Cancer Society of New Zealand

About Us

Latest News

NZ House & Garden Tours 2012

Step inside the pages of NZ House & Garden this March, as homes in Auckland, Kapiti Coast, Canterbury & Queenstown Lakes open their doors for the NZ House & Garden Tours 2012. Enjoy a day with family and friends while taking a peek into some of New Zealand’s most interesting and inspirational homes.

The Cancer Society of NZ and Look Good Feel Better are delighted to be the charity partners for this spectacular event, from which proceeds will be used to help reduce the incidence and impact of cancer as well as promote the confidence and well being of women currently undergoing treatment. 

Dates:  Canterbury                  Friday, March 2

Auckland                     Friday, March 9

Kapiti Coast                 Friday, March 16

Queenstown Lakes      Saturday, March 24

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.co.nz, ph. 0800 111 999 at a cost of $58 per ticket. The Tours are self-drive events. For all queries, please contact Moira Marcroft by email moira@cancer.org.nz or phone 0800 280 180.

New Book Celebrating Survivorship  

Celebrate Survivorship with Sandra Turner's new book "To Rakiura & Beyond".

This book is about affirming life and being realistic about death. It is about living with the reality of cancer alongside living a vital and full life

The cost of the book is $25 plus postage and packing. Copies of the book will be available for sale at the Cancer Society. To order your copy please email admin@cansoc.org.nz or phone Phone: (03) 4777 447. copies are also available at the University book Shop, Dunedin.

The Otago & Southland Division 

The Otago and Southland Division works to improve community well-being by reducing the incidence and impact of cancer with core activities in Support Services, Health Promotion, Information and Research. Our comprehensive range of support services is designed to help patients, carers, friends and family deal with the impact of cancer while maintaining a positive future outlook. Health Promotion focuses on reducing the risk of cancer by providing individuals and communities with advice and information. We receive no direct government funding and rely solely on the generosity of donors for funding.

Please refer to the left hand menu to find out more about what we offer and how you can access our extensive range of services, alternatively please feel welcome to contact us. The Otago and Southland Division covers a wide area, and has staff in Dunedin, Invercargill, Central, North and South Otago.

Our Core Activities 

Our core activities include:

• Health Promotion - programmes to reduce cancer risk 
• Providing patient and carers support and information services
• Recruiting, training and supporting a diverse team of volunteers
• Funding Cancer Research
• Fundraising activities including Daffodil Day and Relay For Life

Our key publications include the 2011 Annual Report (including financial statements) and the Link (newsletter). For previous issues of the LINK please click here.

Our History

In a public meeting held in the Regent Theatre in Dunedin on 23rd of October 1929 a call to establish the first regional Division of the British Empire Cancer Campaign was heartily adopted. The Southland community swiftly endorsed this action and the Otago and Southland Division was born. The first public appeal raised  25,000 pounds to establish a research laboratory and clinic.

In 2009 we celebrate our 80 years of service that has seen tremendous growth and development building on a very proud history of cancer research. Comprehensive support services to people with cancer and their family and whanau were added and then the powerful arena of health promotion which assists individuals and communities to reduce their risk of cancer.

The Otago and Southland Division continues to work in all three arenas complementing the other regional Divisions and National Office to achieve the best possible outcomes for our communities. We receive no direct government funding and rely on support from our communities in order to provide services free of charge.