Action plan aims to destigmatise attitudes.
For many New Zealanders, HIV feels like something from another era. It is often associated with the fear and uncertainty of the 1980s. But while treatment has advanced dramatically, attitudes have not kept pace.
Research conducted by Verian in 2025 shows that 78% of New Zealanders still hold some form of stigma towards HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). At the same time, 75% of people living with HIV say they have experienced discrimination. What exists now is often less visible, but still deeply felt.
“HIV stigma in Aotearoa hasn’t disappeared. It has just changed shape,” says Judith Mukakayange, a community support coordinator at Positive Women who has been living with HIV for more than two decades.
“It’s not always obvious. It shows up in attitudes, in systems, and sometimes in the way services are delivered.”
Mukakayange’s comments come as Health NZ/Te Whatu Ora has recently launched a national campaign to help destigmatise HIV as part of the government’s commitment to the National HIV Action Plan for Aotearoa.
The Action Plan has a goal to eliminate HIV transmission by 2030 and has been developed by the government in partnership with NGOs (non-government organisations) that champion HIV advocacy like Positive Women, Burnett Foundation and Body Positive.
Mukakayange describes small but telling moments. A healthcare worker putting on two pairs of gloves. A service provider becoming “fully booked” after someone discloses their status. These are not always explicit refusals, but they leave little doubt about what is driving the response.
“There is still fear, judgement and misunderstanding influencing how people are treated,” she says. Much of that fear is rooted in outdated ideas about how HIV is transmitted.
Mark Fisher, executive director of Body Positive, says misconceptions remain one of the biggest drivers of stigma.
“People still think they can get HIV through everyday contact, like sharing food or hugging. That’s where a lot of the fear comes from,” he says. “In reality, HIV cannot be passed on through everyday contact.”
The impact of stigma can be significant. Fisher says people still lose housing, are rejected by family members, or feel they have to hide their status.
“It becomes something you carry quietly,” he says. “People hide their medication, avoid situations, or step back from relationships because they are worried about how others will react.”
That can lead to isolation and poor mental health. Some people internalise the stigma, believing they have done something wrong or deserve to be treated differently.
Mukakayange has seen how stigma affects more than just the individual. “It doesn’t stop with one person,” she says. “It affects families and communities as well.”
For migrant communities, those pressures can be even more complex. Mukakayange, who arrived in New Zealand as a refugee, says stigma often overlaps with other forms of discrimination.
“If someone already faces prejudice, whether that is because they are a migrant, a refugee, or Black, and they are living with HIV, it adds another layer,” she says.
In some cases, people delay disclosing their status because they are trying to protect their families or maintain stability. That can make it harder to access support or prioritise their own health.
Stigma also has wider consequences. Both Mukakayange and Fisher say it remains one of the biggest barriers to testing. In New Zealand, many people are still diagnosed late, often when they are already unwell.
“The biggest barrier is stigma,” Mukakayange says. “It stops people from getting tested, from taking treatment, and from accessing support.”
Fisher says even the act of getting tested can feel risky. “People are worried about being seen or judged,” he says. “There is still a perception that testing says something about you.”
That creates a problem. HIV is now a manageable condition with free, effective treatment available for anyone living with HIV in New Zealand. But stigma continues to prevent people from taking the steps that would protect both their health and the health of others.
“With early and effective treatment, people will stay well from the perspective of their HIV. In addition, once a person has been on treatment with undetectable virus for at least 6 months, there is no risk of sexual transmission,” says Dr Rose Forster, clinical advisor for sexual health for Health New Zealand. But stigma continues to prevent people from accessing testing and care.
“If we want people to get tested, we need to remove the fear,” Mukakayange says. “And to remove the fear, people need accurate information.”
For Fisher, part of the solution is to make HIV part of normal health conversations.
“It should be like any other check,” he says. “You get tested, you know your status, and if you need treatment, you take it.”
Mukakayange agrees, but says change needs to happen across society. “Reducing stigma requires engagement everywhere, in healthcare, education, media, and communities,” she says. “Everyone has a role to play.”
“HIV today is very different from what it was in the past,” she says. “We need to replace fear and misinformation with understanding and respect.”
The stigma that defined the early days of the HIV epidemic is something New Zealand needs to leave behind.
There are lots of great organisations that can provide more support and information about HIV including:
www.burnettfoundation.org.nz/life-with-hiv/