Summit 2025: People, partnership and Innovation

What the mind can’t remember, the heart can’t forget.

This powerful quote from Ofoi Taumoelau was one of the many lived experience stories that made their need for better dementia mate wareware support and services clear during the Alzheimers NZ Summit 2025, part of World Alzheimers Month.

The two-day event brought together the different parts of the sector with more than 250 individuals registering to attend and more than 140 people in the room over the two days.

There were different parts to the event including sessions on People and whānau-led services, Integrated primary and dementia care and a professional development workshop on leadership with distressed behaviours.

Those who were there saw the launch of new infographics which highlight that an alarming three people develop dementia in Aotearoa New Zealand every hour! The refreshed Dementia Mate Wareware Action Plan 2026-2031 was presented to Associate Minister of Health Hon Casey Costello by kaitiaki partners – Alzheimers NZ, Dementia NZ, NZ Dementia Foundation and te Mate Wareware AdvisoryRōpū.

A discussion panel with sector leaders aimed to discuss shifting the dial on dementia support and a workshop hosted by the Lived Experience Advisory Group was appreciated by those who joined.

Chief Executive Catherine Hall thanked the co-leads who helped make the Summit a success – Caroline Bartle, Elizabeth Duke, Dr Joanna Hikaka, Professor Ngaire Kerse and Dr Matthew Croucher. She also thanked the many presenters and panellists who supported the event and shared their stories.

In her opening comments, Catherine addressed the current state of play and the need for the Summit.

“It’s a landmark event to inspire, inform and connect the people and organisations working to improve the lives of people living with dementia mate wareware, their whānau and the wider sector,” she says.

“We arranged it and are hosting it to help spark the conversations, collaborations and commitments that will shape what comes next.

“And what comes next, we hope, is urgency.  The dementia mate wareware tidal wave is here.  It’s more than just lapping at our shores, it’s a grey wall of mounting pressure that will swamp our health system unless Government does something now to stop it.

“So, what we need urgently is political recognition of the severity of the problem, political support for the Action Plan, and funding to implement it, including for our local community dementia services.  And we need all that now.”

We’re delighted with the feedback so far, which includes:

• Great couple of days – thank you to everyone involved. So many inspirational people and leaders, all contributing to a really positive movement for NZ
• It was a privilege to hear from both professionals and families living with dementia. The personal stories shared by whānau were especially powerful — a reminder of the human heart and families behind the work we do
• The talanoa has been encouraging and has me feeling less alone in caregiving… I really appreciate the inclusivity/diversity in ethnic representation as well
• Great session, thank you everyone and brilliantly hosted by Elizabeth and Joanna
• Excellent session, thank you Matthew and Ngaire

Watch this space for what we have planned for 2026! In the meantime, Alister Robertson shared an insight from his lived experience with those who were there.

“Why do we have to battle for things? Why do we slip through the cracks?”

The Summit was held at the Grand Millennium Auckland and online on September 23 and 24.

CAPTION: Alzheimers NZ Chair Teresa Wall and Chief Executive Catherine Hall at the event