Our Legal Status

The GBSNZ Trust is a registered charitable trust with a certificate of incorporation under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 issued by the Ministry of Economic Development on 21st May 2001 (registered no. WN/1140718). Registered under the Charities Act 2005 no. CC20639.

Our registered office is

Skylark Ridge
113 Weka Road
Mariri RD2
Upper Moutere
Nelson 7175

Membership of the group currently costs $10 per person per year and the membership year commences on 1st December. Members receive a quarterly newsletter and are able to attend, speak and vote at the annual general meeting. Life membership of the group is available and currently costs $100. A membership application form is available for download in Microsoft Word format at this link.

Our status as a charitable trust provides for tax rebates for donations of $5 or more from individual donors. Public companies qualify for deductions for cash donations. Qualifying gifts are exempt from estate and gift duties and property conveyancing fees. Our IRD number is 79-494-453.

Our Patron is Hon. Steve Chadwick, MP.

Our Board of Trustees is:-

President:
         Bob Stothart
National Co-ordinator:
         Jenny Murray
Secretary:
         Tony Pearson
Treasurer:
         Peter Scott
Trustees:
         John Davies
         Dr John Podd
         Don Martin
         Christine Hewlett
         Ken Daniels
         Maria De Cort

We have a medical advisory board led by Dr Gareth Parry that provides advice and information on individual questions raised by members of the group through Jenny.

Support Group History

The group started in the late 1990s as a result of Jenny Murray’s letter in Woman’s Day asking if anyone in NZ had experienced a similar problem that her sister Dulcie had just been diagnosed with – GBS. A couple of people responded including Terry – our past president – who like the others had had GBS. From those small beginnings, involving much personal commitment, the group was formed

In 2003 Jenny was awarded the Queen's Service Medal in recognition of her work for the group.

Support Group Aims

Our main function is to provide a contact point for newly diagnosed patients and to get information to a patient and his/her family as soon as possible after diagnosis. It is the initial stages of these illnesses that is the most frightening, and when a visit from a recovered patient and information about this illness with the weird name is most valued.

As there is no automatic system of notification from hospital organisations, we rely on the patients, their families, carers and friends to make the initial contact. Increasing awareness of our existence amongst medical professionals as well as the general public is high on our priorities.

Research into the cause and “triggers” that cause the onset of GBS and its derivatives is actively being pursued in Europe and the USA, and the GBSNZ group aims to keep its members in touch with the latest developments in these important areas through its quarterly newsletter and this website.

Support Group Activities

Because of the rarity of these illnesses and the geographical spread of those affected throughout New Zealand, it is virtually impossible at this stage of our development to hold regular group meetings, and whilst we are not yet sufficiently advanced in our development as a group to have a “chat room” or other active on-line links between our members, there are a number of active discussions groups in the major NZ centres. Contact Jenny for the nearest contacts for you.

We produce annual audited accounts and hold annual general meetings each year around the end of April/early May. Our last AGM was held in Palmerston North on 1 May 2010.

On a biennial basis we hold a national conference. Our inaugural (2003) conference and 2nd (2005) and 3rd (2007) conferences held in Wellington were attended by over 100 members and medical professionals. The 2009 conference was held in Auckland on May 1st – 3rd. The 2011 GBS/CIDP Conference will be held at the Brentwood Hotel, Kilbirnie, Wellington from Friday 30th April to Sunday May 2nd. Friday night will be a wine, cheese and chat. The conference will be held on Saturday and the AGM will be held on Sunday. Further details at a later date.