Alzheimers Northland to become Dementia Tai Tokerau for wider support

Alzheimers Northland chief executive Trudi Bridges (centre) says the name change will not change the friendly staff including (pictured from left) Gaye Chaplin, Aleisha Dobson, Eva Clement, Zoe Pearse and Gaylene Bowyer. Photo / Denise Piper

A Northland dementia support organisation is making a change, which it says will mean more resources available to the community.

Alzheimers Northland is changing its name to Dementia Tai Tokerau and will affiliate with Dementia New Zealand instead of Alzheimer’s New Zealand.

Chief executive Trudi Bridges said the change will be phased in over the next three months, becoming official on January 1, 2026.

However, the “same friendly staff” will remain and services will continue, including carer support groups around Northland, she said.

The organisation’s headquarters in Tikipunga will keep its Alz House name and its Alz Club day programme will continue there each weekday, along with programmes a couple of days a week in Ruakākā and Paihia.

Bridges said the change enables the group to access Dementia New Zealand’s national education programmes and up-to-date research.

The extra support is important as the organisation has seen a 40% increase in demand over the last five years.

The change also means the Northland organisation will be affiliated with its Auckland counterpart, which could be important when Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora allocates funding for the northern region, Bridges said.

Previously, funding was managed by Northland District Health Board (DHB) but this changed when DHBs were disestablished in 2022.

Bridges also hoped the new name, Dementia Tai Tokerau, would be more inclusive.

While Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, there is a range of other types, such as vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia and young-onset.

The Northland organisation provides help to all patients with dementia and their caregivers, but it has sometimes heard of people not wanting to get involved because they did not have Alzheimer’s disease, Bridges said.

“We’re hoping Dementia Tai Tokerau is representative of Northland and more encompassing for all dementia patients.

“Our byline will be ‘supporting the people of Northland’.”

Bridges said the organisation will continue to have its own local governance and will remain an independent charity.

Alzheimers Northland will go through a name change through the Charities Register.

This is not the first time the organisation has changed its name: it was originally called Alzheimers Disease and Related Disorders Society Northland, changing to Alzheimers Northland in 2009.

Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.