Alzheimers New Zealand

What Alzheimers New Zealand does

Alzheimers New Zealand is a Wellington-based, privately constituted not-for-profit charity founded in 1986 that serves as the national peak body for dementia (mate wareware) in Aotearoa New Zealand. It supports, educates, and advocates on behalf of people living with dementia and their whānau and care partners, operating a hub-and-spoke federation of 17 community-based local member organisations across both the North and South Islands. The national office runs a small core team of approximately 9 staff, including a Chief Executive (Catherine Hall resigned in May 2026 after 14 years, Board now recruiting), Principal Advisor Services and Standards, Director of the Dementia Learning Centre, and a Communications and Fundraising function; a nine-member Board with two Co-Chairs and a Vice-Chair provides governance.

The organisation's product portfolio centres on the Dementia Learning Centre (DLC), which delivers workforce education programmes to nurses, support workers, and allied healthcare professionals. Digital products include KORA, an AI-enabled workforce education platform under development targeting 27,000 dementia workers; e-DiVA, an online support tool adapted from the WHO iSupport programme by the University of Auckland for whānau care partners; the My Life's Journey mobile app for people with dementia; and CarePlay, a game-based communication-skills learning app distributed in partnership with Mentia Health. Complementary programmes include Dementia Friendly NZ (Dementia Friends initiative), booklets and factsheets in English and Te Reo Māori, a podcast series (Kōrero), an annual research fellowship of up to $15,000, and a biennial conference. Distribution runs through the 0800 004 001 hotline, the website's local-help finder, and direct referrals into the 17 local member organisations.

Alzheimers NZ generates revenue through individual donations (one-off, monthly Circle of Support, memorial, and bequest gifts processed via the Windcave PCI-compliant payment gateway), corporate partnerships (Ryman Healthcare as Lead Partner, Summerset as Foundation Partner, Geneva Healthcare as Valued Partner), conference sponsorships (The Selwyn Foundation, Freemasons Foundation, Office for Seniors), community fundraising (Move for Dementia challenge events), targeted research grants (NZ Health Research Council for e-DiVA, Workforce Futures Fund for KORA), and varying levels of government funding routed through Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora). No fees are charged for core support services; instead the organisation advocates for government funding of approximately $11.11 per person per day to sustain community dementia services nationally.

Name

Alzheimers New Zealand

Legal name

Alzheimers New Zealand

Website

https://alzheimers.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Alzheimers New Zealand is the national peak body supporting people with dementia (mate wareware) and their whānau in Aotearoa New Zealand. Founded 1986 in Wellington, it advocates, educates the dementia workforce through the Dementia Learning Centre and digital tools (KORA, e-DiVA), and federates 17 local member organisations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dementia Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dementia Care Coordination & Care Planning (HSABAEAJ), Dementia/Alzheimer’s Care Management & Behavioral Support (HLADALAF)

Keywords

• Dementia support services
• Dementia advocacy
• Dementia workforce education
• Community health support
• Aged care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations accepted via secure payment page, including one-time gifts, monthly Circle of Support giving, and memorial donations. Credit card payments processed through Windcave, a PCI-compliant third party.
2. Government Funding: Receives government grants for certain programs; local member organizations also receive varying levels of government funding. The Wairarapa service receives no Government funding despite serving people with dementia.
3. Fundraising: Fundraising activities including events, campaigns, and bequests/legacy gifts. Personal information used for fundraising purposes and to enable effective communication.
4. Partnerships and Sponsorships: Lead Partner (Ryman Healthcare), Foundation Partner (Summerset), and Valued Partner (Geneva Healthcare) provide strategic partnership support. Conference sponsors include The Selwyn Foundation (Gold), Freemasons Foundation (Principal Partner), and others.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Alzheimers New Zealand is a not-for-profit peak body that supports, educates and advocates for people living with dementia mate wareware and their whānau across Aotearoa New Zealand. It delivers community support via a national 0800 hotline, a network of 17 local member organisations and digital tools (KORA, e-DiVA, CarePlay, My Life's Journey app), alongside workforce education through the Dementia Learning Centre, public awareness programmes (Dementia Friends, Dementia Friendly NZ), annual research fellowships, advocacy for the Dementia Mate Wareware Action Plan, and events such as the biennial conference.

Product overview

Alzheimers NZ is a not-for-profit advocacy and support organisation (formed 1986) that operates a portfolio of interconnected products and services for people living with dementia mate wareware (dementia) in Aotearoa New Zealand. The core offerings include the Dementia Learning Centre (DLC) providing workforce education programmes; KORA and CarePlay digital learning tools; e-DiVA online support for care partners; the My Life's Journey mobile app; Dementia Friendly NZ community programmes; an Annual Fellowship supporting dementia researchers; Podcasts for education and awareness; advocacy services; and support resources including booklets, factsheets, and local service navigation. The DLC serves as the primary education hub, while KORA represents the next-generation AI-enabled platform currently in development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dementia Learning Centre (DLC): The education and training arm of Alzheimers NZ providing professional development and learning programmes for the dementia workforce.
• Dementia Friendly NZ

