About the Head Injury Society

The Head Injury Society is a charitable organisation established in 1981.  The Society provides advocacy, support, education and information to people who are head injured, their families and carers nationwide.

Every day in New Zealand 90 people suffer a head injury.  This is 630 per week or 32,760 each year.  That is the equivalent of the entire population of Gisborne every year. 

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Head Injury Society of New Zealand is to ensure a quality of life maximising potential, choice and independence for people with acquired head injury, their families and carers.  The Head Injury Society of New Zealand has been providing quality disability support services for the past 28 years. 

The Silent Epidemic

Head injury is referred to as the Silent Epidemic, because people prefer not to talk about it.  The Head Injury Society helps to "pick up the pieces." 

What is commonly referred to as a head injury in fact reflects acquired injury to the brain.  The major consequences of brain injury will be behavioural, cognitive and emotional, in addition to the more obvious motor or sensory outcomes.  The individual interacts with others in the home, workplace and community and therefore these areas will be influenced and impacted on by the head or brain injury.

Head injury is not selective, it can happen to anyone at any time.

Head injured people do not cope alone, they need support.  The majority never fully recover.

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