Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand, alongside our partners Wellington MS and the NZ MS Research Trust, warmly invite you to join us for a special evening at Parliament, kindly hosted by Todd Stephenson MP.
This is a moment to reflect on a decade of meaningful progress in MS care, and to look boldly at what comes next. We invite you to hear a compelling vision for the future: one centred on equitable treatment access, a strengthened specialist workforce, and an unwavering commitment to protecting brain health for all New Zealanders living with MS.
Date: Tuesday 28 April 2026
Venue: Legislative Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
Time: Doors open 6pm | Speakers begin 6.45pm | Concludes 9pm
Cost: Free to attend. Donations to support our advocacy work are gratefully welcomed. Platters and drinks will be available on arrival.
Registration: Space is limited. Please register by Sunday 19 April 2026.
Alongside Multiple Sclerosis NZ sharing our vision for the future of MS care, we are delighted to welcome two distinguished speakers who are helping to shaping this future:
Professor Hanneke Hulst | The Invisible Burden of Multiple Sclerosis
Professor of Brain Research and Director, Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland
Since 1 December 2025, Hanneke Hulst is Professor of Brain Research and Director of the Centre for Brain Research at the University of Auckland. Prior to this, she held senior academic and leadership roles at Leiden University and the MS Centre Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Her research focuses on cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis and its impact on everyday functioning.
Multiple sclerosis is often understood through what can be measured, on MRI scans, in clinic, in visible disease activity. But for many people living with MS, the greatest impact is far less visible. Cognitive changes, persistent fatigue, and emotional challenges can profoundly affect the ability to work, connect, and participate in everyday life, yet these symptoms remain consistently under-recognised within our healthcare system.
Professor Hulst will make the case that recognising this invisible burden earlier, and responding to it, is both a moral and economic imperative. Her vision is anchored in a powerful principle: Don’t Be Late. Investing in earlier, more targeted support has the potential to transform outcomes for people living with MS, protect long-term cognitive health, and reduce pressure on health and social services. For Aotearoa New Zealand, where equity and community are foundational values, responding to invisible disability is not optional, it is essential.
Professor Anna Ranta | The Data Is Here: New Zealand’s Neurological Workforce Crisis
Leading Neurologist and Researcher, University of Otago, Wellington
Professor Anna Ranta is a Wellington based academic Neurologist with extensive neurology leadership and leadership experience. She is currently the leading Neurologist and Researcher at the University of Otago. Prior to this, she held senior academic and leadership roles. Her research focuses on translational research to optimise stroke and neurology care quality and access, with a strong emphasis on addressing health inequities.
New research published in BMJ Neurology Open makes the scale of New Zealand’s neurology workforce crisis impossible to ignore. New Zealand has just one Neurologist per 74,000 people, nearly half the rate of Australia, and a fraction of the one-per-28,000 recommended for best-practice care. The result of the deficit is that:
- 30-50% of new outpatient neurology referrals are having their referrals declined due to lack of capacity and are pushed back into primary care; and,
- 1 in six people with chronic neurological conditions needing regular neurologist follow‑up achieve this.
This matters profoundly for people living with MS. Treatment options have become significantly more complex, requiring greater specialist input. If current trends continue, the gap is projected to widen over the next twelve years, not narrow.
Professor Ranta will present the findings of this landmark study and make a clear, evidence-based case for urgent investment in New Zealand’s neurology workforce. This is a conversation that New Zealand can no longer delay.
About Our Guest Speakers
Since 1 December 2025, Hanneke Hulst is the Professor of Brain Research and Director of the Centre for Brain Research at the University of Auckland. Prior to this, she held senior academic and leadership roles at Leiden University and the MS Centre Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Her research focuses on cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis and its impact on everyday functioning.
Professor Anna Ranta is a Wellington based academic Neurologist with extensive neurology leadership and leadership experience. She is currently the leading Neurologist and Researcher at the University of Otago. Prior to this, she held senior academic and leadership roles. Her research focuses on translational research to optimise stroke and neurology care quality and access, with a strong emphasis on addressing health inequities.
We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be an important and inspiring evening, and give thanks to our event sponsors Roche and Pub Charity.
To help us offset the cost of this event, and continue our advocacy work, donations are gratefully received.
Bank transfer ensures we receive your full donation:
Multiple Sclerosis Society of New Zealand
02-0500-0355668-00
Reference: MSCARE
Thank you.