Multiple Sclerosis South Canterbury

11/06/2026

Email Services Restored!

We are pleased to let everyone know that our email services are now back up and running, and we are once again able to send and receive emails as normal.

Thank you for your patience and understanding while we worked through the issue. We know this may have caused some inconvenience, and we truly appreciate your support.

A special thank you to Vetta Group for their prompt assistance in getting everything back online. Your help was greatly appreciated!

If you have tried to contact us over the past couple of days and haven't received a response, please feel free to resend your email or get in touch with us.

10/06/2026

A huge thank you to the amazing Aoraki St John Health Shuttle volunteers who give their time so generously to support people in our community.

Celebrating our Aoraki Health Shuttle Team 💛
In this International Year of Volunteers, we proudly celebrate the incredible Aoraki Health Shuttle team a group of dedicated individuals who quietly make a profound difference in the lives of others, every single day.
Behind every journey is more than just a ride. It is a helping hand, a friendly face, and a reassuring presence for those needing access to vital health services. This wonderful team gives their time, energy, and compassion so generously, ensuring that no one has to face their journey alone.
This photo captures some of our team, it reflects a shared purpose and a spirit of service that strengthens our region.
To each and every volunteer: THANK YOU! Your kindness, reliability, and selflessness do not go unnoticed. You are the heartbeat of this service, and an inspiration to us all.
👏 Here’s to celebrating you - not just this year, but every day.

10/06/2026

Temporary Email Outage Notice 📧

Please be aware that all our email addresses are currently experiencing technical issues, and we are unable to send or receive emails at this time.

Any emails sent to us during this period will likely bounce back to the sender or fail to be delivered. If you have tried to contact us via email and have not received a response, please know that we have not ignored your message.

We appreciate your patience while we work to resolve the problem as quickly as possible. If your enquiry is urgent, please contact us by phone on 03 687 7375 or 027 211 4497

09/06/2026

Come Join the Community House Crew!

Our friends at Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury are looking for a Volunteer Services Coordinator to join their team right here in Timaru.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is passionate about people, community connections, and making a real difference across South Canterbury. You'll be helping connect volunteers with meaningful opportunities, supporting local organisations, coordinating events, and championing volunteering throughout our region.

🌟 We're Hiring! Volunteer Services Coordinator – South Canterbury 🌟

Are you passionate about volunteering and making a positive difference in your community?

Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury is seeking a motivated and community-minded person to join our team as a Volunteer Services Coordinator based in Timaru.

This varied and rewarding role involves connecting volunteers with meaningful opportunities, building relationships with community organisations, coordinating events and workshops, supporting funding and reporting activities, and championing volunteering across our region.

📍 Timaru-based with travel throughout Mid & South Canterbury
⏰ 30 hours per week (flexible by negotiation)
📄 Permanent position

If you enjoy working with people, building community connections, and making a real impact, we would love to hear from you.

For more information and application details, see the full position description here https://nz.seek.com/job/92511294?ref=search-standalone&type=standard&origin=showNewTab =979e4fdef001f57dae1e0296a165f475acbe3582

Please share with anyone who may be interested in this exciting opportunity!

09/06/2026

A huge thank you to Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury for featuring Multiple Sclerosis South Canterbury as part of the International Year of Volunteers 2026.

We are incredibly grateful for the recognition and for the opportunity to highlight the important role volunteers play in supporting people living with MS throughout our community. Whether it's helping at events, providing transport, assisting with programmes, or simply offering friendship and connection, our volunteers make a real difference every day.

Thank you to everyone who gives their time, energy, and kindness to support our organisation and the people we work alongside. We couldn't do what we do without you.

Be sure to check out the June edition of In The Loop and read the article about MS South Canterbury on page 8:
https://mcusercontent.com/.../In_The_Loop_June_Issue.pdf

03/06/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at our AGM yesterday. It was fantastic to see such a great turnout and to have the opportunity to reflect on another year of supporting people living with Multiple Sclerosis throughout South Canterbury.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Lee-Ann and the team at Clever Catering for once again providing the wonderful food that we all look forward to each year.

