National campaign returns to support New Zealanders living with Motor Neurone Disease
Motor Neurone Disease NZ is calling on New Zealanders to tip a bucket or pour a brew this June and join the movement to make time count for those living with motor neurone disease (MND).
MND Action Month 2025 brings together two powerful fundraising strands - the iconic Ice Bucket Challenge and the heartfelt Cuppa Tea for MND. Together, they shine a light on the daily realities of life with MND, which is a rapidly progressing and terminal condition that affects more than 400 people across Aotearoa at any given time.
“Motor neurone disease turns life upside down. Not just for the person diagnosed, but for everyone around them,” says Mark Leggett, Chief Executive of Motor Neurone Disease NZ. “This June, we’re asking people to take action. Whether you tip a bucket or pour a cuppa, your support helps people with MND access the care, support, equipment, and connection they urgently need, and brings hope to everyone affected.”
Throughout June, the campaign will spotlight real stories from people living with MND and their whānau - highlighting the urgency of timely equipment, the emotional and physical load carried by carers, and the courage of those navigating the unknown.
The Ice Bucket Challenge injects energy and visibility by challenging participants to take the plunge in support of people facing even colder truths: system delays, limited access to care, and inconsistent support.
Meanwhile, the Cuppa Tea for MND strand invites reflection, connection, and conversation - a moment to honour someone you love, share their story, and support the journey.
All funds raised during MND Action Month will support Motor Neurone Disease NZ’s vital work, including support services, advocacy, information provision, and research.
“Behind every statistic is a person, a whānau, a community,” says Leggett. “We can’t yet stop the disease, but we can change the experience of living with it. That’s what MND Action Month is all about.”
New Zealand has one of the highest incidence rates of MND in the world — and while its causes remain unknown, the need for action is clear.
Find out more about Motor Neurone Disease Action Month, including how to get involved, register your event, or make a donation.
Join the movement: #MNDActionMonth | #TipOrPour | #IceBucketChallenge | #CuppaTeaforMND
About MND
- Motor neurone disease (MND) is a fatal, rapidly progressing neurodegenerative disease that robs people of their ability to move, talk, and eventually breathe.
- MND is a group of conditions including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. All have roughly the same pathway and always the same outcome.
- Little is understood about the causes of MND. There are currently very few treatment options available, and no cure.
- The average life expectancy is two to three years after diagnosis. Around 50 percent of people die within 30 months of symptom onset, and only about 20 percent survive longer than five years.
- Around 400 people are living with MND in NZ at any given time, with on average two people dying each week and two people receiving a diagnosis.
- The incidence rate of MND in NZ is higher than the rest of the world. Researchers are trying to find out why, so we can change it.
- MND can affect adults at any age, though most diagnoses occur after the age of 40, with the highest incidence between 50 and 70.