On 1 December 2025, representatives from across Aotearoa’s HIV sector gathered at the Beehive for the World AIDS Day Parliamentary Breakfast. The Breakfast is a joint event hosted by Positive Women Inc., Toitū te Ao, Body Positive, and the Burnett Foundation. This annual event continues to be one of the most important opportunities for community organisations, policymakers, and people living with HIV to come together in the heart of government.
This year’s breakfast centred on a clear and urgent advocacy message:
Calling on the New Zealand Government to formally endorse U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable).
U=U is a globally recognised, evidence-based message which states a person living with HIV who maintains an undetectable viral load cannot sexually transmit the virus. Endorsing U=U at a national level would not only reflect current scientific understanding but would also play a crucial role in reducing stigma and empowering people living with HIV across Aotearoa.
Although a formal endorsement from the government did not occur on the day, the message was strongly delivered, and heard. We will continue to advocate for government endorsement throughout the year.
A highlight of the event was a panel discussion featuring people living with HIV, who spoke with honesty and courage about the life-changing impact of U=U. Panellists shared how understanding and recognising U=U has transformed relationships, mental health, and sense of safety in the world for people living with HIV. Their voices emphasised that endorsing U=U is not simply a medical recognition, it is a human rights issue which directly affects well-being, dignity, and equality.
Throughout the morning, speakers and attendees emphasised the importance of ensuring sustained investment in HIV services, strengthening stigma-reduction efforts, and making certain that all communities, especially those most marginalised, have equitable access to testing, care, treatment, and culturally responsive support.
The collective presence of Positive Women Inc., Toitū te Ao, Body Positive, and the Burnett Foundation highlighted a unified sector committed to advocating for meaningful change. Together, these organisations reinforced the message that U=U is a game changer, and its formal recognition in New Zealand would be a significant step forward for public health and for the rights of people living with HIV.
As we look beyond World AIDS Day, Positive Women Inc remains committed to working alongside partners, policymakers, and communities to ensure this momentum continues, and that the voices heard in the Beehive continue to guide change.
