About us

Cluster Headache Aotearoa New Zealand

Māramatanga. Tautoko. Understanding. Support.

Cluster Headache Aotearoa New Zealand is New Zealand's first dedicated charitable trust for people living with cluster headache. It was founded by a patient, and exists for one reason: to make sure no Kiwi faces this condition alone.

Our story

Cluster headache is one of the most painful conditions a person can experience, and for a long time New Zealand patients had nowhere to turn for information built around how the condition is actually diagnosed and treated here. International resources are helpful, but medications, healthcare systems and funding rules differ from country to country. What was missing was a resource built specifically for New Zealand: one that reflects how GPs, neurologists, Health NZ and local oxygen suppliers actually work here, not how they work overseas.

Cluster Headache Aotearoa New Zealand exists to close that gap. It publishes trusted, New Zealand-specific resources for patients, their families, and the GPs who treat them, covering diagnosis, treatment options, oxygen access, funding pathways, and support from others who understand what a cluster period feels like. These resources are regularly updated as new information about diagnosis, treatment and funding pathways in New Zealand comes to light.

Craig Stewart, founder of Cluster Headache Aotearoa NZ

Craig Stewart

Founder · Patient · Researcher

The Trust was founded by a New Zealander who lives with cluster headache and spent years without the right diagnosis. That experience, and the difficulty finding trustworthy, New Zealand-specific information, is what led to CHNZ, and to the ongoing work of researching local diagnosis, treatment and funding pathways so other patients don't have to start from zero.

Our mission

To ensure every person in Aotearoa New Zealand living with cluster headache has access to accurate information, appropriate treatment pathways, and a community that understands what they are going through.

Our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Cluster Headache Aotearoa NZ is committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We are a new and developing organisation, and we are building our kaupapa with these principles in mind from the start. Our goal is equitable access to information, care and treatment for everyone in Aotearoa affected by cluster headache, delivered with dignity and respect.

We are guided by the Te Tiriti principles as they are applied in Aotearoa New Zealand's health sector:

  • Tino rangatiratanga: supporting Māori self-determination in how health information and support are designed and delivered.
  • Equity: working toward fair and equitable health outcomes, recognising that access to diagnosis and treatment is not the same for everyone.
  • Active protection: taking active steps to protect and improve Māori health outcomes.
  • Options: respecting and making room for kaupapa Māori approaches and culturally appropriate care alongside conventional services.
  • Partnership: working in partnership with Māori as this organisation develops.

We know a meaningful commitment is more than words. As we grow, we are seeking guidance from Māori health advisors so that this commitment, and the information and support we provide, is developed in partnership rather than added on. If you can help with this mahi, we would welcome hearing from you via our contact page.

How we work

Not all medical content has completed clinical review by a New Zealand neurologist. Each medical page shows its current review status. Read how we prepare clinical content. Content is updated when the evidence base or PHARMAC funding decisions change.

We are incorporated as Cluster Headache Aotearoa New Zealand Trust Board under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957. Our Companies Office number is 70000813, and we are registered with Charities Services as charity CC65148. We do not accept funding from pharmaceutical companies. We do not have a commercial agenda. Our only obligation is to people affected by cluster headache in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Contact us

We welcome contact from patients, families, health professionals, and media. Please use our contact page or email info@clusterheadache.org.nz.