click on the images below to view their website or other social media. If you are a member of MECFS Canterbury and have something you would like to promote (e.g. an exhibition, a book, home based business or hobby) please email us. We would love to hear about it and consider it for promoting here. DISCLAIMER: We have no formal relationship with the business activities listed on this website page. Links to these activities are included for convenience. ME/CFS Canterbury / West Coast is not responsible for the currency or accuracy of content on such websites and the inclusion of such links does not imply endorsement by MECFS Canterbury of the linked website or its provider, products and services offered. Readers are advised to take their own appropriate due diligence steps prior to engaging with the businesses and individuals listed. @fmm.stones Hand painted stones Fiona paints stones with beautiful designs and colours, and then seals them. There is also a range of gorgeous ladybugs. Great for small gifts, to put in fairy gardens, Christmas stockings, pot plants, etc. Or to leave in a public park for others to find. Katie Cowan Personal development coaching Katie works with people on the things they are struggling with or hoping for, with a particular focus on those seeking post-traumatic flourishing (including after/amidst chronic illness), people at a crossroads or new chapter, and people wanting to play bigger in their lives. Allyssia's Designs Hospital and travel kits & supplies Allyssia creates hospital, emergency and travel kits just for you or whānau. She has a range of premade kits but you can also select exactly what items you need and select the pouch or toiletry bag you want. Saskia Grace Life coaching Saskia offers a safe space, guidance and practical strategies to help you gain clarity and achieve your goals. For people with ME/CFS, she understands the challenges that brings. She also offers you a discounted rate and payment plans. Resolve Consultancy Chronic illness and work Liz is passionate about helping people with chronic fatigue-related health conditions to find accommodations and approaches that enable them to continue working. She also writes for clients on various health-related topics, and is an informed speaker.

Our Kaupapa Our Vision – Tā Mātou Aronga That every person with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long COVID in Canterbury and the West Coast lives the best quality of life possible Our Mission – Tā Mātou Whainga To improve the wellbeing of people, families and carers affected by ME/CFS and Long COVID by providing information, validation, clinical support, connection, practical support and advocacy. To improve the quality of care available for those affected by ME/CFS and Long COVID by providing education, direction, and support to health professionals and the wider community. Our Values - Ā Mātou Uaratanga Compassion We show compassion to every person affected by ME/CFS, including family and whānau.  Respect We foster partnerships based on mutual trust, treat every person with dignity and always maintain confidentiality.  Equity We are committed to removing health inequities and barriers.  Patient-centred We support our community with services and information based on evidence and experience, assisting each individual to design supports & management protocols that work for them.   Collaboration We work together constructively and creatively recognising each other's strengths, and those of other organisations, to get the best outcomes for our community.  We acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a founding document in New Zealand and demonstrate a commitment and special obligation to its principles. 

Privacy notice for MECFS Canterbury MECFS Canterbury complies with the Privacy Act and the Health Information Privacy Code . If you are not satisfied with our response to any privacy-related concern you raise with us, you can contact the Privacy Commissioner . Collection and Use of Personal Information We may ask you to provide and collect personal information from you, including the following information: Name, Age, Ethnicity Contact information Interactions with us Membership status Survey responses (not linked to personal information) Consent agreements for services Health details Clinical notes and support activity We collect your personal information in order to: Stay in touch and inform you about our activities. Provide statistical summarised information to our funding providers. Provide support and services to you, and to respond to feedback and queries. With your permission, we may share relevant health information with other healthcare professionals in a confidential manner, with the aim of improving the support you receive from your healthcare team. Providing some information is optional. If you choose not to provide contact details and information about your health, we may not be able to provide you with expected services. We keep your information safe by storing it securely (password-protected electronic storage and databases) and allowing only those authorised to see it. Paper based records are shredded when no longer needed. You have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you would like to ask for a copy of your information, or to have it corrected, please contact us at info@mecfscanterbury.nz , or 03-365-5887. Collection and Use of Website Visit Information Statistical Information We may collect statistical information about your visit to this website to help us improve it. This information is aggregated and doesn’t identify you personally. It includes: Your IP address The search terms you used The pages you visited on our site and the links you clicked on The date and time you visited the site The referring site (if any) from which you clicked through to this site Your operating system, for example Windows XP, Mac OS X The type of web browser you use, such as Edge, Chrome or Mozilla Firefox Other things like your screen resolution and the language setting of your browser. The statistical information referred to above can be viewed by site administrators and certain other staff. It may also be shared with government agencies. Google Analytics We use Google Analytics on our website to track your actions and help us optimise our site for conversions and usability. While we can see data gathered over a timeframe, we do not collect personally identifying information from any source as part of the terms of service of Google Analytics. A condition of our use of Google Analytics is that we make reasonable endeavours to bring to your attention the following statement: This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (“Google”). Google Analytics uses “cookies”, which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyse how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, however, please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website. By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above. We have implemented Google Analytics demographic and interest reporting based on the Google Display Network in order to provide information about users that is used to optimise our website. Any data collected by Google for the purposes of Google Analytics will be treated according to Google’s Privacy Policy. If you would like to opt-out of being tracked by Google Analytics, then you can do so using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. Cookies This site generates persistent session cookies (that is, they have an expiry date and are removed on that date) for the purpose of monitoring site usage. The cookies don’t collect personal information. You can disable them or clear them out of your web browser without affecting your ability to use the site.