Rare Disease Day 2026 in New Zealand
Launching RARE Disorders Month:
22q Foundation Australia & New Zealand to Host Landmark International Family Meeting in Auckland
The 22q Foundation Australia & New Zealand will celebrate Rare Disease Day 2026 in Aotearoa New Zealand with a landmark international event headlined by world-renowned photographer and human rights advocate Rick Guidotti, founder of the global movement Positive Exposure.
Held on Saturday 28 February 2026 at the Jet Park Hotel & Conference Centre, Auckland, the 22q Family Meeting will bring together families, clinicians, advocates, and community members from across New Zealand and around the world for a powerful day of visibility, connection, and global storytelling.
Titled “More Than You Can Imagine – The Power of Being Seen,” the event centres on Rick Guidotti’s internationally recognised work through Positive Exposure, a movement that has transformed how the world sees difference by redefining beauty, dignity, and identity for people living with genetic, physical, and intellectual differences.
“This is not just a conference — it is a global moment of visibility,” said Maria Kamper, Founder of the 22q Foundation Australia & New Zealand. “Rick Guidotti’s work has changed how the world sees difference. Bringing him to New Zealand for Rare Disease Day creates an opportunity for families, clinicians, and communities to experience what it truly means to be seen with dignity, not defined by diagnosis.”
The meeting combines Rick Guidotti’s global advocacy vision with world-class clinical leadership and lived experience, creating a Rare Disease Day event that bridges medicine, humanity, identity, and community.
The event is open to families, individuals living with rare disease, clinicians, educators, allied health professionals, researchers, and advocates, with a strong focus on whole-family inclusion and accessible community participation.
Event Details
Event: 22q Family Meeting – Rare Disease Day 2026
Theme: More Than You Can Imagine – The Power of Being Seen
Date: Saturday 28 February 2026
Time: 10:00am – 4:30pm
Venue: Jet Park Hotel & Conference Centre
Address: 63 Westney Road, Auckland