Acupuncture New Zealand

06/05/2026

Today is World Maternal Mental Health Day
Becoming a parent is both rewarding and challenging. In New Zealand, an estimated 12–18% of birthing parents face perinatal mental health challenges during pregnancy or the first year postpartum.

Traditional Chinese medicine has a very long history of providing holistic support to pregnant women and may be used as a complementary approach to support wellbeing and mood as part of an individualised care plan.

To explore how acupuncture and Chinese medicine may support you or someone you care about, talk to one of our qualified and nationally registered practitioners via the the AcNZ Find a practitioner page.
You can find wonderful resources at https://pada.nz/ and https://mentalhealth.org.nz/conditions/condition/postnatal-depression

To find a practitioner in your area use the search features on this page.

03/05/2026

Today marks the beginning of NZ Sign language week - and it's 20 years since NZ Sign Language (NZSL) became an official language of New Zealand!
It's a great reason to upskill and learn some NZSL. Check out https://nzsignlanguage.nz/nzsl-journey/learn-nzsl/ to start your journey.

25/04/2026

On ANZAC Day, we honor the bravery and sacrifices of those who have served.
Acupuncture NZ is committed to serving their communities and draw inspiration from the same values of kinship that defined the ANZACs.
AcNZ developed the Veteran Ready Certification in conjunction with members of the RNZRSA and as we reflect today, we also look forward with a commitment to healing and wellbeing.

Kei wareware, Lest we forget.

24/04/2026

Tai chi and qigong both originated in ancient China, rooted in Daoist philosophy and traditional Chinese medicine. Qigong is the much older form, with a history going back over 4000 years.

Tai chi evolved from qigong practices and martial arts traditions, initially developed for self-defense. Over centuries, it transformed into a flowing internal martial art emphasizing balance, relaxation, and mindfulness.

By the 20th century, tai chi became widely practiced as a health exercise and meditative practice, while qigong remained central to holistic healing. Today both tai chi and qigong continue to be valued for physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

A quick reminder about the free online Yuan qigong practice with AcNZ member Rachel Maguire tomorrow morning to celebrate World Tai Chi and Qigong Day. Head to our website for registration details https://www.acupuncture.org.nz/events/explore-yuan-qigong-on-world-tai-chi-and-qigong-day/🌏

23/04/2026

Tai chi and qigong are often mixed up - They are both slow, meditative movement practices rooted in Chinese tradition, the key difference being that tai chi is a martial art performed as a long sequence of movements, while qigong is a simpler, more repetitive practice focused on cultivating energy for health and healing.

All Tai Chi contains Qigong principles - but not all Qigong is Taichi.
Tai Chi encourages balance, coordination, and fluid movement with continuous weight shifting and precise transitions between poses, whilst Qigong exercises can be performed independently or combined with others, so practice can be adapted for the individual.

Join us this Saturday in a free online Yuan Qigong practice with AcNZ member Rachel Maguire to celebrate World Tai Chi and Qigong Day. Head to our website for registration details https://www.acupuncture.org.nz/events/explore-yuan-qigong-on-world-tai-chi-and-qigong-day/🌏

22/04/2026

It's been a whirlwind since Saturday April 11th, when a special ceremony was held at the Tūranga, Christchurch City Library, by the Chinese Consulate-General to mark the official donation of the "Million Needles Project."

Project initiator and former AcNZ Vice President, Mr Jinhong Thomas Lin, signed the Memorandum of Donation with the Canterbury Museum. This means the collective effort of over 200 local acupuncturists across the country will now be part of the museum’s permanent collection - a huge win for the recognition of TCM in New Zealand!

The event was attended by Consul-General He Ying, Dr. Megan Woods (MP), Paddy McBride (CMCNZ Chair), Robin Kerr (AcNZ President), and guests from Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, all there to witness the moment. Consul-General He Ying noted how wonderful it is to see TCM becoming more integrated into the lives of Kiwis.