Products and services

• Dementia Learning Centre National education hub providing training programmes, resources and professional development for the dementia workforce, including Cognitive Stimulation Therapy resources and online learning experiences. Aimed at healthcare professionals, support workers and the broader dementia care workforce in New Zealand.
• KORA (Knowledge, Outcomes, Reflection, Action) AI-enabled education platform developed by the Dementia Learning Centre that delivers learning and support directly to dementia-care staff at the point of practice via phone, with competency and reflection frameworks. Aimed at the dementia workforce, with a stated aim to reach 27,000 workers across residential care, home-based support and community services.
• CarePlay App-based, game-based learning tool developed by Mentia Health, with the Dementia Learning Centre as Aotearoa New Zealand partner. Uses interactive, practice-based scenarios to help build communication skills and strengthen support for people living with dementia. Aimed at healthcare professionals and dementia-care staff.
• e-DiVA Online tool providing around-the-clock support for whānau care partners of people living with dementia mate wareware, featuring short videos answering commonly asked questions and structured modules adapted from WHO's iSupport for dementia programme. Aimed at whānau and unpaid carers.
• My Life's Journey app Mobile application that supports people living with dementia mate wareware and their families. Listed under Alzheimers NZ's Get Involved resources.
• Dementia Friendly NZ Programme that works to make communities more inclusive for people living with dementia through the Dementia Friends initiative and a Dementia Friendly Recognition Programme, engaging businesses, councils and community groups across New Zealand.
• Dementia Friends Public awareness initiative that educates communities about dementia mate wareware and trains individuals in simple actions to support people living with dementia. Free for participants.
• Annual Fellowship Annual research fellowship providing up to $15,000 to support professionals developing research careers in dementia in New Zealand. Aimed at early-career dementia researchers.
• Advocacy Services National policy advocacy service working to implement the Dementia Mate Wareware Action Plan, secure fair funding for community dementia services and shape a national health strategy for older people. Aimed at central and local government, Health New Zealand and the wider sector.
• Support Services (Find Local Help and information hub) Core national information and support service including the Find Local Help directory, an 0800 hotline referral pathway, and structured information resources across the dementia journey. Delivered directly by Alzheimers NZ and through its 17 community-based member organisations; free to users.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 40,000 people urgently need support but cannot access community dementia services with current funding levels
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Ryman HealthcareflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead Partner of Alzheimers NZ. Ryman Healthcare is a retirement village operator committed to supporting people with dementia. Partnership includes logo placement on website homepage as lead partner and collaborative advocacy for dementia services.
• SummersetflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation Partner of Alzheimers NZ. Summerset is a retirement village operator supporting dementia care. Partnership includes logo placement as foundation partner.
• Geneva HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerValued Partner of Alzheimers NZ. Geneva Healthcare is a healthcare services provider.
• Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth NZ is acknowledged as a supporter of Alzheimers NZ. Collaborates on dementia data, research, and health system planning.
• The Selwyn FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold sponsor for Conference 2026. Kaupapa Maori services provider. Collaborative on dementia care innovation.
• Freemasons FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrincipal Partner, Dementia Delegates for Conference 2026. Provides funding support for dementia delegate program.
• Office for SeniorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Contributor for Conference 2026. Government agency focused on older New Zealanders.
• VervecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent organiser and charity partner for Conference 2026. Event management company supporting Alzheimers NZ events.
• University of AucklandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for e-DiVA adaptation (iSupport for dementia by WHO). Alzheimers NZ is a partner for adaptation of iSupport programme for Aotearoa New Zealand. Centre for Brain Research collaboration. Dr Campbell Le Heron affiliated with University of Otago.
• University of Auckland Centre for Co-Created Ageing ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in developing dementia design short courses for Aotearoa New Zealand.
• The Village ArchitectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing dementia design short courses for Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Mentia HealthcoreTechnology or IntegrationDeveloper of CarePlay app. DLC is Aotearoa New Zealand partner for CarePlay technology.
• Dementia Alliance InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization representing people with dementia. Alister Robertson served on Board and as Chair 2021-2025. WHO Global Dementia Observatory Knowledge Exchange platform membership.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO developed iSupport for dementia programme. e-DiVA adapted from iSupport. Alzheimers NZ participates in WHO Global Dementia Observatory Knowledge Exchange platform.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Age Concern New Zealand: Federated NZ nonprofit supporting older people across health, housing and wellbeing; a natural adjacent peer operating in the same NZ elder-services landscape with shared policy audiences.
• Carers New Zealand: NZ nonprofit representing family carers including those supporting people with dementia; comparable as a national caregiver-advocacy organization within the same NZ care ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Dementia UK: UK charity focused on specialist dementia nursing (Admiral Nurses) and family support; comparable as a dementia-specific service/advocacy nonprofit with strong clinical and caregiver education content.
• Alzheimer's Disease International: Global umbrella organization for national Alzheimer and dementia associations; directly comparable as an international federation and WHO engagement partner, where Alzheimers NZ participates in the Global Dementia Observatory.
• Alzheimer Society of Canada: Canadian national federation of local Alzheimer Societies providing education, support and advocacy; mirrors Alzheimers NZ's hub-and-spoke federation model and policy-driven funding advocacy.
• Dementia Alliance International: Global advocacy organization led by people living with dementia; comparable for its embedded lived-experience governance model, with which Alzheimers NZ's Lived Experience Advisory Group aligns.
• Alzheimer's Association (US): The largest national voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer's and dementia in the United States, providing advocacy, support, and research funding - the most analogous global peer to Alzheimers NZ in mission, scale and operating model.
• Dementia Australia: The peak national body for dementia in Australia offering advocacy, education and a national Dementia-Friendly Communities programme; close geographic, linguistic and policy parallel to Alzheimers NZ.
• Alzheimer's Society (UK): The UK's leading dementia charity providing information, support, and advocacy with a federated local-organization footprint; directly comparable to Alzheimers NZ in services, advocacy positioning, and donor-funded operating model.

Emerging players

• Alzheimer's Research UK: UK-based research charity funding dementia science and publishing its own Annual Fellowship programme; comparable to Alzheimers NZ's Annual Fellowship and Patron-led research-engagement model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/alzheimersnewzealand
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alzheimers-nz
• Instagraminstagram.com/alzheimersnz
• Xx.com/AlzheimersNZ

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alzheimers New Zealand