Support a Cause with Every Cup < Back ME/CFS Awareness Mugs for Blue Sunday 2026 21 Apr 2026 Support a Cause with Every Cup If you’ve been looking for a simple way to support ME/CFS Awareness this may, we’ve got something practical, meaningful and genuinely useful. Mugs designed with chronic illness life in mind. We’ve just launched 3 new ME/CFS themed mugs to our line of merch as part of our fundraising efforts for Blue Sunday on Sunday 17 May 2026 a much-loved event in ME/CFS awareness month. Why These Mugs Matter Living with ME/CFS often means adjusting to a slower pace of life. Small comforts like a warm drink can become part of a meaningful routine. These mugs are designed to reflect that reality with simple, relatable designs, gentle humour, and validation. Perfect for tea, coffee, or whatever gets you through the day. Order Early for Blue Sunday To make sure your mug arrives in time for Blue Sunday on 17 May we recommend ordering as soon as possible. All drinkware ordered in April and May will count toward our fundraising total and contributes directing to supporting people in Canterbury and the West Coast with ME/CFS and Long Covid. A Small Act That Adds Up Not everyone has the capacity to attend events or take part in large campaigns and that’s ok. This is a lower energy way to show support, start conversations, and be part of something meaningful. Get yours. Previous Next

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, UK) has today, Friday 29 October 2021, published the guideline for ME/CFS: diagnosis and management, after a robust 3 year review process. < Back NICE releases new guidance for ME/CFS 29 Oct 2021 The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, UK) has today, Friday 29 October 2021, published the guideline for ME/CFS: diagnosis and management, after a robust 3 year review process. New NICE guideline creates hope - a paradigm shift in the care of people with #MEcfs Extracts from the Science for ME press release... "The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, UK) has today, Friday 29 October 2021, published the guideline for #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/ #chronicfatiguesyndrome : diagnosis and management." "The guideline replaces the existing clinical guideline published in 2007 and aims to improve awareness and understanding about ME/CFS, provide guidance on when to suspect it (to enable earlier diagnosis), and includes recommendations on access to care, symptom management and care planning." "NICE staff and the members of the guideline committee have worked for over three years to carefully examine the evidence... The guideline is a publication of international significance, providing an example of good practice that will influence ME/CFS care around the world." - Including here in New Zealand. "The guideline makes it clear that graded exercise therapy (GET) should no longer be offered to people with ME/CFS, and that both cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and therapies based on physical activity are not curative. This is based on a review of the evidence, which rated the outcomes for studies of these interventions all of low or very low quality. This is a welcome and significant, evidence based change in approach from the 2007 ME/CFS guideline, in which CBT and GET were central to treatment. Link to the new NICE guidelines:  https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng206 Previous Next

Announcing updated information about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis /Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on the Healthinfo site for people living in Canterbury. This provides clear, reputable guidance from the CDHB about ME/CFS that will raise understanding and awareness. < Back New public guidance from CDHB on ME/CFS 10 Sept 2020 Announcing updated information about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis /Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on the Healthinfo site for people living in Canterbury. This provides clear, reputable guidance from the CDHB about ME/CFS that will raise understanding and awareness. Announced today! Updated information about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis /Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on the Healthinfo site for people living in Canterbury. MECFS Canterbury was proud to assist the CDHB with the update of this info. The content on HealthInfo provides clear, reputable information that people with ME/CFS can refer to for themselves, and also share with their friends, whānau and workplaces to raise awareness and understanding. It reflects the content on the HealthPathways platform and outlines the symptoms of ME/CFS, diagnosis method, self-care suggestions, treatments, and other supports available. To view, visit: www.healthinfo.org.nz/Chronic-fatigue-syndrome-CFS.htm Alternatively, view the Home page of the Healthinfo site at www.healthinfo.org.nz and use the search box at the top right to find the 'ME/CFS' topics. "HealthInfo is a health information website for the general public, funded by the Canterbury District Health Board. The information on HealthInfo is specific to Canterbury, New Zealand. It's written and approved by local ... healthcare professionals." "The website has a mix of health information, including factsheets on different topics and descriptions of local health services and support organisations. It also has links to recommended websites for further reading and research." "When you read information on HealthInfo, you can feel confident that this is the information your medical professional wants you to read." Previous Next