Following the formal proceedings, things got busy with a "Chinese Language + TCM" public open day. A big thanks to our members Shaosen Sun, Zhiwei Qu, Yuni Deng, Jess MB, and Renjie Xi, who teamed up to provide one-on-one TCM consultations for over 30 visitors, including making referrals to local clinics.

The Consulate-General wrapped up the day by giving thanks to AcNZ for our ongoing support. It’s a great reminder of the value we bring to the community when we step out and share our expertise. Here’s to making next year’s event even bigger and better!

21/04/2026

World Tai Chi and Qigong Day is celebrated this Saturday with events being planned for 10am in each time zone moving eastward. The effect being a positive flow of energy moving around the planet

AcNZ member Rachel Maguire is offering a Free Zoom Session to celebrate World Qigong Day on 25 April. During this session we will dive into the world of Qi and explore how to harness Qi for health, wellbeing, and healing.

The Yuan Qigong methods systematically improve the amount, the quality and the flow of Qi throughout your body, while gently opening the heart and connecting you with your innate inner wisdom.

Head to our website for further details and how to register 🌏

Hello, I am delighted to be offering a Free Zoom Session to celebrate International Tai Chi and Qigong Day on 25 April 2026.  During this session we will dive into the world of Qi and explore how to harness Qi for health, wellbeing, and healing.

25/03/2026

Our conference this year will see a return to the fantastic Novotel Auckland Ellerslie and the call for abstracts is now open!

If you are interested in presenting then we look forward to hearing from you and If you know someone that you believe would make a superb presenter, please feel free to encourage them to apply.

Head to https://www.acupuncture.org.nz/acnz-conference/ for more information and to download the submission form.

24/03/2026

As part of Endometriosis Awareness Month - this webinar may be of interest to you and your patients who are dealing with endometriosis and pelvic pain

Hosted by Associate Professor Mike Armour and joined by Dr Millie Mardon, Nora Giese and Hannah Boyd, the panel will explore endometriosis and pelvic pain. Dr Mardon will discuss how pelvic pain works in endometriosis, while Nora Giese will share insights into Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, and Hannah Boyd will cover naturopathic approaches to support.
The discussion aims to provide practical insights that may help people living with endometriosis find supportive strategies for relief.

Register at: https://events.humanitix.com/nicmendo-convos
Date: Wed 25th March
Time: 9:30-10:30pm (NZ Time)
Online from Western Sydney University NICM Health research institutive

20/03/2026

March is Endometriosis awareness month
There are roughly 120,000 people in Aotearoa New Zealand living with Endometriosis. That's like the population of Dunedin!

Pain is one of the most common and challenging symptoms for those affected and this pain can be severe for many. There is a growing body of research which shows that acupuncture may help support the management of endometriosis related pelvic pain.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can offer a non-hormonal option that can be utilised as part of an overall treatment plan.
To explore how acupuncture and Chinese medicine may support you or someone you care about, visit the AcNZ Find a Practitioner page.

To find a practitioner in your area use the search features on this page.

05/03/2026

Thanks to all who attended the inaugural China -New Zealand Forum on Manual Medicine last week.

The forum showcased specialists in Chinese medicine sports medicine , chiropractic research, TCM spinal manual medicine and osteopathy, finding shared principles while valuing the different treatment approaches. The forum encouraged deeper exploration of how to present and pass on the strengths of each tradition —from TCM’s long standing manual therapies to osteopathic tension adjustment techniques and Shi’s Traumatology tendon regulation methods.

A special thanks to our guest speakers, Dr Lifeng Zhou, Prof. Zhan Hongshen, Dr Imran Khan Niazi, Mr Zhen Deng and Mr Yu Rain Zhou. Thank you to AcNZ member Mr Rui Rayman Zhou from the Sports Acupuncture Clinic for his collaborative effort in bringing this event to Auckland.