While we are lucky in New Zealand to have universal access to health care, people are still waiting too long to be diagnosed, there are lengthy waits for appointments with GPs and specialists, and access to specialty care in remote areas is sorely lacking. Most of our IBD nurses do not have enough funded hours to do their work and our country has not yet endorsed best-practice guidelines to treat IBD. The DHBs were disestablished exactly a year ago, and there is uncertainty about the future of health care under specialists, Whatu Ora.

But, during the past year we have much for which to give thanks. We welcomed Pharmac's funding of two new biological medication, Stelara and Entyvio. We recently saw the creation of two new paediatric IBD nurse positions on the North Island. We are looking forward to our ninth Camp Purple in January, to our annual caregiver seminar in July, and to our ongoing seminar for young adults. We have a very active presence in social media and have worked closely with several members of Parliament who are now acutely aware of the challenges of those with IBD. We were honoured recently to have the Minister of Health, the Hon Dr. Ayesha Verrall, host our annual World IBD Day at Parliament.

CCNZ is a very small organisation, but we should not lose sight that, as a community of over 20,000, we have a powerful voice. On behalf of your Board, thank you for your involvement. Our work is far from being done.