A very special thank you goes to our outgoing Chairman, Barry Taylor. After many years of dedicated service, Barry has stepped down as Chairman and is also leaving the Board. It is difficult to put into words just how much Barry has contributed to Multiple Sclerosis South Canterbury. His leadership, commitment, guidance, and unwavering support have been instrumental in helping our organisation grow and continue supporting our community. Quite simply, MS South Canterbury would not be where it is today without him.

Barry has been a constant presence through challenges, successes, fundraising events, and everything in between. While we are sad to see him step away from the Board, we know this is not goodbye and we look forward to seeing him at future fundraising events and around the MS South Canterbury family.

We would also like to give a heartfelt thank you to Barry's wife, Jo. Behind every great volunteer is someone who puts up with countless meetings, phone calls, events, and commitments! In all seriousness, Jo has been an incredible supporter of MS South Canterbury over the years and has always been willing to lend a hand whenever needed. Her dedication and commitment have not gone unnoticed, and we are extremely grateful for everything she has done.

Finally, we are pleased to welcome Josie Teahen as our new Chairperson and Michelle Kelly as our new Vice Chairperson. We look forward to working alongside you both as we continue building on the strong foundation that Barry and our Board have helped create.

Thank you again to everyone who attended and continues to support Multiple Sclerosis South Canterbury. Your support makes all the difference.

01/06/2026

World MS Day may have passed, but there is still time to expand your understanding of Multiple Sclerosis through this fantastic free online course.

Developed by the Menzies Institute for Medical Research in collaboration with the MS International Federation, the award-winning Understanding MS programme has released a special World MS Day edition focusing on MS Symptoms and Diagnosis.

The course explores:
• Common MS symptoms and diagnostic pathways
• The emotional impact of receiving an MS diagnosis
• Global barriers that can delay diagnosis
• Building confidence and understanding when supporting people affected by MS

Whether you are a healthcare professional, educator, person living with MS, family member, carer, or simply interested in learning more about MS, this course offers valuable insights.

• Free and fully online
• Self-paced (approximately 6 hours)
• Available until 15 June 2026

Register today: https://worldmsday.org/online-course/

The more people who understand MS, the more supportive and inclusive our communities become.

Want to know more about multiple sclerosis (MS) and how it’s diagnosed? Join the free online course ‘MS Diagnosis and Symptoms’ and learn about one of the most important moments in the MS journey – diagnosis. This is special World MS Day edition of the award-winning Understanding MS course i...

26/05/2026

Tickets are now LIVE for this year’s Art In Motion performances!

Matinee Show – 1:00pm
Evening Show & Awards – 7:00pm

After the huge success of last year’s show, tickets are already selling fast, so get in quick to avoid missing out.

Art in Motion generously supported Multiple Sclerosis South Canterbury last year through donations from their show profits and raffle ticket sales, and they will be supporting us again this year. We are incredibly grateful for their ongoing support of our local MS community, so let’s get behind them and help make this year’s show another huge success.

Get your family, friends, workmates and neighbours together for a fantastic night out full of talent, entertainment and community spirit.

Tickets available now at

Art In motion - Bringing Wearable Arts to South Canterbury - 27 Sept 2025

26/05/2026

Another sad day for Central Timaru. 😞

The closure of the NZ Post branch in the CBD is going to have a real impact on so many people in our community. For many, especially older people, people with disabilities, or those with mobility challenges, being able to do all their errands in one central location is incredibly important. Not everyone has easy access to transport or can simply travel across town just to visit the post office.

This is also a huge inconvenience for central Timaru businesses and PO Box holders who rely on having these services nearby and accessible.

On top of that, it feels like every week we are seeing another empty shopfront appear in our CBD. Each closure chips away at the heart of our town and the vibrancy of central Timaru.

Really disappointing news for our community.

The closure of central Timaru’s NZ Post outlet has been confirmed with the loss of seven jobs as part of an operational downsizing in the town.

21/05/2026

COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY

We’re sharing this fantastic opportunity from Outward Bound New Zealand for adults with intellectual impairments or learning challenges.

Please feel free to share this with anyone in your networks who may benefit from this amazing experience!

Outward Bound Trust of New Zealand