A big thank you to the librarians at Tūranga, the central Christchurch City Libraries Library, for helping us to profile ME/CFS for this World ME Day. < Back Check out our display at Tūranga Library for World ME Day 27 Apr 2026 A big thank you to the librarians at Tūranga, the central Christchurch City Libraries Library, for helping us to profile ME/CFS for this World ME Day. Visit the display in front of the lifts on the third floor to check out our information posters and some of the books that the library has that may be of interest to those with ME/CFS and living with chronic illness. The display is scheduled to run from Friday, 1st May to Sunday, 17th May. World ME Day falls on Tuesday, 12th May, but the whole of May is a time to raise awareness. The Tūranga library is located at 60 Cathedral Square, Central Christchurch. There are two mobility carparks directly outside. Free Zines Our stand has a couple of free zines by Hazel Camp at hazyhappiness.com for you to read and take away. The Things You Don’t See: Invisible Illness – life with severe ME/CFS Kind Reminders – Non-toxic positivity for when things suck a lot Our own Zine 'Five ways to support mental wellbeing for ME/CFS' is also available. Book Recommendations The Library has books that may be of interest on shelf 616 – Diseases. The call number for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is 616.0478 . Books on Long COVID are included in the Pneumonia Covid Dewey code 616.2414 . There are books on living with long term chronic illness in 616.044 and elsewhere. Books we recommend from the Christchurch City Libraries collection include: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/M.E. - Symptoms, Diagnosis, Management by Rosamund Vallings Classic Pacing for A Better Life With ME by Ingebjørg Midsem Dahl Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalitis - It's Mitochondria, Not Hypochondria by Sarah Myhill Lighting up A Hidden World CFS and ME by Valerie Free A Still Life - A Memoir by Josie George The Puzzle Solver - A Scientist's Desperate Quest to Cure the Illness That Stole His Son by Tracie White Audio Books we recommend from the Christchurch City Libraries collection include: Waiting for Superman - One Family's Struggle to Survive and Cure Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by Tracie White Breath - The New Science of A Lost Art by James Nestor The Long Covid Handbook by Gez Medinger The Yin and Yang of Self-compassion - Cultivating Kindness and Strength in the Face of Difficulty by Kristin Neff eBooks we recommend from the Christchurch City Libraries collection include: How to Be Sick A Buddhist-inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers by Toni Bernhard Long Covid - Expert Advice, From Diagnosis to Treatment and Recovery : A Practical Guide for Those Affected, Their Loved Ones, and Medical Professionals by Steven Faux Our own Library MECFS Canterbury also has our own library of books that can be borrowed by our members. If you can’t get to our office or to one of our meetings, we can post these out to you along with a post-paid return bag. View the catalogue online . . Posters for our library display for World ME Day Check out our posters here. Previous Next

Subscribe to our Newsletter Sign up to become a member to receive our bi-monthly newsletter. The newsletter includes information about managing and living with ME/CFS, latest research, our activities, plus more. BECOME A MEMBER Latest News 28 Oct 2021 NICE releases new guidance for ME/CFS The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, UK) has today, Friday 29 October 2021, published the guideline for ME/CFS: diagnosis and management, after a robust 3 year review process. Read More 24 Oct 2021 Article in The Spinoff discussing support needed for people with long Covid Tom Harris, a member of MECFS Canterbury, writes for The Spinoff and asks ‘If you get long Covid, who’s going to help?’ Read More 4 Sept 2021 Mayo Clinic releases new consensus clinical guidance for ME/CFS The Mayo Clinic Proceedings publication has recently published a consensus recommendation article for ME/CFS written by the ME/CFS Clinician Coalition. It is exciting that another leading health care publication is sharing up-to-date evidence based information about ME/CFS. Read More 25 Jun 2021 New guidance from CDHB for physiotherapists We are delighted to announce that physiotherapists who have access to the Allied Healthways website provided by the CDHB now have appropriate advice available in the PhysioFITT guidance for ME/CFS. Read More 22 Dec 2020 New guidance for ME/CFS from CDHB for allied health professionals The Allied Healthways website provides allied health professionals with guidance for a range of health conditions and concerns. The website now includes up to date information about ME/CFS. Read More 10 Sept 2020 New public guidance from CDHB on ME/CFS Announcing updated information about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis /Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on the Healthinfo site for people living in Canterbury. This provides clear, reputable guidance from the CDHB about ME/CFS that will raise understanding and awareness. Read More 11 May 2020 ‘Years in Lockdown’ video for International ME Awareness Day, 12th May 2020 Many people living with ME/CFS live in permanent lockdown. When you move out of lockdown - and get back into a fulfilling life with a variety of choices and activities - we ask you to remember those that will stay in lockdown because they have ME/CFS. Read More 6 Dec 2019 New Guidance on ME/CFS for Canterbury GPs Canterbury District Health Board's diagnostic and management information for ME/CFS has now been updated with input from MECFS Canterbury. This provides GPs in the region with evidence-based guidance and best practice. Read More 6 Dec 2019 Christchurch chronic fatigue sufferer told it was all in her head Gillian Watson, an MECFS Canterbury member, recently sat down with Oliver Lewis from stuff.co.nz and detailed her experiences with the ME/CFS. Being told to keep pushing was detrimental. Read More